Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-18
FIENDS' AWFUL WORK
live Negroes In an Alabama Jail
on Terrible Charge.
WHITE LADY VICTIM.
After Being Repeatedly Assaulted the
Unfortunate Woman Nus Dragged
by Her Hair Down Embark.
ment and Murdered.

Montgomery. Ala. July i7.-At 10
o'clock Sunday night Governor Jeika
received the following telegram from
Gadsden: my Jail and prisoners con-
finsd therein threatened BY mob. Pris-
oners In Jail charged with rape and
murder OF white woman. Need mill
tary assistance. Answer"
The governor Immediately wired
Captain L. B. Raney commanding ths
Gadsden company OF the state troops
to place his company at the disposal OF
the sheriff and to keep the executive
ONCE advised Of further Developments
The negroes In the Gadsden Jail are
Vance Gardner. VIII Johnson. Ed
Johnson. Bunk Richardson. Jen Afford
and Fannie Mayo. The victim OF the
criminal assault and murder which
they are alleged TO have committed
was Mrs. 5. J. Smith. white. a widow.
The deed was committed Saturday
T.
early hour Sunday morning. when one
OF the negr~es now under arrest. Vance
Gardner. reported that he had found
the dead body Of Mrs Smith. Chief
OF Police White and several officers
went al once TO the scene and discOv-
cred the nude body OF the woman ly-
ing partially concealed IN some bushes
by the roadside about three-quarters
Of a mile from Gadsden. The evidence
obtained shows that Mrs. Smith was
attacked on the upper side OF the road
and. after having been repeatedly as
saulted. was dragged By her half
down an embankment over rocks and
stumps into the clump of bushes
where she was left. after efforts had
been made 90 conceal her body. Her
shoes and stockings were found near
By. having been torn from her and he'd
false teeth were nearby In the road
The woman's neck was broken.
The ground az the scene of the crime
showed that the woman had put up a
desperate struggle for life and honor
and a pair q scissors and "a case knife
were close 10 her body weapons which
NNf HtA fNiAtAAAAN Aa'A AhaAttaA tANA a."
sailants.
Mrs Smith was last seen on Satur-
day night. when. with her two sons
she attended a show in Gadsden.
She became separated from her boys
and after making inquiries as 90 their
whereabouts without avail she started
home alone. She took "a path which
was nearer than the usual route. A.
she was emerging from the path into
the road sine was attacked by the men
Vance Gardner. one OF the negroes
under arrest and who claims 90 have
discovered the womau's body says
that about midnight Saturday Dee was
passing and was aroused hy cries Of
Help" and 'Murderl" Going Co the
scene he found Mrs. Smith PROSTATE
on the ground with a negro standing
over her and endeavoriug 90 stun a
towel into her mouth. Hc slysLhat be-
called the men 90 stop but was told O.
leave Immediately
A mob OF 300 people gathered on
Broad street In Gadsden Sunday night
marched on the jail demanding that
the doors be opened. one young man
had the rope ready to swing Vance
Gardner. Sheriff Chandler and Judge
J. ". Disque were prepared FOR them.
Company c.. with First Lieutenant A.
n. Brindley In charge. was called out
and had pickets out Congressman
Burnett and Judge DisQue made talks
and the mob dispersed.