The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-22
SHERIFF REPORTS
TO THE GOVERNOR
lack s. Moore Tells of the
Cordova Lynching
ALL IS QUIET THERE NOW
Murdered City Marshal Was Buried
Yesterday Afternoons. w.
Elliott Tells of the
Lynehing.
ALL IS QUIET THERE NOW

over from Jasper on the afternoon train
over the Frisco, and Immediately COM
municated with Governor Cunningham,
who spent Sunday at his home In Ensley.
The conference with the governor was
with reference to the lynching of Avery.
/ The sheriff of Walker county may re-
port in writing to the governor at later
date with regard to the affair.
Cordova is in Walker county, nine miles
| of Jasper. 1t is a cotton mill town.
Avery was killed by a mob composed of
unknown persons because he murdered
Town Marshal Nelson, who attempted to
arrest him for failure to pay a small sum
due the town authorities of Cordova. The
marshal was shot and killed yesterday
about $50 p. m. by the negro. Avery was
captured Immediately afterwards and
carried to the calaboose. He was then
sliced and taken from the authorities and
was put to death.
The Particulars.
IT was at cordova twenty minutes af-
ter the lynching occurred" said Sheriff
Moore yesterday afternoon. After the
negro Avery had killed the marshal by
shooting him through the FOREHEAD. the
wife of a merchant there held him at
bay with revolver until Deputy Sheriffs
Walker and Nations arrived to take
charge of him. Walker is a regular dep
uty in my employ, stationed at Cordova,
while Deputy Nation has charge of the
cotton mill work there.
my understanding is that it was not
very long after the negro was placed in
the calaboose and placed under guard
that the mob formed and the attack was
made on the place, with successful re-
suits, so far as the mob was concerned.
Marshal Nelson went to the house of
Avery to arrest the brother of the ne
gro. or rather to collect some money
from him. When he demanded entrance
he was shot down. The brother of the
dead negro is now under watch at Cor
dova by the officers of the law, and he
will be arrested as soon as the excitement
dies away entirely.
Military Not Called Out.
after reaching Cordova and looking
! over the situation carefully 1 decided not
to call out the military company sta
toned at Jasper. This would have been
entirely unnecessary, as the mob had
killed the negro and no further trouble
was anticipated.
THE body of the negro remained In Cor
dova Saturday night. This morning an
inquest over the remains of the negro
was held by the coroner, and about fif-
teen witnesses were examined The in
quest. however, awaited but little, as no
one summoned to appear before the cor
oner's jury appeared to know anything
of the killing. 1 do not fear any race
riot at Cordova, or, in fact, any other
| trouble"
How was Avery put to death?" was
asked of Sheriff Moore.
"He was beaten with sticks and clubs
and stabbed with knives, and other weap-
ons' was his reply.
WAS the body badly mutilated?"
Don't think that have ever seen any
thing like it before. The body was liter
ally covered with cuts and other wounds.
said the officer
The dead marshal is said to have been
all over Walker county.
Mr.. Elllott's Account.
g. S. Elliott, a highly respected citizen
of Cordova. came to Birmingham yester-
day, spending the forenoon In the city
Mr.. Elliott was close by the scene OF
the terrible affair which ACQUIRED in his
| town Saturday evening that resulted In
the death of City Marshal Nelson and the
negro, Ed Avery. Asked as to the cir
cumstances. Mr.. Elliott said:
THE story was correctly told In The
| Age-Herald. There was one shot fired
by the negro. and that one struck Marshal
Nelson just above the right eye and was
fatal.
"A number of people were in sight and
in hearing as the officers rushed Avery
to ;he prison. DIR. Miller, the mayor, did
all In his power to save the murderer
from. mob Violence but without avail.
when the prisoner was brought out
of the guard house he was beaten. stoned
and cut, and was shot just one time. the
tall entering the left side of his face
That was the only shot fired by any
member of the mob.
Dcsprate Negro.
|
being a desperate character. Only few
weeks ago he brought a woman to Birm.
ngham to get married. Here he was
arrested for carrying concealed weapons
and was convicted in Judge Feagin's court
and fined 500 and sentenced to long
term. There was a compromise in the
case, the woman paying the 500. and the
| time sentence was RENTED.
1.-THE people of Cordoya are righteously
indignant at the numerous crimes thai
have been committed there, and this fac
instigated to some extent Saturdays az
fair.
'.It will be remembered that about tive
years ago Town Marshal Camack, q
most worthy officer of our town. was
killed, and the man who did that act
is now In the penitentiary
1.-THE case of the negro Henry Walker
who still lies in the county jail, charged
with a great crime, cqfmitted In Cor
dova is still fresh in the minds of oul
people.
Marshal Nelson.
Marshal Ne.son. the victim OF Satur'
day nights tragedy, was most excellent
officer and a worthy man. He was be-
tween 80 and 60 years of age, and thu
father of several children, two of whom
are grown sons He also leaves widow
Nelson came from Carol county, Geor
sia, many years ago with the late colone
Long.