The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02
THEY APPROVED
MURDER OF WHITE
In Meeting of the Society a
Resolution of Approval of
a Negro Tenants Murder
of His Landlord, Was
Adopted-Not a Shot Was
Fired or Any of the Mob
Recognized.
BY Associated Press.

Russellville, Ky, August -Four
negroes, Virgil, Tom and Robert Jones,
and Joe Riley, were taken from Jail
here early today and hanged to 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
q tree Just outside Russellville On the
Nashville pike. The following note
was found pinned on one OF the
bodies:
Let this be a warning to You mig
gers TO let white people alone or you
will 90 the same way. Hugh Rogers
Better shut up or quit"
The negroes who were lynched
were members of lodge aud at = re-
cent meeting, it is said. they approved
of the murder of James Cunningham,
a white farmer, by his negro tenant,
Rufus Br0wdsr. This murder occurred
in the southern part OF Logan county
and IL is supposed here that the mob
was made up of men from that part
of the country.
The negroes had been IN jail fof
several days and while there had been
considerable unrest since the attempt
on the part of the mob to take Brow
der. 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 taat be was spirited out OF.
ljail By the sheriff AMI sent TO Bowling
Green and later to louisville where
! he is now confined. awaiting t.ial.
Quiet Work.
The mob came int town 81 quiet
1y that not one Of the residents of the
city was awakened from sllmbar
Proceeding at once to me county Jail
the jailor, Jake Butts. was summoned
TO the door. his residence being di-
rectly connected with the prison.
When he made his appearance he
found himself covered by rifles aud
shot guns, and was given the com
mand to turn over the keys of the
Jail. or be shot down. After a short
parIey with the members of ths mob,
in which he tried to persuade them TO
go away without dciDs any violence.
he was finally forced TO hand over
the keys. The mob then entered the
,jaiS and finding the four negroes,
forced them to go with them. Two
of the men not being given time 10
dress. were taken along in their nj eh-
shirts, and the whole Party proceeded
at once to tree on 81 outskirts O.
the city on the Nashville PIKE, where
the negroes were stran:g up in a row,
None Recognized
Contrary 10 the usual custom OF
mobs, no shots were fred at the swing
ing victims. and the mob dispersed as
soon as il had finished is work There
is no clue 70 the members IF the
band, as the jailer. the only person
who saw them, fe'lcd tn set COOS
look at them and woui1 not recognize
them.
The bodies of the negroes were cd
down during the morning
The negroes were members or
lodge in the Southern part of LogaT
county. ana just when the entire
county was 7ti,- - hrut1
murder of Mr.. Cunningham by Brow
lder, they held a meeting and express
led their approval of providers deed.
The excitement in that vicinity raj
so high for time that IL was feared
q race war would result but the fOu
Headers in the meeting were arreSte'
and brought to this city, and thes
were the men lynched early today.
The murder. which started RI
trouble, was one of the most bTu-al 4
history of Logan county. Browder VIII
was a tenant on Cunningham piaCi
had been discharged, and upon leaV
ing swore vengeance The 7aNt IN,
he returned and lay in wait for Cur
ningham When the latte came nea
his hiding pIare, Browds~ hred