The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-22
twenty-five Men Take Prisoner
from The Jail
CONFESSES TO HIS GUILT
A Mob Collects on ST. John Campus,
Breaks Through Door of jail and
Gets Keys at the Points
of Pistols.

Annapolis, Md. December 2l.-A mob OF
twenty-five or thirty men broke down the
door of the Annapolis jail early today
and lynched Henry Davis, the negro who
eriminally assaulted Mrs. John Reid near
Igleharts station Friday.
Davis, who was known by the name of
Chambers, confessed his guilt before be-
ing put to death. Little or no resistance
was offered to the mob by the officers of
the jail
The negro was dragged to a vacant lot
ON College creek, quarter Of mile
distant where he was strung up to
limb of a tree and half dozen bullets
we're fired into him. He is thought to
have died instantly.
As the body was being let down some
one cried: another white woman is
avenged"
His body was left lying under the tree
which had served as the galows. 1t was
viewed by hundreds of persons during the
day.
Later a coroner's jury was empaneled
and returned a verdict of death at the
hands of persons unknown to the jury.
The prison from which Davis was taken
is hundred years old. 1t is situated in
Colvert street. and is only about 500 yards
from the state house and the executive
mansion. The lynchng party used Senior
hall of st. Johns college for its assemh-
ling place. This fact is taken to indl-
cate that most of the men connected with
the affair were Annapolisians and did not
come from Igleharts station, where Mrs.
Reid lives.
Mob Collected on Campus.
AS early as Ii O'Clock, 1t appears the
moo began to collect on St. John's cam,
pns Some time after z o'clock the crowd
entered the lower floor of Senior hall
There it's members commenced to blacken
their faces, and some of them donned
masks. They were quiet in their move
ments, but some of the students were
awakened. These latter came down and
watched the proceedings, but did not in
terfere or give any alarm. The college
authorities strongly denied today that any
of the students were implicated in the
lynching Most of them are at their
homes for the holidays.
On its way to the Jail the mob stopped
at the Annapolis gas plant and tried TO
enter, but failed to gain admittance. 1t
Is presumed that the intention was to cut
off the town lights.
The plan of the lynehers were kept
quiet, as no one except those who partici
pated in it knew anything about what
was to take place. Their movements were
carefully guarded.
In statement made after the man
was taken from the jail Deputy Sheriff
Reuben l. Smalwood said that about
o'clock n man appeared outside the jail
and rang lie said that he had prisoner.
Deputy Smallwood saw that he had no
prisoner and refused to admit him, where
upon he left. Soon afterward a mob of
about thirty men appeared before the jail
with a whipping post and endeaVored TO
batter down the door Unsuccessful with
that means they procured a sedge and
pick and managed to break hole In the
door through which one of the men
crawled and unlocked the door.
Enter Jail.
Five or six men entered the building,
proceeded to warden's room, where they
encountered Warden George Taylor Dpu-
ties Smallwood and James G. Grouse and
Night Watchman Marcellus. At the point
Of pistol the warden surrendered the
keys. In a few moments more Davis was
secured and carried out bodily. He made
nG resistance. His appearance outside the
Jail was greeted with yells. He was
kicked and beaten by members of the
lynching party.
Here Davis was closely questioned and
again admitted that he had assaulted his
victim, and repeated he would have done
It living or dead
As he made this assertion those who
heard him raised cry. rope was quick
L. knotted and the moose slipped over his
head.
BY this time Davis was nearly uncon-
scous from fright and the blows, which
had been rained upon him. While In this
condition. he was hoisted up to the limb
OF tree. Almost before his feet had left
the ground a revolver cracked and a bull
let cut a cash through his scalp. 1t was
the signal for other firing.
After a few minutes the body was cut
down and pieces of the rope and clothing
were taken by many as souvenirs. The
mob then dispersed.
The personnel OF the mob is not known,
but reliable witnesses to the occurrence
state that all of those who composed it
were young in appearance. They all wore
masks, had their faces blackened and
each one was armed with revolver.
Carried Through Negro Section.
The negro was carried through tho
negro section Of the city, but no one In
terfered. When people appeared at the
windows they were warned to remain in
doors If they did not want harm to come
to them. The police permitted the mob
10 have its way, none of the officers ap-
parenty interfering.
Deputy Sheriff Smallwood, when the
mob broke In, pleaded with the intruders
to let the law take its course. He was
told he says. to "get up those stairs. We
want that Niger and we'll get him. or
kill every man In the jail.
At the point of Il pistol, the warden
George Taylor. surrendered the keys.
states Attorney Green, who conducted
the inquiry. said lie would do all In his
power To Identify and locate the leaders
or members or the mob and that those
so located would be prosecuted to the fun
extent OF the law.
Sheriff Linthcum in explanation Of tn
apparent lack Of Preparedness fOr an at
tack on the jail, said he did not expect
the talk Of lynch law would amount to
anything.