The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-08-02
NEGRO MURDERER LYNCHED

Crisfield, Nd, July 29.-Their pas
sion unsatiated by the kicking and
beating to death of the negro Reed,
who on Saturday evening without pro-
vocation shot and killed Policeman
Daughtery who had Reeds associate,
William Hildred under arrest, a mob
at an early hour today dug up Reeds
mutilated remains from the rude grave
in a swamp near town. into which
they had been thrown. riddled them
with bullets and then. lighting a 0On-
fire, tossed them into the flames and
stood about watching until they We're
reduced to ashes.
Lemuel Showers. the keeper of a bill
lizard room freQuented by negroes, VINO
loaned Reed the revolver with Wn1cn
he shot Daughtery, was captured TO-
day and lodged in the county Jail at
Princess Anne. Every train arriving
at Crisfield was searched in the hope
that Showers would be found on board.
Had he been he would almost certainly
been lynched. for there has been much
trouble with lawless negroes and the
feeling against such is very high. I'LL
dred, whose arrest precipitated the
lIOuU1S, lLUS " YET OSCh SIpIu4 SN.
When he is the authorities will an
doubtedly keep him away from this
city, else he would surely meet a fate
similar to Reeds. There has been nc
adverse criticisms of the treatment
given Reed. Those who put an end TO
his life, strung his body up to a tele-
graph pole and after the inquest in
TERED him in a swamp yesterday. did
their work throughout without at
tempt at cOncealTnent.
1t was no party of masked men but
a band OF citizens whose patience had
been tried too far by the lawless he
groes of this locality. Even among
the colOred race, the work of the
1ynchers met approval. Today the
town council was waited upon BY 4
delegation representing the ~best.colOr-
ed element of the'vicinity and inc:ud-
ing all the local cOlored ministers and
a colored physician. They asked to be
allowed to cooperate with the white
citizens in restoring order and proper
feeling between the blacks and whites
They asked hat the council close all
places of business and amusement
where the unruly element among the
blacks might cOngregate and fOnient
trouble. They offered to furnish in
formation upon which certain dives in
the negro section might be closed.
They presented resolutions expressing
regret for the murder of DaughIery
and commended him; condemned Reed
and his kind and said that they would
have been willing to join in the hunt
for him and in lynching him when he
was captured.
The council has acted upon some Of
these suggestions. Nine negro Joints
have been closed. The police justice
has been instructed to apply the heav-
lest possible penalties to convicted ne
gro law breakers and hereafter all
strange negroes are to be required,
upon the day of their arrival in town,
to state their business and to secure
permission from the authorities to re-
main. failing which they are to be ar
rested and sent to the house of correc.
ton as Migrants. A large number of
special officers have been sworn in and
are on duty with a view to preventing
further trouble between whites and
unruly blacks.
Feeling is still high. Post card pic
lures of the scenes of the lynching
have appeared and are selling rapidly.
Pieces of the rope by which Reed was.
suspended to the telegraph pole brings
fancy prices. Some attacks are said
to have been made upon the homes Of
negroes, some of whom are said to
have been roughly used. Few negroes
are to be seer on the streets.