Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-06
Mississippi Lynching Record.
The Curse of the Twentieth Century. Manv
Colored People the Victims


NEW ORLEANS, LA, Jan. l.
While the lynching record for Mis-
sissippi In 1905 exceeded that Of
1904, three encouraging phases
stand out clear and bold-the de-
termination Of Gov. Yardaman, back
ed by the State National Guard, TO
curb the spirit OF mob law, even 20
the extent OF rushing militia on
special trains 70 the aid OF the
threatened culprit and conveying
him TO a place OF safekeeping; sec
ond, the conviction before a white
jury OF a white man who took the
law into his own hands and execu-
ted a negro (the first instance in the
history OF Mississippi third. the
violent spirit as Affecting the negro
race when one Of their girls falls
victim 70 a fellow-black.
Il is more than probable that the
Mississippi Legislature, at the SEES
sion which convenes January 2, will
provide a more severe penalty for
the crime OF attempted rape. The
limit for this offense is ten years
under the present laws. This pun
ishment is a bagatele. and has no
terrors for the evil-inclined. IL is
argued that 20 this Hght penalty is
due the great number OF lyncnings
in Mississippi each year, the offend
ed people realizing that the cuiprit,
even. if convicted will soon be at
liberty to again prey on victims.
There were just an even twenty
lynchings in Mississippi during the
twelve months ending yesterday, as
compared TO eighteen for the year
1904. These twenty who we're all
colored men, paid the penalty for:
Criminal assault, .; attempted erin
inal assault. 8 entering lady's bed
room. .; author Of insulting letter
20 lady, ], murder, 8 attempted
murder, 2. accessories TO muir
der. . assault and battery. 2 FIR
ing on officers. 1, and threats, /.
Three of the twenty lynchings oc
CURED fin Bolivar County. two each
IN Tauahatchic Perry, Wilkinson,
and YazOo counties. and one each in
Washington. Winston. Talobusha,
kemper. Copiah. DE Sofa, Clay. Ran
Kin and Cohoma counties.
MORE IN THE WARM MONTHS
The first lynchng during tho year
occurred ON january Q the last in
tho year December g. This was an
average Of one lynching every is
days. During August when the
temperature is highest in Mississip-
pi. there were Eve lynchiugs; in
September, &, in July, g; I'm June
3: in December. q; in Novomber.
!. In January. /, Ia March, i 40
lynchinEs occurred during the
months OF February, April. May or
October. The midost temperature
of the year is generally experienced
I'm Mississippi during the period Of
these four months.
Eighteen OF the twenty victims
OF mob law were put tO death by or
ganized mao 81. and two by one man
in each cas- There were three in
stances of uble executions Six
teen colorcd IN were hanged and
four were shot 20 death. Six were
taken from the officers spirited a
way, and put TO death; one was shot
20 death in the presence OF the Off
Ger in charge. and while the prison
er was manacled and being conveyed
on board a train 20 the penitentiary
70 serve ten years for attempted
criminal assault; one was hanged
with the handouts on his wrists;
two were taken from trains while In
the custody of officers. and hanged
from the same limb; another was
taken from a train, the ofhcer being
overpOwered. and hanged by the
side OF the track; one was captured
and conveyed TO the scene Of his
crime aboard "a train, the mob ac-
companying. and there strung up
after a confession had been OBJ
tanned.
In one case a colored man who
criminally assaulted colored girl
was hanged by a mob composed eX-
clusively Of colored men. In anoth-
or case a mixed posse Of whites and
blacks shot 20 death a colored man
who had attempted criminal assault
on 3 "ClOred girl.
10 another case Gov. VarSanan
offered $3.50 reward for the dCliv-
cry OF Elmer Niece. a young white
man who had attempted criminal
assault on a nine-year-Old colOred
girl near Lake. The reward has
been standing two months and the
fugitive is sun az liberty.
LAW TOOK ITS COURSE IN ONE
CASE.
IN one case-and only one of
attempted criminal assault the law /
took its course, and the convict is /
now serving mis- ten years in the pen 1
ftentiary. Steve Scott colored, had I
confessed at Meadville 10 entering /
the bedroom Of Mrs. J. W. Jones, on /
the night of May 28. He was spir- /
tied away 10 a distant point, and a \
month later, after the excitement
had subsidized. was tried and given /
the maximum OF ten years.
Perhaps the most notable case
during the year was the Illegal exc
- l. IL