New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-29
TO PUNISH LYNCHERS.
Government Acts Il gainst SIayers of
Chattanooga Negro.

Chattanooga Negro.
Washington, May 2s-rhe government has
taken steps to punish the persons who are re-
sponsible for the lynching in Chattanooga Tenn.
on March 10 last Of the negro. Ed. johnson. TO
whom, when under sentence of death. an appeal
was granted by the United States Supreme Court
from the decision Of the Circuit Court for the
Eastern District OF Tennessee. In the Supreme
Court to-day Attorney General Moody filed
information requesting that in consideration of
the acts committed by the parties named, It
issue a rule each of them to show cause why
they should not be punished for contempt Of
court. The court granted leave TO file as
Quested. making the rule returnable on the sec
ond Monday OF the next term Of court, October
10. The persons named as defendants John
F. Shipp, Frank Jones' Matthew Galloway. C. A
Baker. T. B. Taylor, Fred Frauley George
Brown jeremiah Gibson. Marion Perkins,
Joseph Clark Nick Nolan ''Sheenie" Warner,
Luther Williams, Paul Pool. William Marquette,
William Beeler. Claude Powell. Charles J.
Powell Bart Justice, John Jones. A J. Cart
wright r F. Cartwright Henry Padgett Will
lam May. Frank Ward. John VarnelI and Alfred
Hammond
After recitIng the facts OF the arrest, convic-
ton and sentence OF Johnson and the denial Of
his application for a writ OF habeas corpus by
the Circuit Court. the Attorney General said
that the Sheriff and his deputies had every rea-
son to believe from current reports that an at
tempt would be made TO lynch johnson, and
that notwithstanding these facts. the Sheriff
withdrew from the jail early in the evening of
The 18th the usual guard and left in charge only
the night jailer Deputy Sheriff Gibson 1t was
also said that about o'clock of that night the
defendants and a large number of other persons
combined and conspired together TO lynch and
murder johnson, with intent to show their con-
tempt and disregard for the order Of the court
and for the purpose Of preventing it from hear
ing the appeal allowed by the court, and pre-
venting the prisoner from exercising right Sc
cured TO him by the laws and Constitution OF
the United States.
The facts attending the lynching are given in
the information, and the statement IS made that
although Sheriff Shipp returned 10 the jail while
IL was in possession of a mob neither ne nor
Gibson did anything TO prevent the lynohing'
but in fact aided those engaged in it The Attor-
ney General closed as follows
Wherefore. the United States OF America, the
complainants herein, through their Attorney
General respectfully request this honorable
cour, tbe, in sideration Of the acts commit
ted bv the above named defendants and each OF
them as herenbefore set forth, IL VIII issue ana
direct the marshal of this court to serve upon
SAID defendants and each of them a rule 10
show cause IL any there be, on a day certain
defendants
not be punished and for contempt OF this
honorable court
Chattanooga. Tenn. May 2S-The action of
the Attorney General Of the United States came
as q surprise here. the local grand jury having
failed 10 find an Indictment against the lynch
arg of Johnson although strongly charged by
Iudpe McReynolds. 1t is supposed that the
evidence was insufficient to make out case
against any suspected person Ten of the men
named by the Attorney General are officials
the Sheriff and his deputies. The others are not
widely known
Cho,tanoosa Sheriff Of Hamilton County, Tennes-
Sc snenr to-day in Birmingham. He said he was
not alarmed over the news from Washington
.orhe Supreme Court of the United States" he
said was responsible for this lynching. 1 had
given that negro every protection that could For
fourteen days / had guarded and protected him
myself The authorities had urged me TO use one or
TWO military companies in doing so. but told them
that 7 would land the negro in jail. which did
individually Many nights before the lynching
there had been on duty, sufficient guard
around the Jail. / had looked for no trouble that
night and contrary. did not look for ii until
the next day That night one was on duty ex
cept the TALLER who is the usual guard at the jail
In our county as well in other counties In my
opinion that Of the Supreme Court of the
United States in allowing the case to remain
courts was the most tnlnB IN the
history of Tennessee. ] was determined that the
case should be put in the hands Of the law. IL
was The jury that tried the negro Johnson was
as good as sat in a jury box The people of
Hamilton County willing to let the law take
its course until II became known that the
would probably not be disposed OF for four five
wears by the Supreme Court OF the United States.
The rsople would not submit 10 this. and do not
wonder II These proceedings in the United
States Supreme Court recently appear 10 me to be
only a matter OF politics do not wish TO appear
IN the light OF defyng the United States courts but
I did my duty and ready for any conditions