Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-17
TROOPS GUARD JAIL
TO PREVENT THE LYNCHING OF
FIVE NEGROES.
Held at 0adsden, Ala, Suspected of
Assault and Murder OF Mrs. 3. 7.
Smith, White.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BIRMINGHAM, July l1.-Troopa still sur
round the fail at Gadsden to prevent the
lynching of the dve negroes held a. sus-
poets In connection with the criminal as
sault and murder OF Mrs. g. J. Smith. the
white woman. whose naked and mutilated
body was found yesterday morning In an
alley. The mob hung around the jail all
night. and this morning some or lis mem
bers stiil remained at a distance In groups.
but no clash occurred. The authorities be-
lieve they have the situation In hand. but
the troops will remain on duty until the ex-
aiming trial Of the accused is held.
The deed was committed Saturday night.
but was not discovered until an early
hour Sunday morning when one OF the
negroes now under arrest, Vance Gard
ner. reported that he had found the dead
body OF Mrs Smith Chief OF Police
White and several officers went at once
To the scene and discovered the nude body
OF the woman lying partially concealed In
some bushes by the roadside about three
quarters OF "a mile from Gadsden.
The evidence obtainable shows that Mrs.
Smith was attacked on the upper Side o'
the road and after having been repeatedly
assaulted. was dragged by her hair down
an embankment. over rocks and stumps,
into the clump of bushes where she was
left after efforts had been made to con-
ceal her body. Her shoes and stockings
were found near by. having been torn from
her. and her false teeth were near by in
the road. The womans neck was broken
The ground at the scene of the crime
showed that the woman had put up des-
perate struggle for life and honor and
a pair of scissors and case knife were
close to her body. weapons which she hid
evidently used against her ASSISTANTS.
mob of 300 people gathered on Brcad
street in Gadsden at dark. and late Sun
day night marched on the Jail. demanding
that the doors be opened. One young
man had the rope ready to swing Vance
Gardner one of the negroes implicated In
the killing. Sheriff Chandler and Judge
J. III. Disque were prepared to meet them
Company c. with First Lieut.. A. X.
Brindley In charge was called out and
had pickets out. Representative Burnett
and Judge Disque made talks and the
mob dispersed. there being less than 100
men now present.
The mob lacked leader. This alone
prevented bloodshed. az Lieut. Brindley
with his men, Sheriff Chandler and Judge
Disque, are determined to protect the ne
groes. The coroners jury was in session
all day and adjourned until o'clock this
afternoon.
At 10 o'clock last night Gov. Jelks re-
ceived the following telegram from Gads-
den, Ala:
my jail and prisoners confined therein
threatened by mob. Prisoners in jail
charged with rape and murder of white
woman. Need military assistance. Answer"
The governor Immediately wired Capt.
L. B. Raney. commanding the Gadsden
company u; state troops. to place his COM
pany at the disposal of the sheriff and to
keep the executive office advised of further
developments.
The negroes In the Gadsden jail are
Vance Gardner. VIII Johnson. Ed John
son. Bunk Richardson. JEFF Afford and
Fannie Mayo The victim OF the criminal
assault and murder which they are alleged
to have committed was Mrs. S. ]. Smith.
white, a widow.