The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-28
SHER|FFS REPORT
TO THE GOVERNOR
Armstrong Thinks a Detective
Might Secure Evidence
OFFICERS ARE IN The DARK
State That They Have Been Unable to
Locate the Guilty Parties, But
They Are Still Making
Inquiries.
OFFICERS ARE IN THE DARK
sY HERvY W. LAIRD.


ter the lynchlng of VIII Avery at CorooVa
last week, Acting Governor Cunningham
by authority of section 121 OF the new
constitution, addressed the sheriffs OF tne
counties of Walker, Marengo' Autauga'
Pickens and Baldwin in which mobs had
illegally executed negroes within the past
few months. OF the three replies so rar
recaived. only one indicates that anything
can be done to bring the guilty to JUS
tice. This exception is from BALDWIN,
where Sheriff Armstrong thinks he knows
some of the men who helped to lynch
Reuben Sims, and believes detective may
be able to secure evidence that Will re-
suit In conviction. The letter OF the
governor propounded the following ques-
tions
Ask Questions.
Has any one made affidavit charging
any person as participating in the lynch
Ing OF on day, 1904, ana nave war
rants under such afhdavits been placed
In vour hands for execution, and have the
same been executed?
Have YOU endeavored to ascertain the
names of any of the participants In such
lynching, and have you proceeded, under
sections 52l1 and 5212 of the code, to ar
rest such person?
was any deputy of yours In charge of
the person lynched, and II 80, has said
deputy reported to you the names of those
participating in the lynching, and is said
deputy still in your employ or retained by
you?
To the letter the acting governor has re-
reived the following replies:
Sheriff Hastys Answer.
From A H. Hasty, sheriff of Marengo
county, Linden: II have the honor to
reply to your official inquiry of the 2Sd
Inst, relative to the killing of RUFUS
Lesuere, on August IT, and submit the
following. /. No affidavit have been
made by any one charging any person or
persons with participating in the above
mentioned crime, and no arrests have
been made either with or without war
rants. 2. Since the commission of said
offense | have constantly endeavored to
ascertain the participants there. but sus-
picion has pointed to no particular per-
sons to such an extent as would. In my
opinion, Justify arrest. g. No deputy OF
mine was in charge of Lesuere, and none
of my official force were on the ground
at the time, nor had l received any noti-
fication, as sheriff or otherwise, that
Lesuere had been apr ehended. / did not
in fact, have any intimation of said ar
rest having been made until learned OF
the killing of Lesuere under the circum-
stances mentioned In my previous report
to you. With every assurance that | shall
endeavor to execute the law as prescribed
In the schedule of my official duties. and
us called to my attention by your excel
lency. beg to remain"
Armstrong; Letter.
From j. NJ Armstrong, sheriff of Bald
win county, Bay Minette; II have the
honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 23rd, and in reply thereto
beg to say l. No one to my knowledge,
has made affidavits in the case of the
lynchng of Reuben Sims and no war
rants have been placed In my hands for
execution. 2. | have endeavored TO ascer-
tain names of guilty persons, but have
not been able to get any evidence, though
have reason to believe that know some
of the parties who composed the mob.
The people In that vicinity are like clans
to me on that subject. | have not made
any effort to arrest any one, 3. had no
deputy In charge of the prisoner; the
lynching had been over several hours be-
fore / heard OF 1t. C. II. Driesbach, JUS
tice of the peace. said to me that he ap-
pointed a constable to bring a prisoner
to jail but admitted he gave no mittmus
nor ulu ne take aiOWn any OF Tue SNlucHce
It is my opinion that 1t will take de-
tective to get up sufficient amount Of
evidence to convict, as these people are
keeping very mum on the subject.
No Results Attained.
c. A. McWilliams sheriff of Autaugs
county. Prattville: "In accordance with
your letter of August %, 1904, l hereby
make answer to the questions contained
therein: l. No one has made affidavit.
charging any person with participating II
the lynching of Gaines Hall. on April 30
1904 and no warrants have been placed il
my hands for execution therefor. q
have endeavored to ascertain the name
of the participants in such lynching b.
Inquiries of such persons presumed t.
have been in the neighborhood of sucl
Iyncfing notably S. III. Gibbons, the jlh
tlce of the peace who held an inques
over the body of the said Gaines Hall oil
the Monday following the. alleged lynch
ing. but I have been unable to ascertain
the names of any of the participant
in such lynching. and therefore hav
made no arrests of such persons. 3. N
deputy of mine was in charge of sal
Gaines Hall at the time of said lynching
or at any other time that I am awar
Of" This letter is sworn to and sub
scribed on August "a, 1904, before tn
Hon. G. S. Livingston. Judge of probat
OF Autauga county.
Sheriff Moore's Statement.
q Mooro sherfff of Walker county