Middletown transcript., 1908-07-18
WAS SHOT AT CLAYTON
Columbus jackson Killed By a Mob on
Sunday


Sunday
The people Of Middletown were horri-
fed on SUNDAY when they learned OF the
killing of Columbus Jackson, colored, at
Clayton and when the facts in the case
we're learned, there as universal feel
ing among those who had known the boy
since bis childhood, that bis slayer shonld
be punished for his cowardly act.
At the time the man met his untimely
death he was on his way to colored
gathering near Smyrna and was arrested,
it is said, by State Detective Hawkins, on
charge of selling liquor and for other
violations of the law in running crap
games. From inquiries since the shooting
we are confident Columbus Jackson is
guiltless OF such charges. He never was
known to enter a bar.room in Middle
town, near where he was born and raised
and he "knew nothing about the game OF
crap" He was an honest and polite COL
ored man; inofensiVe and oblig-
ing. He was economical, saved his earn
ings and was most dutiful and kind to his
aged parents with whom he made his
home, near Old St, Anne's Church, when
not away to the city waiting in some of
the large hotels. His friends here in
cluded the most prominent citizens
white and coIored-and all pronounce the
shooting "an outrage" The body was
brought to Middletown Wednesday morn
ing and taken to one of the colored
churches where services were held,
large crowd of colored people attending.
The killing of Columbus Jackson sup
posedly by a mob of men has aroused the
Office of the attorney general, and thor
ough investigation is being made into the
mans death; Much feeling has been
stirred up in this vicinity. The State De-
teGtives have been ordered to find out
who fired the fatal shot and to arrest the
person but they are unable to place the
blame. The strange part OF the affair is
that the members of mob who are alleged
to have done the shooting fled in all d.
rections Immediately after the negro was
shot. 1t was reported that none OF the
crowd was known either to the authori-
ties of Clayton or the people who live
there. The investigation now on foot,
however will it is believed, determine
who was responsible for the mans death.
1t is pointed opt that the shooting Of
Jackson is nothing less than murder. He
was not wanted as criminal and had
been arrested simply as a suspect in the
liquor selling cases. The fact that he ran
away was not sufficient to warrant his be-
ing shot at by the mob and the
State authorities are trying to discover
who fired the bullet that ended the mans
life.
The Jury's Verdict
That Columbus jackson came to his
death from gunshot wound inflicted by
parties unknown to the jury was the SUBJ
stance of the verdict given by the jury in
the case of the negro who was shot and
killed at Clayton last Sunday morning
while seeking to escape from State Qetec- |
tive James /. Hawkins.
The inquest which was begun on Tues
day was concluded at Smyrna Wednesday |
afternoon, and Detective Hawkins, who |
has been working on the case since the |
shooting, expressed the opinion that the |
mystery surrounding the shooting would |
be cleared up in day or two.
Attorney. General Robert H. Richards |
is doing all in his power to fix the re-
sponsibility for the shooting, and Deputy |
Attorney.General James Satteraed, OF
Kent county, is working on the case,
Witnesses, whom it was desired to have
testify, we're absent Wednesday and it is
believed that they would have been able
10 shed considerable light on the matter,
However, according to Detective Haw-
kins, the state is in the possession of evil
1enee which it is thought will result in
fixing the responsibility.