The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-04-09
LYNCHING RUMORS
CAUSE GOV. vARDAMAN TO CALL
OUT THE MILITIA AGAIN.
TO PROTECT THE NEGRO BALDWIN
Who Murdered Engineer Fogarty-
Sumner Citizens Surprised by the
Report-Rumors Of intended Lynch.
ing Declared to BE Altogether I'm
founded, and There Seems to Be an
inclination to Let the Law Take Its
Course.

Jackson, Miss, April 5.-Goy. Yardas
prompt action to save the life of AL
bert Baldwin, the negro he res
cued on February 49,, by going to
Batesville on special train and get
ting him from the Batesyille Jail, and
bringing him to Jackson for safe keep
ing.
When the governor returned last
night from New Orleans, he made ar
rangements to have the negro Baldwin
taken to Sumner, in Tallahatchie
county, for trial for the murder of
Engineer Fogarty. Messrs. Joe Evans
and Blakselee were selected as special
deputies to transport the negro safely
At one time it was thought that COM
pany would be ordered out to escort
the negro to the scene of his trial, but
assurances were received yesterday
afternoon from Judge Cook that the
people of Sumner would allow the
negro to have fair trial, and that
there was no danger of a mob at
lCuIptAAS W tdh0 Ills lllG.
Messrs Evans and Blakeslee took
the negro out of his cell this morning
and boarded the Yazoo & Mississippi
Valley train for Sumner. When they
were near Tchula rumors began float
ing thick and fast through the car that
mob was being organized at Webb,
where they had planned to take the
negro from the deputies and hang him
to the nearest tree.
About this time Governor Vardaman
received a telephone message from
parties at Sidon, stating that they
thought mob at Webb would board
the train and attempt to take the pris-
oner, Albert Baldwin, from the guards.
1t took Governor Vardaman no
longer to make up his mind at this in
slant than it did when he first saved
the negro from a horrible death.
He Immediately ordered Messrs.
Blakeslee and Evans, who had charge
of the prisoner, to take him to the Jail
at Greenwood, and there await his fur
ther orders. This they did and the
negro was lodged in the Greenwood
Jail.
Governor Vardaman then ordered
General Kessler, of Greenwood, to take
detachment of soldiers from the
Greenwood military company and on a
special train escort the negro pris-
oner from Greenwood to Sumner. In
the meantime he informed Judge Cook
that the prisoner would beSdelivered
to the sheriff of that county in few
hours.
Orders were issued by the governor
to General Kessler to report to Judge
Cook and the sheriff and to remain at
Sumner to guard the prisoner until all
danger of attempted mob violence had
passed.
Gov. Vardaman stated that he did
not know whether there was any truth
in the rumor that the mob would at.
tempt to take the prisoner from the
guards. But it came very straight, "
said the chief executive, land l did
not purpose to take any chances in
the matter. am going to do my best
to see that this negro has fair trial
and that the law is enforced. He is
now in the hands of the officers of the
law, and the law must be respected"
The advices Governor Vardaman re-
ceived tonight from Judge Cook, at
Sumner, are to the effect shat every
thing is quiet. Governor Vardaman
had quite a lengthy talk with Judge
Cook over the telephone in regard to
the situation, and the latter informed
the chief executive that there was no
danger of mob violence to Baldwin.
General Kessler will withdraw the
military escort and return with the
soldiers to Greenwood