Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02
NEGRO LODGE MEN LYNCAED
Four Hanged by Mob for Commencing
Murder Of White Man.
TOWN Is NOT EVEN AWAKENED
Residents First Learn of Deed when
They See Bodies Swinging from
Tree-JaiIer Taken by
Surprise.

RUssEBvILLE, Ky, Aug. -Four ne
groes, Virgil, Thomas and Robert Jones and
Joseph Riley, were taken from jail here
early today and hanged to a tree on the
edge OF town.
No shots were fired by the mob which
was composed Of about fifty men, and the
people OF the town knew nothing OF the
affair until daylight revealed the four
bodies dangling from a tree just outside
Russellvllle on the Nashville pike. The
following note was found pinned on one OF
the bodies:
Let this be a warning to you niggers TO
let white people alone, or you will so the
same way. Hugh Rogers better shut up
or quit
The negroes who were lynched were men,
bers Of the lodge, and at a meeting recently,
1t is said they approved of the murder OF
James Cunningham. a white farmer, by
his negro tenant Rufus Browder. This
murder occurred In the southern part Of
Logan county and 1t is supposed here that
the mob was made up Of men from that
part Of the county.
The negroes had been in jail for several
days, and while there had been considera-
BILE unrest since the attempt on the part
OF the mob to take Browder, the slayer of
Cunningham, from the jail some nights
ago. no real trouble was anticipated and
there was no guard around the prison. The
effort to get Browder failed owing to the
fact that he was spirited out Of Jail by the
sheriff and sent to Bowling Green and
later to Louisville, where he is now con-
fined awaiting trial.
Not n shOt Is Fired.
The mob came into town so quietly that
not one OF the residents Of the city was
awakened from lumber Proceeding at
once to the county jail. the Jailer, Jake
Butts, was summoned to the door, his resi-
dence being directly connected with the
prison. When he appeared he found him
self covered by rifles and shotguns and was
given the to turn over the keys
or be shot down. After a short parley with
the members of the mob, in which he tried
to persuade them to go away without doing
any violence, finally handed over the keys.
The mob then entered the Jail and, finding
the four negroes, forced them to 90 with
them. Two of the men, not being given
time to dress, were taken along in their
night shirts, and the whole party pro-
ceeded at once to the tree on the outskirts
of the city on the Nashville pike, where
the negroes were strung up in a row.
Contrary to the usual custom Of mobs.
no shots were fired at the swinging victims.
and the mob dispersed as soon as 1t had
finished its work. There is no clue to the
members OF the band, as the jailer, the
only person who saw them close enough
to get q good look, could not recognize
them.
The bodies of the negroes were cut down
during the morning.
Victims IN of Lodge.
The negroes were members of a lodge in
the southern part OF Logan county and
just when the entire county was stirred W
over the brutal murder of Mr.. Cunningham
by Browder they held a meeting and ex-
pressed their approval of Browder's deed
The excitement in that vicinity ran so high
for a time that 1t was feared a race wal
would result, but the four leaders in the
meeting were arrested and brought to this
city and these were the men lynched early
today.
The murder which started the trouble
was one of the most brtual in the history
Of Logan county. Prowder, who was .
tenant on Cunningham's place, had beer
discharged and upon leaving swore ven
geance. The next day he returned and lag
In wait for Cunningham. When the lattel
came near his hiding place Browder fireC
at him, killing him instantly, The Negro
then escaped, but was captured and placed
in Jail at Russellville. A mob was imme
diately formed, but the sheriff, hearing
that violence would be attempted. haC
Browder taken into the woods for tn,
night, and when the mob made it's appear
ance succeeded in convincing it that tn
! negro was not in the jail. The band dis
; persed and the next morning Browder wa
taken to Bowling Green and later to Louis
vile.
The meeting OF the negro lodge and It
4 endorsement OF PROVIDERS deed occurre
Immediately afterward.
The tree from which the negroes wer
hanged has been used before for the sam
h purpose.