Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-08-20

Il am your friend beg YOU TO do
nothing that Will reflect upon us as
well as on the community. D,sperse
anu let the law take it's course We
need these men. There are others to be
Drought 60 justice. can promise you
that when the case is finally sif1ed.
there will be five parties who are equal
ly guilty"
Inns was an open confession of friend
ship on the part of an officer of the law
for a law-breaker, and for those who
afterwards proved IN, mselves TO be red
handed murderers.
The reply of one of the members of
the mob was:
I'VE know you are our friend, Ken
dr'ck, but promise us that you will let
these men stay in the Statesboro j all
aud not be taken back Co Savannah
Then we will disperse, not until them
This then is an open confession and a
recognition of the fact that the sheriff.
sworn officer of the law was in league
with the mob. III the reply was an
open defiance of the law.
1t is stated that when the mob ascer-
tanned that the guns in the hands of
the soldiers We're empty, rush was
made for the prisoners and they were
soon being dragged down the road with
ropes and trace-chalns aroung them.
The scene depicted Is horrible aud we
are led to ask whether the people in
this section have reverted TO absolute
barbarism. The soldiers of the state
we're held prisoners by men known to
the officers of the law.
Gallon after gallon of kerosene oil
was poured upon the victims and then
the correspondent writes the following
descriptions:
The spectacle was frightful. AS
the flames touched Reeds naked oil
soaked skin, he twisted his head around
III an endeavor to choke himself and
avoid the fearful torture Only once
did he complain. He said, Lord, have
mercy.
1t Will be seen that the lynchers are
even lower IN the scale of human civil.
ization than their victims.
He said further:
Cato screamed in agony, and begged
that ne be shot. his heavy suit of hair,
which was oil-soaked, was almost the
first thing the flames fastened ON. and
screaming with agony, while the hemp
rope became collar of fire around his
neck, thrill of horror ran through the
frames OF the more timid. Before the
flames had quenched Cato's life the
rope was burned in two and his head
swung from side TO side as he endeay.
ored to avoid the fiery tongues. Bv eff
tort almost superhuman he writhed mn.
der the close locked chains. For only
about three minutes was he visible TO
the crowd before the great pile of fagots
made wall of flame which the wind
wiped around on Cato's body and hid
MN from view. He was the first to ex-
hlblt Inconsistencies, and was perhaps
the hrst to die. Before the flames pro-
crossed very far up his body his head
sank forward, and any believed that
the fire got into his lungs and killed
him. As Gate IS head swung TO and fro
some OF the more excited members of
the party commenced throwing light
W o Knots at 1t. Soon as il was seen
that the men were dead the crowd CON-
menced dispensing. A large number
remained behind, however, piling more
fuel on, until both bodies We're burned.
all except the trunks. Others em1l,y-
eel themselves IN thrashing out the fire.
which commenced spreading along the
cry streaks of pine needles"
Great COP! How long is this thing
to continue? Grant all that the enc.
mics of these colored men charge,
what excuse is there for such a tiendish
exhibition of brutality?
IL GEORGIA is to permit such butch
cries upon its soil, what is the remedy
We insist that the law-abiding white
and colored people should unite for the
maintenance OF the law.
The crime of the victims is lost sight
of in the fiendishness of the pun shment
meted. The Constitution of the United
States, Article VIII reads:
Excessive bail shall not be required.
nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted"
These cowardly murderers, with their
thousands, We're afraid of few soldiers
with loaded guns. for it was only after
htl Cn1C tneY Were
empty that they made the assault.
That our deductions are correct is evi
denced by the following:
SAVANNAH, GA. August l6.-To
night all the Savannah troops returned
from Statesboro. Among those who had
been on guard at the courthouse when
the assault was made We're Il number
who bore bruises and marks of the tray.
None OF these, however, were serious
Captain Robert NJ. Hitch. who COM
manded the troops on guard, and Tor the
relief of which 200 men were sent from
here this afternoon, would make no state
ment, stating that he would report to the
proper authorities. He has made out such
for the adJutant- general.
The soldiers, however, accuse the dep
uty sheriffs of collision with the lynch
ers. In fact, they declare that the dep
uties openly aided the lynchers in over
towering the soldiers. lie is said that one
powerful deputy secured Captain Hitch
and led him down a stairway TO the lawn
outside, where his sword and pistol were
rob fr<N IL.