The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-24
LAW MUST! EFFACE
THIS BLACK BLOT
Defied, TrampIed Under
Foot, Says Terrell.
A COURT OF INQUIRY
This is Ordered to Investigate the
Conduct of the Military at States
boro. Terrell Declares the
Guilty Must Be Pun
ished.
(By the Associated Press.)

Atlanta, Ga, Aug. 23.-On his re-
turn from st. Louis today Governor
Joseph M. Terrell held conference
with Sampson w. Harrison, Adjutant-
General of Georgia, in which the re-
cent Statesboro lynching was dis
cussed. The conference terminated
with the appointment of a court of in
quiry to investigate the conduct of the
militia from which the mob took the
prisoners.
The court is composed of Col. a. r.
Lawton (retired). of Savannah, presi-
dent; Col. w. l.. Wooten. of Albany;
Lieutenant-Colonel w. w. Barker of
Atlanta; Major r. L. Wyly, of Thomas
vile, and Captain Warren Grice, of
Hawkinsville.
After the appointment of this court
Governor Terrell issued the following
tatement:
Il was greatly surprised and shocked
over the Statesboro occurrd1ce. L
had been advised of the necessity OF
sending to Statesboro during the trial
of the murderers of the Hodges fam
ily military guard for the preserva-
tion of peace and order. which / did.
Before my departure for St Louis j
was informed that the trial was pro-
there any evidence whatever Of any in
tention on the part of those present
to interfere with the regular admins
tration of Justice. The judge, the sher-
iff and the commanding officers all re-
ported that quiet and order had
marked the proceedings and that no
outbreak was il the least anpre-
hended.
Il felt greatly relieved over the sit
Al fA, I tic
on official business connected witA the
Georgia exhibits. l was proud to
know that the people of Bulloch and
surrounding counties were just and
brave enough to give the wretches,
though guilty of robbery, arson ana
many times murderers. a fair and I'M
partial trial. and let the law take it's
natural and orderly course. | was
therefore not prepared to believe as
true the news which l received en-
route of the action of the mob, so
horribly revolving and sickening in
its details.
II have been greatly mortified over
the crime of this mob. | take COM
fort in the fact that it did not repre-
sent the sentiment of this State, for
it's action is condemned by q large ma
iority of the people of the State, and
as for that matter, of Statesboro ana
No defense can, and no apology should
be, made for this action of the mob!
1t should be denounced by the law
abiding citizens everywhere. The
wretches whose lives were taken, de-
served it, yet it is unquestionably true
that no man who took part in the
homcides had the right to inf1ict 1T.
The crime against these negroes is of
but small Importance compared with
the great crime against the law. The
law has been whipped, overcome and
trodden under foot by the mob. The
negroes may not have deserved better
but surely the law idd.
II regret exceedingly that the mill
tary did not preserve the peace. They
were sent there to see that the law
was enforced and that peace was pre-
served at all hazards. They repre-
sented, with the civil authorities, the
majesty of the law and when the civil
and military authorities failed to en-.
force the law, whether or not it was
their fault the mob succeeded. Then
there was a triumph of lawlessness
over law. | do not censure either in
the absence of thorough inVestiga-
ton.
"In accordance with the report and
recommendation of the Adjutant-Gen-
eral. / have ordered q court of in
quiry, composed of fair, conservative
| and competent officers to investigat te
| the action and conduct of the military
! on that OCCASION. Ishall request the
| civil authorities. the court SO outraged,
| to do it's utmost to bring the offend
ers against it's dignity and the majesty
of the l<w to speedy and swift JUS
Z