The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-27
MOB'S PLANS WE'RE
CAREFUL Ix<=.zlA|D
82&
Captain Hitch s. yoheriff and
Deput' 0 $lded.
HE HAD NO lNTIMATION
Guns Were Not Loaded Because He
Knew !,oral Effect on Crowd
That the Command
: LOAD" Carries.

Savannah, Ga, August 26.-The first evil
7 dence was introduced today before the
court of inquiry appointed by Governor
Terrell to investigate the conduct of the
two companies of Georgia state troops
that were on guard at Statesboro when
the mob took away from the soldiers Paul
Reed and win Cato, convicted of murder
| ing Henry Hodges and his family of four,
; and burned the negroes at the stake.
Captain Hitch's testimony was the most
interesting given. He maintained that the
plans of the mob had been so carefully
I laid that not even a regiment of soldiers
could have successfully resisted them.
! These plans even contemplated the de-
struetion of the railroad leading to States
boro, In order to prevent the arrival Of
! reinforeements should they have been or
dered to the scene.
He told of having before participated
in riot duty and of having observed the
moral effect upon crowd that the com
mand load carries. This command he
had intended giving at the proper time
but just before that time, in his opinion,
was reached he WIS seized by a muscu-
lar deputy sheriff who threw him down
stairs to the mob below which promptly
disarmed him. It was to this seizure
hAob CdPldlll I1llC-i dllllDutbu Ills ldlluTe
to make a more desperate effort of the
defense of the prisoners.
Captain Hitch said he had no intima-
tion of the purpose of the mob to seize
and lynch the negroes as soon as they
should be convicted.
Captain Hitch and non-commissioned
officers and privates testified to the col
fusion of the sheriff and some of his
deputies with the mob. Some of the SOL
Il A1...A II. .1-.az.r
himself opened the door of the guard
room and pointed out the prisoners to
the mob which was hard upon his heels
The sheriff moreover told the two SER
geants on duty, according to their testi-
mony that he had seen Captain Hitch
and was acting upon his instructions in
turning over the negroes to this lynchers
money that the champion would not
knock out the big miner within ten
rounds. They figured on Munroes youth,
great strength, vigor and ambition. Not
few too thought that the instructions
of kid" Mccoy; would make the Butte
man the most formidable who ever
tackled Jeffries. The fact that the lat
ter was reported to have tipped the
scales at 225 pounds few hours before
entering the ring made them think that
occasion when he fought Corbett. An
other element which helped along the
speculative Impulse was a knowledge of
the rules under which the battle was to
be fought These permitted the fighters
to rough 1t and protect themselves at all
times. In other words the sporting men
realized that the contest would be under
Marquis of Queensberry rules. There was
some resemblance to the London prize
ring rules With two of the greatest
giants who ever faced each other in the
ring under these conditions, a great fight
was looked for.
Hitting In ClInches Barred.
In all Of the other great heavyweight
battles notably those between Corbett
and Sullivan, Corbett and Fitzsimmons
and Corbett and Jeffries hitting in the
clinches was barred and they broke clear
at the order of the referee.
Shortly after O'clock the doors of the
big pavilion were opened and the wait
ing throngs which had been admirably
handled by the mounted police and a
squad of patrolmen poured In at the
doors. The galleries were quickly filed
and the conservatives among the SPORT
ing men soon occupied the high priced
seats.
Compared to former championship
events the house ranged about fifth in
point Of size. The high water mark was
reached when Corbett and Jeffries fought,
$4,000 being taken In at the door on that
occasion.
The first preliminary was between the
Saginaw Kid and Jockey Burns. II
went four rounds and the Saginaw Kid
got the decision.
The second preliminary was between Bill
ly Means of San Francisco and Nell Sui
livan of Portland, Ore.
Means was given the decision In the
second preliminary at the end of the
fourth round