The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-25
IYNCHERS WERE THERE
ID DOUBT OF THE PURPORTED
 LYNCIslMG AT LINDEN.
oAeesM T. '. Jaeksea Makes Full Report OR Oecurrence to 0overnor-GOv- eeAef Coaerafulates the
 SheraR.

IT any doubt yemafns Tn the m1nds or the people that there was need in the Governors sending the Selma cavalry troop to Linden last week to avert a lynching supposed to be imminent, 1t will probably be dispeiled by perusal of the correspondence just concluded between Governor Jelks and Sheriff Thomas J. Jackson. of Marengo County. which was made public yesterday. From this exchange of letters 1t would seem that though the expedition to Linden was a quiet affair 1t was nevertheless . wise precaution.
 Troop c. of the Squadron of Cavalry of the Alabama National Guard. 1t will be recalled was ordered by the Governor last Tuesday to go to Linden and pro- tect from iynching a negro, Robert Richardson imprisoned on the charge of numbering Dr. F. L. Fosque several weeks ago near Linden. The cavalry men arrived in Linden after qulck trip from Selma and met with no re- sistance. They returned to Selma upon being told. by 6herin Jackson that ne could handle the situation alone.
 In a report of the episode to the Gov ernor, Sheriff Jackson expresses him. self as certain that lynching of Richardson was Imminent and would no doubt have been attempted had not the troops arrived when they did. The sheriff and forces were out of the coun- ty seat all the day preceding the night of July IS in pursuit of several escapes who broke out of jail recently.
 The letter of Sheriff Jackson to the Governor is as follows:
 Linden, Ala, July 21, 1905. Hon. W. D. Jelks, Governor of Ala
 bama. Montgomery, Ala:
 Dear Sir-I have the honor to make to your Excellency the following re- port concerning the averted lynchfng of Robert Richardson, on the night pr July 18th, 1905.
 The above named negro who was at that time confined in county jail Of Marengo County. at Linden. awaiting action by the Supreme Court in the matter of an appeal taken from the judgment of our Circuit Court, ,con- demning the defendant to be hanged for the murder of Dr. F. L. Foscue. From a previous report made by me, your Excellency will recall that Albert Richardson, also under a sentence Of death for the same crime, committed suicide in his cell a few weeks ago. This incident, taken in connection with the cold blooded nature of the crime. of which they were proved guilty, served to keep the matter constantly before the public mind, already very 1nuCn tnHdHftu thS VT Ss and citizens of this and adjoining coun- ties. familiar with the details of the crime, expressed a growing impatience and much dissatisfaction over the delay in executing the sentence passed upon Robert Richardson. The condition or our county jail insecure, old and con demned by numberless grand juries- its worthlessness emphasized by the escape of five prisoners, with no other aid than a small wire-gave rise to a fear on the part of many that the negro would never be brought to justice; and last Tuesday night witnessed the eul- imitation of this sentiment, and the re- sulting. though frustrated. attempt to in1ict mob violence upon the remaining murderer.
 l have gone through this preamble in order that your Excellency might bet ter understand the conditions existing on last Tuesday. and the reasons which led my attorney. Mir. E. E. Taylor, to promptly act in my absence At that time I was away from Linden and had been constantly so for the past sixty hours, pursuing the escaping prison CTS; my deputies were likewise engaged in the pursuit, and not at hand to as- sume the responsibility of the occasion. In this extremity Mir Taylor wired your Excellency. and his action was based upon and induced by statements made to him by Mir. w. L. Brasfeld and MT. John C. Dunn, prominent citizens of Linden, who gave him to understand that they were in possession of enough information to warrant them in advis- ing that prompt action alone could save the prisoner. At this point, l beg to tender your Excellency my most sincere thanks for your prompt and decA-ive action. and, I am convinced that that alone save the situation and ena- bled 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 a few hours past, of large number of horses and men. Tracks were abun- dant. 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 Chickasawbogue Creek.
 As your Excellency has already been informed, as soon as l arrived in Lin- den (which was just before sunset of the 1Sth) I placed the prisoner in a closed carriage and started with him with two deputies to a place of con- cealment myself accompany ing them several miles. I then instructed the deputies to make Thomaston, a point twelve miles east of here on the Louis vile and Nashville and take the prison. CT 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 officer and he is now in the Selma. jail.