The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1906-08-23
GOV. GLENN TO THE STATE.

Greeting:
Up and until few weeks ago, for
four years, our State was blessed with
law and order, and peace and plenty
reigned. Now, few lawless men in
three instances have taken the law
into their own hands, and by violence
and with a strong hand have oyer
thrown the law, and wllfully and de-
llberately committed murder by lynch
ing persons confined in Jail. In none
81 these cases was there the slightest
excuse for these acts, for IN all cases
eDecial terms had been ordered, and
IN one case the court was actually sit
ting and trying the prisoners.
Such acts breed contempt OF law,
bring the courts into dlsrepute, and
put a blot on the good name OF the
State. To stop these disgraceful oc-
currences and to protect all prisoners,
no matter who they are, l have issued
the following orders to all the sheriffs
OF the State, and to those in command
OF the State troops:
Executive Office, Aug. l4th.
To the Sheriff County,
North misunderstanding:
In the future whenever any crime is
committed in your county, use every
means III your power to arrest the
offenders and bring them to trial.
after their arrest and confinement in
your Jail, If you hear Of any threats or
rumors Of violence, you will at once
notify me, giving all the facts, to the
end that may take such steps as to
n.a seem eXpedtont.
I also hereby direct you to notify
the captain Of the nearest military
company Of said runor, and order him
- be IN readiness to aid you in case Of
need. You also have the power to
Summons and arm all citizens as a
posse cOmitatus. II after this, VIC
lence is attempted l hereby command
you to order out the military company
and the posse, and have them armed
and equipped for duty. You will then
make proclamation and order all
crowds around your jail or attempting
10 SEIZE your prisoners, to at once dis
parse, telling them, if they refuse, you
will use force and their injury will be
upon their own heads. Use every
peaceful means in your power to dis
parse crowds, without using force, but
i they still refuse to leaYe, and con
tinue their threats and unlawful acts,
use force sufficient to dispense them,
cyan If killing be necessary.
You will likewise arrest and put IN
jail all such persons engaged in said
mob, to the end that they may be pros
ecnted and punished according to law.
l have confidence in the integrity OF
TIE civil officers, and count on their
cooperation with me in suppressing all
crime. Herein fail not, but obey this
order. Respectfully,
r. B. GLENN, Governor.
Executive Office, Aug. 18th.
To Captain. Company.
n. G.. State Guard
Sir :--Herea'ter, in case at any time
you hear OF any attempt at violence
by mob law, you are hereby command
ed to report the facts to me and also
notify the sheriff OF the county where
tha violence is threatened of your
readiness to tender him your services.
In the event you are ordered out By
the sheriff, you are hereby commanded
to obey his lawful orders. Attempt NO
violence as long as there is d chance to
enforce order peacefully. If the sheriff,
after ordering the crowd to disperse
and they refuse, orders you to fire, do
So. Arrest all the mob you can, and
deliver them to the sheriff, and con-
tlnue to guard and protect the Jail
until you are relieved. Do nothing
rash, but in every way possible aid the
civil authorities in suppressing mob
law.
I have confidence in the willingness
and ability of the military to carry out
this order. This is general order in
force now and hereafter, until count er-
manded, and of it you will take notice
and act accordingly.
R. B. GLENN,
Gov. and Commander-in.C Chief.
The above orders show my desire to
preserye the law and to protect the
State, but even these efforts will be
futile unless all good citizens will aid
me. Law-abiding people should keep
out of the mob, render it no assistance
or sympathy, directly or indirectly,
use every effort in their power to get