The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-18
BIG REWARD OUT FOR JACK HUNTER Is Chief Perpetrator of Gads-
 don Crlne PROOF SEEMS CONCLUSIVE Vance Garner Wac Evidently the Man Who Assisted In the Murder of
 Mrs. Smith Saturday
 Night.
PROOF SEEMS CONCLUSIVE

Gadsden, July 17-(speciaL)-The re- mains of Mrs. s. J. Smith, who was foul- ly murdered and criminally assaulted on the road by two negroes, Jack Hunter and Vaance Garner Saturday night, were prepared for burial and taken to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bullard four miles above Gadsden, on the mountain near the falls and were inferred this morning
 Coroner F. Guy woodliff impaneied his ] jury about o'clock Sunday afternoon in the fire rooms of the city, hall and commenced taking testimony. The Jury is composed of L. L. Harzberg, E. H. Cross, Joe Hammond, John Paden, J. M. Sullivan and Pelham sitz. Some ten or twelve witnesses werre examined. and some very damaging testimony was brought out against the two negroes, Vance Garner and Jack Hunter. sufa- cient evidence has been secured to con- vict these two negroes of one of tho worst crimes ever committed in this county.
 Saw the Two Negroes.
 One negro woman swore positively i that she saw the two negroes, Vance l Garner and Jack Hunter. take Mrs. Smith by the arm and pull her up the I track. The evidence is very strong, and two white boys gave strong proof of the guilt of the two negroes. Archie 1 Snuff testified that he and Ben Adams were going home about Il o'clock satur- day night and met Vance Garner and Jack Hunter on tho railroad track near 1 Jeffers store. They were standing on the track talking. The men saw white woman coming down the track and asked ! who she was. Vance Garner said it was 1 Mrs. Smith. She said: Don't think | hard of me boys for being out so late. am looking for my boys and can't find them. expect will have to go home l by myself"
 "vance Garner told me not to say any thing to her" said tho witness. T told him he needn't to worry. I wasn't going to- Vance wore towel around his neck. A few minutes later both took out after the woman in a hurry l met Vance this morning and asked him if he had heard of the dead woman. He said he heard cries of help last night and went up there and saw man have a wo- man down m the road and thought 1t was white folks and went away. Ee asked me and Ben not to give him away"
 Big Crowd Assemblies.
 A large crowd of people was on the streets all day Sunday and soon after dark some 300 people were gathered at ot. talking of the murder. About 9:9O some 200 men appeared before the jail and de- manded that they be admitted. They had rope, guns and pistols. but lacked leader The streets were filled with men who wanted to lynch Vance Garner, who was confined in the county jail They were massed in a solid body in front of the gate and were demanding admittance when Judge J. H. Disque and Solicitor Woodson Martin appeared and stood the mob off until Company 0 could be ordered out and reach the scene. Judge Disque and Congressman Burnett made talks and promised a quick trial and swift justice, and tho mob dispersed without any trouble The men stood around and talked, and about 10 o'clock disappeared.
 The call for the military company was answered In a hurry and in less than half an hour First Lieutenant A. R. Brind- ley was at the jail with twenty-seven mon in uniforms, guns and ball cartridges ready for duty. Lieutenant Brindley waf put In charge and he posted his men and soon all was quiet. About 1 o'clock this morning a crowd of about twenty-five men approached the guard and stated that they had prisoner they wanted tc put In jail as a suspect. They were armed and wanted to take the prisoner to jail. Lieutenant Brindley recognized the ruse to get to the Jail and refused . He took the negro in charge and com manded the men to disperse. which they did. The soldiers were on duty all night ] and until the prisoners were taken tC Birmingham this morning on the 12 o'clocl train.
 Hunting for Jack Hunter. Large crowds of determined men arc securing the mountains for Jack Hunter
 who made his escape before Mrs. Smitt was found. He is the chief perpetratol of the most horrible crime. The officer: , have the matter well in hand and fee : confident that they can keep down tn, mob. Vance Garner was badly frghten , ed when he learned that mob wa. forming. He is brutal ltVking negro an( looks capable of almost any kind of crime The following notice has been posted. One hundred dollars reward for the ar rest of Jack Hunter. alias Jack Betty for murder of white woman Saturda, night. July 15, 1906, Gadsden, Ala De } scription Mulatto. aged about 2S. weigh 14O or 150. height five feet eight inches