The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1905-11-18
FRANKLIN COURT.
SIX MEN In JAIL UNDER INDICTMENT
FOR MURDER.
John Nettles and the MixOns Promptly
Indicted for the Murder Of
Pink Adams.
judge Wilkinson Delivers One of His
Stronges. Anti.White.C Cap Charges.

Sironges. Anti-White.Cap Charges.
Persons in Brookhaven Thurs
day and yesterday from Meadvllle
say that the liveliest court is in
progress there ever witnessed in
the old town. Judge Wilkinson,
as was to be expected, rose to the
full height of the occasion and de-
livered one of the plainest and
strongest charges against white
capism and lawlessness in general,
ever heard from the bench. The
grand jury was carefully purged
of men known to sympathize with
crime and started to work the first
day with only Is on the panel.
John Anderson, quite young
man. was appointed foreman. In
appointing him to this important
trust, Judge Wilkinson informed
him that he had been selected by
the eonrt because it had confidence
in bis courage and integrity Of
character and could be trusted to
do his duty without fear or favor,
and because, the court added. you
are a young man without family,
and if the white caps assassinate
you for doing your duty, like
they did Pink Adams, you will
not leave a wife and lot of little
children deprived of father and
protector. =
On Tuesday, the second day of
court, Judge Wilkinson created
fresh CONSERVATION in the white
cap ranks by appointing five addi-
tional members of the grand jury,
men above all suspicion of any
connection or sympathy with that
infamous organization, and of es-
tablished character and probity.
The jury was told in unnistaka-
BILE terms that the salt was before
them and that they must come up
to the lick-log and clean it off,
or the court would discharge
every derellct juryman reported
to him until jury was secured
who would do their duty. Good,
abiding citizens of the county
were admonished to attend the
court from day to day, SO that
they could be called on for SER
vice if needed.
1t is stated that the court has
secured fine grand jury and up
to Thursday morning six men
had been indicted for murder and
were in the county Jail. Four of
these were John Nettles, VIM.
Nixon, Sr., VIM. Nixon, Jr., and
John Nixon, charged with the
murder of Pink Adams on Satur-
day night. Another was Charles
McManus, who murdered the rail
road section foreman at Hamburg
Nov. 7th. Two indictments were
returned against Harry Aldridge
for the murder of the two Breed
love boys at the Moreton & Helms
logging camp last spring.
There are cumulative facts and
circumstances going to prove that
Pink Adams was murdered be-
cause of what he had already re-
veaIed against the white caps and
would testify to in the courts at
Meadville and jackson if called
upon. lie was aggressive and
outspoken in his opposition to the
organization and could neither be
Eintimidated nor otherwise in
| tiuenced to compromise and con-
ceal what he knew. Though be
was not among the indicted at
Jackson, it is now positively as
serted by persons in position to
know, that John Nettles was a
member Of the white cap organi-
cation or Farmers Protective
League, and that he was duly
sworn in.
One of the prominent citizens
of Franklin county who was in
town Thursday informed The
Leader that number of the most
reputable members of the Far
mers' League, whose testimony
was feared If placed on the wit
ness stand. had received during
last week notices like the follow
ing:
Night has no eyes. Dead men
tell no tales. You remember the
oath you took when you joined
the Farmers Protective Union;
so be cautious about what you
divulge before the grand jury, or
this will be your fate. "
The fate" referred to is repre-
lsented by a picture drawn on the
paper of a man suspended from a
limb by a rope and d pistol play
ing on him automatically mean
while. under which is marked
"3S. = These notices we're sent
Through the Us. mails and mail
ed at Amite county postofices.
All this and the facts attending
the killing Of Pink Adams, point
Ito a preconcerted effort on the
part Of the white caps to forestall
any action against members of the
Iorder In the courts and strike ter
| lror to tie hearts of such as might
be otherwise willing to turn
States evidence.
In view of the vocifercus
declarations from certain quarters