Richmond planet., 1904-12-10
NHlTECAPPERS HlT.
JUDGE VIII KINSON AN
NOUNCES DETERMI
NATION TO RUN
THEM DOWN.
Declares Every Mississippian
Feels Blush of Shame
and That State is
Harmed.

BookhaveD, Miss, Nov. 2S.-"The
business of this term of the Circuit
Court of Lincoln County shall be the
sitting OF this wbitecap business. which
is bringing into disrepute this fair sec
ton OF Mississippi, and causes the blush
OF shame to L,cntle the brow OF every
good and honest citizen when he ac
knowledges his place of residence" ."
Thus spoke Judge Wi kinson at the
opening of Court this morning in his
charge 20 the Grand Jury. He an
nouDced that civil cases would be con-
tinued until the third Monday in jan
nary, when he will convene special
term for the purpose of hearing them.
AN IMMENSE CROWD PRESENT.
In anticipation of vigorous charge
an immense crowd assembled in the
temple of justice-probably a larger
crowd than the Courthouse has ever
sheltered before. The onlookers COM
prised every class of citizens. including
many who are suspectt d of being MEM
bers OF the organization referred to.
After filling the Grand Jury box in the
regular way Judge Wilkinson sprung a
mild sensation by asking do any of
you gentlemen belong TO any organiza.
tiou, whether known as Whttecaps.
Farmers League, or Farmers Protec-
tive Union, and have you taken an obh-
CATION at night out IN the woods?
wHITEcAPs NOT WANTED.
"If you have, you may be excused.
And you may as well excuse yourselves,
Tor L will excuse you" One man arose
and said he would be excused for that
Hrrwra 80 L
desk and scanning them, the Judge call
ed the names oil six others, and an.
nounced that they would be excused.
Some weeks ago the Executive Commit
tee of the Lincoln County Law and
Order League announced that they held
roll of the whitecap mem bership in this
county, and the Judges action this
morning goes to show that the announce
ment was not a bluff. The peremptory
challenge of the members drawn was oh
Jected 20 by Attorney James W. Cas-
sedy, of Summit, who Is counsel for some
of the men III Jail, who are charged with
whitecapping. and whose cases will
come Before this Grand Jury.
A scATmNG DENUNCIATIoN.
After appointing F. V. Becker, Of
Brookhaven, foreman, Judge Wilkinson
proceeded with his charge, which was a
scathing denunciation uf whitecap or
ganization and methods, referring to it
as diabolioal. infamous, hellish or.
ganization, and declared that no man
can give a sensible reason for the exist
ence of such things, Gentlemen" he
said, this term of court means more to
Lincoln County than any term of Court
ever held within her borders. and we
need honest men, true men, in every
function that pertains &C this term of
court. Let the good people who appre-
clate law, who appreciate education
who appreciate Christianity. come in
and settle this matter now. If put off
II only postpones the day of Judgment,
and the day of reckoning will be the
more severe. 1 told you at the last
term of this Court chat if this thing was
not checked these lawless bands would
not be content with shooting into the
homes of Negroes, but would attack the
white people who fall under their dis.
pleasure, and have not my words come
true?
SOME MISLED HONEST MEN.
81 do not mean to say that every man
who Joined Is a black-hearted villain.
l am confident that some who ioined
are honest and upright, and were mis-
led by the glib talking organizer as TO
the purposes. Since l came to this
town L have witnessed the touching
scene OF twenty five or thirty white.
cappers telling OF the organization they
Joined. Ii they spoke the truth thew
had no intention of violating the law.
They We're misled through Ignorance.
But there are some with whom it is
not question of ignorance 1t almost
makes me blush with shame to feel. to
see, what some men have done-men
with standing. influence, ability-the
'upPer ten of Lincoln County.
AN OATH IN THE WOODS.
When at night, in the woods. he takes
an oath, penalty for the violation of
which is death, that he will not as a
grand juror vote TO indict one of his fell
low conspirators, and as member of q
petty jury will forever hold out against
convection of one of the band. a man
must be of low order of inteligenca
indeed who does not know he is doino
violence to the laws of his country and
OF his God. If we can get men ILL.,
twelve who sat on one case in last tar,,,
OF court-men who are fair, men who
are honest, men who follow the dictates
OF consclence-we viii do sometime
DISTINCTION WITH DIFFERENCE
"No man deserves credit for be;no