The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-10-06
Today City Faces the
- Crisis.
RETURN OF NEGRO RAPSTS
Their Lynehins is Believed to Be
Inevitable.
Most Conservative Men Hope For All
Concerned That Assailants Of
Children Won't Reach Gulf
City Alive.


BY FRANK G. BURROWS.
Mobile, Oct 5.-(Special.) -Tonigh'
Mobile lies sleeping over a colicane
anger, hatred and the desire for ven
geance upon the accused ravishers OF
Mobile children. Is smoldering under
meath the surface.
Glowing below the crust, the dull
fire OF resentment against the ne
groes, Jim Robinson and Will Thomp-
son, Is likely to break forth at the
given time. and that time, the people
here believe cannot be long delayed
Notwithstanding the efforts being made
by the representative citizens Of Mo-
bile to bring about a more law-abid-
ing spirit in the masses of the peo-
pie, the fact cannot be concealed that
the atmosphere 10 charged with rumb-
lings Of the storm.
The city is charged with the fire
which blazes up and blazes to consume
Last night the leading men Of the city
declared in favor of law and order. II
is believed they are sincere in the stand
they have taken. But everywhere is
felt the intensity OF the situation, and
those who last night pledged their eff
forts for the preservation Of law and
order. know tonight that their worst
fears were not too grave. For to-
night. II the message borne by the tele-
graph is true, Sheriff John F. Pow
ers. with deputies, is on his way back
to Mobile and in his charge are the
two negroes upon whom the hatred OF
the city has fallen.
Expected To Arrive Today.
The sheriff is expected to be on the
train which Is due to arrive here over
the Southern Railway at $40 o'clock
tomorrow morning. Whether he will
bring his prisoners with him, is anoth-
err matter. I nave been told on ap-
parently reliable information. that the
sheriff, II on this train. will be inter-
cepted at Mount Vernon. thirty miles
from here where an attempt will be
made to take the prisoners away. This
Information may be without ground for
truth. Numerous rumors have been fly
ing over the city during the day.
But 1t seems to be a matter of gen.
eral understanding that bodies OF arm
ed men will be watching every train
which enters Mobile tomorrow, and
that they will be prepared to carry out
their purpose whether resistance Is Of
fered or not Tonight and tomorrow
morning will be the critical points in
the situation, 1t is believed
The mass Of people in the city are
undoubtedly of the mind that the ne
groes must die. If the prisoners are
brought safely to Mobile tomorrow, 1t
is possible they may be permitted to
have their trial by jury. On the 9TH
err hand. II they are lodged safely in
Mobile County Jail. there may be a re-
petition OF the scenes of Tuesday
night. the outcome of which no one
dares to anticipate.
That the situation is serious no one
denies. The city is aroused. Think
Ing minds may endeavor to stay the
flood. but thus far those who are work
1,e NIT
feel they have been working in
vain
Hope They Won't Reach City.
One of the best known men in the
state. speaking of the subject today.
said THE situation is more grave than
most of US ian realize. 1t Is fraught
with possibilities the thought of
which makes one shudder. I hope the
negroes whom the sheriff is bringing
back to Mobile will never reach the
city. 1t will be better for us all If
they never should"
And that Is the feeling of all the
leading people with whom I have spok-
en-; the people who have placed them
selves on record as intending to use
their efforts to secure the negroes.
Robinson and Thompson, fair trial
by Jury.
They wish, one and all. down in
their hearts, that the accused will never
reach the city. In this way alone they
feel can the danger be wholly averted.
Tonight and tomorrow morning brings
the final test Under the order OF
Judge o. J. Semmes of the City Court
of Mobile, the sheriff is to produce his
prisoners in court tomorrow tor formal
arraignment. To try them on Tues
day and Wednesday, according to the
promise made, legal form requires that
they come not later than tomorrow,
Notwithstanding that popular senti-
ment seems so strongly In favor OF
melting out summary justice, the citl-
gems who have declared for law and
order have been busy all way. endeay
oring to take measures to preserve the
peace of the city. AS a result, two sur
prising changes in feeling have become
evident. Last night at the meeting in
German Relief Hall. Governor Jelks
announced, after consultations with d
number of the leading men of the city
that he would order the removal OF
outside troops from the city.
Two Reversals of Opinion.
Today the Mobile Bar Association. In
meeting assembled. passed a resolution
calling upon the Governor for militar ,
escort for the prisoners to Mobile. Yes
terlay Judge Semmes stood firm Ill
his position that he would never try
~
essiry to conduct the proceedings un-
der guard. Today. on the recommen-
daton of the Bar. he announced his
willingness to hold the trials of Robin
son and Thompson under guard, II
Governor Jelks should see At to order
the guards here.
Tie effect of these reversals Of opin-
ion cannot be accurately estimated
but 1t Is the cause of great apprehen-
sion on the part of those who stand
for a peaceful trial,
b. many the request of the Bar AS
sociition is condemned. The sentf-
inert against outside troops yesterday
was intense. The Governors order for
the. removal was generally popular
The situation in regard to the troops
Tools bad from whatever point 1t is
viewed. If the Governor accedes to
the request Of the Bar Association and
ord,rs troops here. the action will only
agaavate the people.
Oh the other hand, without protec :
tioI say people here. 1t seems hardly
possible the negroes will ever reach
Mobile alive 1t is paradoxically true
tina! in this crisis the people who wish
for law and order are hoping that the