The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-25

juries-its worthlessness emphasized by the recent escape of five prisoners, with
 no other aid than a small wire-gave rise I to a fear on the part of many that the negro would never be brought to justice; and last Tuesday night witnessed the | continuation of this sentiment, and the re- sulting, though frustrated, attempt to in- l fict mob violence upon the remaining
 murderer.
 l I have gone through this preamble in | order that your excellency might better
 understand the conditions existing on last Tuesday. and the reasons which led my attorney. MT. E. E. Taylor, to promptly act in my absence. At that time l was
 away from Linden and had been con-
 stantly so for the past sixty hours, pur-
 suing the escaping prisoners; my depu- 1 ties were likewise engaged In the pursuit,
 and not at hand to assume the responsi-
 bility of the occasion. In this extremity | MT. Taylor wired your excellency, and l his action was based upon and induced
 by statements made to him by MT. w l.. | Brasfield and MT John c. Dunn, promi- I nent citizens of Linden, who gave him to I understand that they were In possession I of enough information to warrant them l in advising that prompt action alone | could save the prisoner. At this point, l beg to tender your excelency my most sincere thanks for your prompt and de-
 cisive action, and I am convinced that that alone saved the situation and enabled
 me to preserve the law.
 To continue with my report The day following viz: on the 18th. one of my deputies visited the spot selected as a rendezvous by the lynchers, and found indications of the presence within few hours past, of large number of horses and men. Tracks were abundant, and cheroot wrappers lying about on the ground gave evidence of how the band
 passed the time while waiting for the hour agreed, or for the returned couriers This spot Is less than three miles from Linden, on the banks of the chickasaw- Bogue creek.
 As your excel1ency has already been in- formed, as soon as I arrived in Linden (which was just before sunset of the 1sth) placed the prisoner in closed carriage and started with him with two deputies to place of concealment, myself accom- panying them several miles 1 then in-
 structed the deputies to make thomas ton, point twelve miles east of here on
 the Louisville and Nashville. and take
 the prisoner in to Selma on the morning train. This they did. and finding V B. Atkins and his men aboard the prisoner was turned over to the commanding of ! ficer, and he Is now in the Selma jail. l trust that my actions In the premises will meet wili. the approval of your ex- cellency and I beg to remain, yours re-
 spectfully, THOMAS J. JACKSON,
 Sheriff of Marengo County Alabama.
 Reply of Governor.
 Montgomery, July 24, 1905. Hon. Thomas J. Jackson, Sheriff Marengo l Count, Linden, Ala.
 l My Dear MT. Sheriff-r am in receipt of 1 your letter and I am gratfied at the
 spirit which find runs through it. l l had assurances before you wrote me
 that my prompt action saved the county
 from deplorable tragedy. It Is not al-
 ways that an executive can tell with
 certainty what might have happened had
 some other course been pursued. But in
 this instance, there Is not lacking all the l evidence necessary to prove the wisdom
 of the course If I did not know before I what the expedition would be worth to
 law and order, 1t Is given me now to
 know.
 l No executive I think issues an order I for the troops without great reluctance.
 In democracy the people are presumed l to execute the laws in each of their own | communities, and 1t Is deplorable to think ! that peace officers must sometimes call
 on outside help to assist them in forcing q proper respect for the majesty and 1 supremacy of the statutes. It is dreadful | thing to think of, and it Is particularly
 distressing to know that seemingly. more and more often. this office has to rely
 upon the national guard to protect the l citizens of the state In their legal right | to life or liberty. am not unmindful 1 of the grossly aggravating character of some offenses which call for the righteous
 and we'll nigh uncomfortable indignation l of the community but we must have l patience. The law must provide.
 l I thank you for the spirit which breathes through your letter. which sounds like that of man who loves 1 law and honors it's decrees. I am, my eear Mir. Sheriff, very truly yours W. D. JELKS, Governor.