The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-19
SHERIFF DENIES
CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
What He Answers to Claims That
He Aided Lynchers.

He Aided Lynchers.
Statesboro, Ga, Aug. 1S.-"Replying
to the charges made against me and
certain of my bailiffs by Capt. Hitch
and one or two of the Savannah sol
diers who were on guard here at the
time of the Reed and Cato lynching,
it becomes my duty to state that the
report that 1 opened the door for the
mob that was after Cato and Reed,
or that l in any manner cleared the
way or aided the mob to get the prison.
ers is untrue, and the statement given
out by these Savannah men does me
and my bailiffs grave and serious
wrong.
when l discovered that the mob
was about to overpower the soldiers
stationed on the stairway, I knew that
something must be done, if possible, to
get the prisoners out of the reach of
the mob. / had planned to rush them
up into the roof through a scuttle hole
in the ceiling of the solicitors room,
which adjoins the prisoners room, if
such an emergency should rise. l at
once ran to the door of the prisoners
room, unlocked it, went in, closed the
door, and ran as quickly as possible
to the door leading to the solicitor S
room, thinking to be in time to get
the prisoners out of the way and up
into the roof.
Il had almost succeeded, and in one
more minute they would have been
landed there, but the mob broke in on
me before 1 could carry out my plan.
The mob found the door closed and
broke it open.
Il deny that l pointed out either of
the men to the mob. Some one seized
Bell, but discovered that he was not
the man wanted and put him down.
There was no need to point out the
prisoners to the crowd, as they had
been in plain sight in the open Court
House. open to the view of the specta-
tors for two days, and the mob had no
trouble in finding them.
II desire to state that 1 did all in
my power to do my duty and the cit
iZens of my county know that the
charges are untrue. l did all in my
power to prevent the mob from get
ting the two negroes, and no man re-
grets the affair more than l.
I'm answer to the report that it was
one of my bailiffs that disarmed Capt
Hitch, desire to state that l have a
statement from one of the citizens of
Statesboro, who, was standing imme-
diately at the side of Capt. Hitch
when this man seized him and bore
him downstairs. My informant states
that the man was not my bailiff, but
was a stranger. a man whom he had
never seen before, although he said he
and certain one of my bailiffs resem-
bled somewhat, and they both might
answer the captains description. He
states that he has known this partic-
ular bailiff for many years and that
there is no chance for him to be mis-
taken. He says he was standing by
the side of Capt. Hitch when this man
threw his arms around the captain,
that he saw the whole affair and that
the man was not a bailiff.
"It seems to be a case of mistaken
identity under excitement on the part
Of Capt. Hitch. and he does me and
my men great injustice by making
these hasty statements. 1 have no
quarrel to make with him. for he did
all he or any man could have done un-
der the circumstances, and he does me
a gross wrong TO make these ground
less and untrue allegations against
me. (SiEned)
j. Y. Kendrick Sheriff"