The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-28
FOUR Owe RAVE THOUSAND
Sheriff and Deputies Bravely Defy
Mob With Negro Prisoner.
Woman's Husband Leads the Crowd
and Fires Pistol Point Blank
at Che Sheriff.

Poplar Bluff, Mo.-Four brave nell
overawed a thousand when Sheriff j
r. Hogg and three assistants fought
their way through a mob with Curtis
Jackson, a negro, just identified as the
assailant Of Mrs. Daniel Norman. Hogg
and his comrades had a frightful bat
tie, but their courage and GOODNESS
won the day, and their prisoner, in
jured only by a blow in the face with
a club that knocked him down, was
taken safely in O. buggy to Hendricks
Vile. In that place the Sheriff and his
prisoner boarded q train for st. Louis.
1t was a particularly daring thing for
the officers to do, as Daniel Norman,
the woman's husband, headed the mob
which demanded Jackson from the
Sheriff. Norman, after Hogg disarmed
him, got another revolver and at last,
desperate at the impending escape of
the negro fired point blank at Sheriff
Hogg. The ball went wild.
Public feeling ran high in favor OF
the lynching'o of Jackson. The negro's
attack on Mrs. Norman was peculiarly
brutal, and the woman's high position
in the community, as we'll as the gen.
eral respect in which her husband was
held, infamed hundreds of their
friends. It was evident, too, from the
patience of those who intended killing
Jackson %summarily, that they wished
to be sur of their man, and were de-
termined not to make O travesty of
their own outrage upon, justice. All
through the forenoon they waited IN
til Mrs. Norman. was in conditions to
have the negro taken before her. She
was too i'll to think Of leaving her
home, but at last physicians said the
Sheriff might take the prisoner to her
house. i,
Hogg received an imperative COM
mand from Governor Folk to save the
negro. There was no "if possible" in
the message. "Save the negro" the
Governors telegram read. /Hogg told
his assistants he was resolved to carry
out the order if it cost his own life.
He asked his men If they would stand
by him. They said they would, no
matter if death awaited them. Then
the four determined men set about
their terrible task.
Hogg fnessed only in one respect.
That. was when he insisted on taking
Jackson back to the Jail here before he
would tell whether or not Mrs. Nor
man had recognized the negro. AT
last the crowd, by that time&a thou
sand strong, learned the fact. Instant
ly a rush was made to the Jail and
Jackson was demanded of the Sheriff.
Hogg refused to give the negro up.
Norman advanced and repeated the de-
mand. He carried q revolver, and
there was a look in his eyes that
showed he was as determined as the
Sheriff-for the time, at any rate.
Hogg repeated his refusal. Norman's
friends crowded up to the windows
Of the Jail and urged him to insist on
having the negro's life. They, too,
were armed.
Sheriff Hogg had at his back Harry
Iden and James Scott. deputy sherifs,
and Henry Whitworth. the City Mar
shall. He again asked them If they
would uphold him in carrying out the
law, saying he would make the fight
alone if they wished to withdraw.
Fired by his example, they told him
again they would stay with him to the
end. That Infatuated Norman and
his friends.
Sheriff Hogg went to the door Of
the Jail and addressed the crowd.
The Sherlf's words made little i'm
preston on the men, and they sur
rounded the jail door. .
Norman ran toward the south door.
q revolver in his hand. Sheriff Hogg
and Deputy Iden met him and dis
armed him. As soon as he was re-
leased he got another revolver from
some one in the crowd. and again
started for the negro.
Meantime men surrounded the negro,
who was trembling and was utterly
speeches.. Some one hit him in the
face with a club, knocking him down.
The mob then began kicking him.
Hogg then dragged Jackson to his
feet and rushed him to a buggy. Whit
worth sprang in and took the reins.
Scott perched himself on the back Of
the vehicle and warned the mob away.
Dozens Of men sprang in front Of the
horses when Whitworth touched them
with bis whip and several seized the
animals heads.
"Stand back" cried Hogg, cor I'll
shoot to kill"
He arose in his place and leveled a
brace Of revolvers at the men in front
of the horses. Then it was that Nor
mans bullet winged its way by the
Sheriff's head. Hogg smiled and, cry"
ing, II forgive you, DAN" told Whit
worth to whip up. The City Marshal
drew his lash across the animals
backs and with a bound they broke
through the mob. So amazed were
the rioters by the Sheriff's splendid
nerve and that Of his comrades that
no further attempt to check the fight
with the prisoner was made.