The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-09
THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO KNOW Begins Investigation Of Madison Lynching. A SPECIAL GRAND JURY Sheriff and Captain Hay Must
 Make Report. State Authorities Take Prompt Action to Secure Information of Mob
 which Put to Death
 Horace Maples.

A special term Of the grand Jury or Madison County will be called to in i~vestigate the lynching of Horace Naples, the negro who was taken from l the county jail and hanged by a mob | in Huntsville Wednesday night. In telephonic conference with Gov l ernor Cunningham yesterday afternoon Circuit Judge Paul Speake told the | Governor that it was his purpose to summon a special term Of the grand jury to investigate the lynching. but that he had called the Governor to get his views upon the question. The Governor heartily favored the summoning of the grand jury to bring to justice the perpetrators of the act of violence Earlier in the day he had written to Judge Speake suggest ing that he summon the grand jury together. He told Judge Speake that 1t rested with him as Circuit Judge to say whether the grand jury should be organized in special session, but he urged that it be done.
 Depl0res Lynching.
 The Governor took the Huntsville lynching up as soon as he reached the executive office yesterday morning. He said he greatly deplored the lynching which was one of the most unfortunate that ever occurred in Alabama. The negro prisoner had been arrested, and the grand jury had been called together to indict. The people were assured that he would be speedily tried. The negro was a prisoner of the State in the county jail and under the supposed protection of the sheriff. Moreover. the local military company had been called out to assist the sheriff in pro- tecting the prisoner. Tn spite of this the lawless mob overran the constitu- ted authorities and put the prisoner to death. Feeling all this. the Gov ernor set on foot an investigation which he hopes will result in the con- viction of many of the mob. He not only wrote the Circuit Judge. but he addressed leters to the sheriff and to Captain R. l.. Hay who commanded the Huntsville troops which made an in- effectual stand against the mob.
 He called the attention of Sheriff Rodgers to the constitutional pro- vision which directed the sheriff, to make a thorough investigation of the lynching and he urged upon the sheriff the utmost thoroughness fin conducting the investigation in order that the guilty parties might be brought to justice.
 Captain to Report.
 The letter he addressed to Captain Hay was of great importance. He directed Captain Hay to report to him In detail what had been. done by his men at the lynchtng. He directed the captain to make report as to who call, ed him out. under whose orders he was acting and what he and his men did.
 It is possible that a military court of enquiry may be held to investigate the conduct of the Huntsville soldiery. This Is not probable in the immediate future. The court of enquiry, in a large measure. depends upon the re- ports which the Governor will receive from the authorities in Madison Coun- ty.
 The Governor yesterday had no public statement to make concerning the lynching. He directed the en- quirers to Private Secretary J. Kirk Jackson who gave out the correspond ence in reference to the lynching.
 The Correspondence.
 The Governors letter to Sheriff Rodgers was as follows:
 Montgomery. Ala, Sept. 8. 1904. MT. A. D. Rodgers. Sheriff of Madi-
 son County. Huntsville. Ala:
 My Dear Sir-As provided by Sec ton 121 of the Constitution. the Gov ernor hereby requires of you a state ment in writing. under oath of all tnc ldClS III "ltH tue lyuCH- ing last night of Horace Naples, prisoner who had been committed to your custody.
 '"The Governor desires to know all the steps you took to prevent this lynching, why these efforts were fruit less, and also the names of such per sons as you recognized who were guilty of or participated in the lynch ing.
 He asks for this information at