New-York tribune., 1906-04-16
THIRD NEGRO LYNCHED.
MOB FREES PRISONERS.
Ma'fta Guards SpringfeId's Streets
-GOUernOr Folk Acts.

><oNCfH HOl 4 Oth <kttS.
Springfield Nc. April 15-The mob which
Iyhched Duncan and Copeland last night broke
INTO the jail early this morning and took Will
AHen' negro. charged with numbering a man
named honark last January. from the Jail and
Hdiseo5 MIN IN the public square from plat
lorih erected beneath a statue of Justice.
Inc rope broke at the first attempt and Allen
fell upon the charred bodies of the former vic
unls- He was again taken upon the platform
ana as he hung quivering the mob riddled his
body with bullets
As soon as Allen was dead the mob rushed
back to the Jail for Gus Crane. a negro held with
Amen FOR Ronarks murder, but he with thirteen
other prisoners had made his escape
The Jail is a wreck. the mob not stopping after
they had obtained their men, but continued their
work of destruction until practically all the
prison bars were down Damage estimated at
$4,000 vas done to the prison alone while in the
Sherifs ho.se the damage is fully as much.
Sherffs in the surrounding country have been
informed of the prisoners escape
Mrs. Horner. the Sherif's wife. is in critical
condition and is suffering from heart disease.
The militia, reinforced by 200 deputy sheriffs,
guards the streets of Springfield tonight against
possible renewed action by the mob. There are
hundreds of strangers in Springfield, and the
anti-negro feeling still runs high
Although no untoward move was made during
the day many threats were heard. and Sheriff
Horner, fearing a fresh outbreak when darkness
should fall. asked Governor Folk early in the
day for aid. The Governor responded promptly,
and within few hours six companies of militia
were on the way TO Springfield The first of
these companies arrived this evening, and soon
was followed by others.
In addition TO sending soldiers To guard against
further violation of the law, Governor Folk took
quick action to prosecute the leaders OF last
nights mob. He authorized reward of $500
each for the arrest and conviction of members
of the mob This is the limit allowed by law.
In addition he instructed Rush Lake, Assistant
Attorney General, to go to Springfield at once.
OF the fourteen prisoners. whites and negroes.
who escaped from the prison, four have been
captured.
Thousands of persons to-day swarmed about
the jail TO see the wreck caused by the mob.
and about the public square, where the three
negroes were hanged. Every train brought
hundreds Of persons TO the city from surround
ing towns, mostly hoodlums.
Negroes appearing on the streets to-day were
greeted with boots and jeers, and on several oc-
casions men and boys collected to attack them
Both negroes and whites armed There
was a steady demand to-day for firearms, and
at many hardware stores it was reported that
tho entire stock OF weapons had been sold
Aranv of the leading ministers in their Easter
serrnons to-day denounced the lynching in strong
terms and called upon the proper authorities 10
enforce the law or resign their positions. Pros
ecutfng Attorney Patterson said tonight;
Every man implicated in this dastardly out
"a qe whose name I able to learn Will be pun
isbed TO the full extent OF the law: The mem
80 OF the mob are not lawabiding citizens
They are outlaws. They broke into the jail and
besides lynching three negroes. released prison
1rFNo 1pG FfrQ a
freedom to imprisoned criminals.
Prosecuting Attorney Patterson and Sheriff
tJorner are said TO have obtained the names of
more than one hundred men who took an active
mart I'm the lynching. The leaders of the mob
were not disguised. but worked In the full glare
of the electric lights on the square
The Prosecuting Attorney said tonight that he
vould appeal TO Judge Lincoln of the Criminal
Court tomorrow TO summon special grand
iurv at once and make most thorough inVest'-
cation that he may prosecute every man con-
cerned who can be apprehended. This appeal. II
&c declared, will be augmented by a petition
a,,,,ad bv hundreds of the best citizens Of this
community.
whites and blacks are reported having
arr,ed themselves heavily, and the negroes OF the
ci+v are said to have seized 300 sticks OF dyna-
mite from stone quarry for defence purposes
~ any further attempt ar lynching is made
Miss Fdmondson the attack upon whom pro-
,,oled the lynchings, when told Of the work OF
vengeance is reported to have said: Served
them right" Her condition is pronounced seri-
GUS tonight"
The authorities tonight assert that Copeland
and Duncan. two of the victims, innocent.
Miss Edmondson said tonight that she
,,ositiye that Copeland and Duncan, two Of the
negroes hanged. were not her assailants, and
that she could identify them II they were
brought before her. 1t is also considered doubt
rul that Allen was guilty of the murder OF o. NJ.
t,ouarlx the Confederate soldier, for which crime
the mob killed him.
AT midnight the militia had cleared the pub
ito sousre of all people. Other squads OF militia
ore 1arading the negro districts. There is
feeling now that the trouble is over.
Jefferson City, Mo. April 15-Governor Jo-
seph w Folk. in statement to-day. said:
The lynching at Springfield most dis
graceful occurrence. Whatever the offence or
Tbe negroes may have been. and however de-
entitled to punishment by law and not by mob.
and when a mob takes the law into its own
hands as this one did. any member of IT IS guilty
of murder. / viii request one Of the assistant
attorneys general 10 aid the Prosecuting Attor-
new of Greene County 20 punish the Offenders,
and shall offer a reward of $500 for any infor
nation that will lead TO the conviction Of any
member OF the mob.