Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-22
SENTENCE WHITECAPS
Judge Wilkinson Gives One Man a Life
Term and Others What May Amount
to Life Sentences for Whitecap Out

to Life Sentences for WhitecaP Out
RACES.
Brookhaven, Miss, Dec. 21.-1n the
whitecap cases yesterday Judge Will
kinson sentenced one man for life, five
to fifty years and one to twenty five
years, declaring it his purpose to do
all in his power to put an end to the
reign Of terror among the negroes of
the state.
Yesterdays action is the most dras-
tic ever applied in this section In the
punishment CT whitecappers and has
created CONSERVATION among the
whites accused of harassing negroes.
'sThis whitecapping business must
STOP" declared Judge Wilkinson in adj
dressing 300 white citizens of Lincoln
county, most of whom were accused Of
writing notices warning. negroes to
leave, with posting such notices, or
with shooting into or burning houses
you will get the full penalty of the
law,-e IL it takes every man in Lin
coin county and makes every woman a
widow" continued the judge.
Starts a Reign Of Terror.
In Lincoln county, Miss, there Is a
whitecap organization known as the
"Farmers' League" This league inaug-
urated a reign Of terror thruout the
county. Negro homes were burned,
many were shot into from the dark
ness, many negroes We're killed or
wounded or whipped. Notices were
posted in many places thruout the
county warning the negroes to leave.
Judge M. A. Wilkinson ordered
grand Jury to take up the case, and as
a result the grand jury at the present
term OF court returned sixty-two true
bills of Indictment. Seven Of these
were for murder, twenty-one for other
felonies, and the rest for various other
forms of misdemeanor. Three hundred
men were accused Of conspiracy.
Seven young men were sentenced to
the ,penitentiary for murder done IN
the name of the Farmers League. Two
others were set at liberty
"Whitcappins" Must Stop.
In announcing to the 800 men accus-
ed of conspiracy that they would not
have to stand trial. cesset processus
having been recommended in all their
cases by the district attorney, Judge
Wilkinson said:
CAS- a representative Of the law and
not with any intent to threaten. nor
with any braggadocio, but as fact, l
say to you who have been concerned In
this thing that you have got to quit.
Not will you quit?' Please quit but
YOU have got to quit This eXper-
fence is just a little chastisement as
YOU would correct a refractory child
with straw. but the next time we are
Soing to bust the hide'-you will get
the full penalty of the law, even if it
axes every man in Lincoln county,
md makes every woman a widow. The
law must be enforced; it's your law.
This whitecapping business must stop
and want to say that believe it is
over in Lincoln county. This ends the
matter with you. trust that you will
never come back here again except to
serve your state as loyal citizens.
Here are two boys. who. out of the
GOODNESS of heart of the people who
rave stood cheek by jowl and shoulder
70 shoulder with the court in ferreting
nut crime are to be given their liberty.
over there are seven boys who are go
ng to the penitentiary for one Of the
'oulest crimes that ever blackened the
name Of your county"