The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-23
GOVERNOR TAKES
VIGOROUS STAND
Rewards offered for Conviction
of LyncherS
LAWS MUST BE ENFORCED
Route Is Decided Upon for Military
companes-colonel Owen Compl-
mented on Books-Other
Montgomery News.
LAWS MUST BE ENFORCED


day renewal of his determination to do
| everything within the power of the
laws of the sttae to suppress lynching in
Alabama and to punish those who take
part in Illegal execution of human be-
ings.
He has offered rewards for the arrest
and conviction of the men who mobbed
VIII Robertson in Pickens county, Rufus
Lesseure in Marengo, and Will Avery in
Walker county. He has also taken some
other vigorous action which he will not
divulge at this time, saying, however,
that it is in line with his past action in
matters of this kind The sheriffs Of the
counties are urged to use every effort pos
slble to apprehend those who have taken
part in these three lynehings.
Robertson was charged with assault
upon white woman In Pickens county
July last. He was arrested by some
minor officials with the aid of citizens
and held for the sheriff That official.
however. says he never had the negro in
his possession. He also says that 1t was
too dark for him to recognize any of the
men composing the mob. Other county
officers believe that there can be some
arrests and possible convictions made if
there is the proper effort put forth, 1t
being supposed that rewards will help
to bring this about. A reward of $3.50 is
offered for the first conviction and 500
each for the next two.
The Case in Marengo.
Rufus Lesseure a negro. entered the
room of Mrs p. j. Hollis at Thomaston,
Marengo county, on the night of August
16. The lady was awakened by his placing
his hands upon her face She cried out
loudly and the negro fled, dropping his
hat as he ran. The hat was recognized
as that of Lesseure and he was arrested.
He was taken to the town lock up, an in
secure affair, and left to await trial. He
admitted that he had been in the room
of Mrs. Hollis, but said he was looking
for the colored servant. While the citi-
zens were debating about the trial of the
negro some shots were heard and 1t was
found that he had been taken out of
the prison and shot to death. The same
rewards are offered in this case, $3.50 for
the first conviction and 800 each for the
next two.
In the case of Avery, the details are still
fresh in the minds of the people. Town
Marshal Nelson went TO the house of
Avery to arrest his brother. He tried to
get inside when Avery fired on him
through the door, killing him at once
The negro was then arrested and placed
In the town calaboose. A short time after
ward it was attacked by a mob who
took the rogro out and killed him with
sticks. stones and knives, terribly mutt
lating his body Acting Governor Cunning
han: WIS In Birmingham at the time and
wired 81 eriff Jack Moore at Jasper to
order cut the military company at JAS
Per - he needed 1t. the report having
reached him that the mob intended to
kill brother of Avery, who Is supposed
to haze Encouraged the shooting of Mar
shall Nelson. The rewards are just the
same In this case as the other two. $3.50
for the first conviction and 800 for the
next two.
Law Must Be Enforced.
When seen in his office this afternoon
Acting Governor Cunningham said that
he could not give out what he had deter
mined upon in the efforts to apprehend
the lynchers, more than the offer of re-
ward He said that he was going to
use every power the law gives to see that
every man who takes part in a lynch
ing Is brought to severe punishment. The
law must be observed If it Is possible to
secure such in the vigorous administra-
ton of the statutes. Every officer is to
be called to account for failure to do
all that possibly can be done to prevent
this form of violation of the laws.
1t has been the policy Of the acting
governor to write the sheriff of a county
where a lynching occurs to give a full
report of the case, going into every de-
tail In all of these cases reports in
writing have been made, save that of
Sheriff Moore of Walker which has been
made verbally, and will be sent in in
writing later. No stone will be left un-
turned to bring about the severest pun
ishment of the members of all the mobs
above recorded.
Route of Military.
| The route of travel for the Alabama
| regiment which will attend the Manassas
| maneuvers, has been decided upon. The
men will go via the Western of Ala
bama via Atlanta, and the Alabama
Great Southern, via Lexington, and the
Southern, returning via the Southern.
The Mobile, Fort Deposit, Dothan and
Eufaula companies will concentrate at
Montgomery. twenty-four hours from
| their destination, and the Girard company
will join the Montgomery party at Ope-
| lika. Two companies and one from Tus-
caloosa will gather at Birmingham and
travel over the Alabama Great Southern.
| They will be Joined at Alfalfa by
company from Gadsden and one from
Admission, and at Chattanooga by the
Florence company. The Mobile and Fort
Deposit companies will reach Montgom-
cry by the Louisville * NaShVille, the
Eufaula via the Central of Georgia, and
| the Dothan via the Atlantic Coast line.
| Adjutant General w. W. Brandon, wh~
| will command the regiment, has sent
| letter of Instructions to the officers. tell
| ing them to be sure and bring cooking
utensils, blue suits and full khaka outfits.
| They are to be furnished travel rations at
| the points where they join the main
| forces, If not among the companies first
| congregating. General Brandon Is send
| ing out a number of orders to the men
of the regiments looking to having ttem
come up in fine condition and make good
showings at the drill gatherings
Owen complimented.
| The office of director of archieves and
| history Thomas NJ Owen, has Just been
| examined by Assistant Inspector G. +.
| Sedberry, who, in his report to the gov
| ernor. says:
I'm obedience to instructions received
| from the chief executives office l have
| examined the books. accounts and vouch-
| ers of Hon Thomas M. Owen, director
| of the department of archieves and his
| tory. from March 2. 1901. the date of the
| creation of the department, to and in
| Guiding August 16, 1904, ana beg leave 10
| submit the following report | have made
| very careful examination and find that
| for each and every item of expense a
/ proper voucher Is on file and has been
| compared and checked by me. The books
| are plain and simple and nicely kept.
| The systematic manner in which all the
| vouchers have been arranged evidences
| <ora MI attention IN details IF ha