Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-19
THE GEORGIA LYNCHING
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EFFORTS TO LOCATE BLAME FOR
MIsMANAGEMENT OF TROOPS.
Well-Known Business Man Admits His
Connection With the Outrage
Soldiers Ashamed.

dispatch from Statesboro Ca, last
night says: The question most discussed
today is the alleged r1isnanagement Of the
troops during the trial Of the negroes, Reed
and cato. non-commissioned officer of the
local military company declared today that
two officers Of his company have prepared
to send their designations to the governor
and that majority of the company have
asked for dismissal from the service. Lead
ing citizens are endeavoring to dissuade
them from this intention.
This officer declared that the members of
the company were required to give up their
that other and smaller cartridges were is
sued to less than a half dozen members Of
the company He said orders were given
that there should be no firing.
The local men lay the blame on the off,
Ger in command. He was the captain of
the Savannah company on duty here. 1t is
declared, and not denied, that the mob with
the two negroes on the way to the stake
passed within a few yards of the soldiers,
stationed about the jail. 1t is declared,
and not denied. that these soldiers even
then could have rescued the negroes and
held them against the mob.
Admits Leadership Of the Mob.
One well-known business man. who ad-
mits his leadership of the mob and who
admits he had a part in the burning Of
the negroes, stated that the plans to kill
the two negroes at the end Of the trial, re-
CARELESS of what the verdict might be,
were formulated the day before the trial.
Excepting that it was not previously deter
mined that burning should be the method,
these plans, he declared, were carried out
exactly as made. The same citizen de-
clared that the military authorities have
his name as well as others who had an
active part in the killing of the prisoners.
He said that no grand jury would indict
and no petit jury in this county would find
guilty any man who had part in the work.
Judge DAILY, presiding at the trial of the
negroes, said he could not say what ac-
ton, If any, will be taken to apprehend
those who had part in the work.
Sheriff to the Defense of Deputies.
Sheriff Kendrick today gave out state
ment denying that of Capt. r. M. Hitch of
Savannah and other soldiers that deputy
sheriffs aided in overpowering the troops.
and that Sheriff Kendrick pointed out the
prisoners to the mob.
Sheriff Kendrick declares that II was no
deputy of his who seized Captain Hitch,
the commander of the troops, and threw
him down the stairs where he was dis
armed. The sheriff says that the man who
seized the captain merely resembled one of
his deputies, and 1t was this resemblance
that misled Captain Hitch 1t was Sherifr
Hendricks purpose in going to the pris-
oners room, he declares, to hustle the pris-
oners out upon the roof and thus away
from the mob through a scuttle. The mob
was hard upon his heels. however. and he
had to give over this purpose.
meeting OF the Statesboro' Guards was
held tonight 1t was determined to ask
Tor the disbandmenti of, the company I'M
less 1t should be exonerated by the inves-
tigation the governor Is expected to order.
The company holds that 1t was not re-
sponsible for the success of the mob.
Exodus Causes Scarcity Of Help.
Beyond the whipping Of a number of ne
groes in this county and one at Claxton.
about twenty-five niles from here. nothing
has developed today m the situation in this
part of Georgia. The exodus of negroes
continues and already has threatened
shortage in the labor supply in the cotton
neids, where the picking is soon to COM
mence. ~ =.
Ihere Is evidence that irresponsible ma
rauders nave committed some acts Of vio-
renee against the negroes, such as the
Shooting OF an aged negro. Roberts. and
ms son. IN their cabin Tuesday night. This
mas peen deprecated by all. He has lived
seventy years In this community. and COM
mahoeo the respect of every good citizen.