The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-28
FIRST PROBING
OF LYNCHING
SAVANNAH END FINISHED.
COURT ADJOURNED TO MEET
TUESDAY AT STATESBORO.

NegrOeS-Widc DisCre pancy In size
uf Mob DeveIOped-Suppl e me II It a l
statements Made by Capt. Hitch,
Lieut.. Nell. Lieut.. McIntire and
Others-Capt. Hitch Answeres
Criticisms Against His Conduct
For the first time since the lynch
ing of the two negroes at Statesboro,
on Aug 16. the affair has been officially
Investigated The court of inquiry
which has been in session for the last
two days in the Superior Court room,
concluded its Investigations, so far as
this city is concerned. shortly after
o'clock yesterday afternoon.
An adjournment was then taken I'M
til Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, when
the court will resume its sessions at
Statesboro. While the court is investi-
eating the conduct Of the military on
much interesting information regard
ing the course of conduct of the sher-
if of Bulloch county and his deputies
has been developed.
At Statesboro the members of the
local militia will be examined, as well
as Sheriff Kendrick and his deputies,
and others who may be able TO throw
light on the happenings Of the day
of the lynchng. After a session last
ing perhaps two days, the court will
take the transcript of the evidence,
and WILL in the course of a week or
two. prepare a report to be submitted
to Gov. Terrell. This report will refer
entirely to the conduct Of the military
except when the doings of others were
made q part of the record.
What Correspondent Saw.
The first witness was Mr.. Goode NJ.
Query newspaper cores ondent
who was at .Statesboro during the trial
of the negroes, Cato1 and Reed. The
examination was confined to the doings
on the morning OF the day of the
lynching. Mr.. Query saw Capt. Hitch
seized and pushed into the crowd.
When asked to estimate the num-
Der in the mob, the witness thought
thirty men were actually participant
ing. Cato was brought out first, and
Reed less than a minute afterwards.
Mr.. Query followed close to Cato
for half a mile and saw no vehicles.
dinner at the hotel and followed later
in a buggy. He was certain that the
prisoners were not carried in vehicles.
None of the soldiers tried to rescue the
negroes. he said.
Capt. Grice: How many were In the
crowd following the negroes
Mr.. Query; 1.-TWO hundred men in ALL
with perhaps a hundred more follow
ing. l did not see a pistol or gun"
Capt Grice; Did you hear anything
about pursuing the mob?"
Mr.. Query: mo, there was SO much
noise that l couldn't hear much else"
Mr.. Query thought there were from
500 or 1000 people in Statesboro for
the trial on Tuesday. There was no
demonstration when the sentence was
pronounced. The sheriff asked every
body to leave the court room. The
witness walked down stairs and saw
men melting the mob. He heard Capt.
Hitch addressing the mob. When Capt.
Hitch was seized the officer was in
front of the men on the front stairs.
Told the Men to Load.
Col Wooten: "What command did
you hear Lieut.. McIntire give?"
Mr. Query: He told his men to load
When the crowd pressed him he drew
his sword and ran down. One man
loaded, and one or two came down to
help him."
The two men with Lieut.. McIntire
stood together and cleared the stair
way. About fifty men composed the
mob which went upstairs. He saw
Cato dragged up the street and later
Reed. Mr.. Query followed the crowd,
which passed forty or fifty yards from
the camp of soldiers. About fifty men
were standing at ease in plain sight.
No effort was made to rescue the pris
oners from the mob.
Cato was in front at first but after
leaving the Court House the men with
the negro slowed up until Reed caught
up. Two men with old-fashioned guns
were the only armed men seen by the
witness. No Colts revolvers were be-
ing flourished. though some had guns
taken from the soldiers. These were
not loaded. Mr.. Query did not think.
as he examined a few after they were
returned by the mob.
Nearly all of the members of the
mob were in their shirt sleeves. Weap-
ons were the exception. The witness
reiterated his statement that the ne
groes were not carried in vehicles.
Col. Wooten. How much time
elapsed between the passing of the
camp of soldiers by the mob until they
arrived at the scene of the lynching ?"
Mr.. Query: About three quarters
Of an hour. About the same time was
consumed in preparing for the burn
ing"
Col. Brooks. did you send to your
paper any information about the
lynching?"
Mr.. Query; Il sent the substance of
the story about noon Monday. / got
the information from the prosecutor
and from the defendants counsel |
do not think il was generally known
in town that the lynching was to take
place Immediately after the convic-
ton"
Ditn't Seek Information.
Col. Brooks was any information
sought from you by the military"
Guerry: NO. About midnight Mon
day night some drunken men tried to
get to see Judge Daley at the hotel
I went over 10 the camp TO notify the
soldiers. ! told Lieut. Nell. and he
replied that II Judge Daley needed
protection he would probably send for
H. / never volunteered any more in
formation after that"
Col. Barker Did you see any OF
the guards helping Capt Hitch when
he was seized ?"
Guerry NO. the guards had all they
could do. They were all attacked at
once"
Corpl Shortrldge was the next vii
ness. He was the soldier who had
stood off a crowd with a single loaded
gun. The mob saw that the young
soldier had put An a ball and cartridge
and the members were convinced he
would shoot. and prudently fell back