Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-11-28


began arriving by every road. and
soon the jail was surrounded by a
mob which threatened a lynching
quickly and surely.
J. T. Burnett. a well-known law
yer. from the steps of the jail ap-
pealed 20 the mob, admonishing his
hearers not TO do anything desperate.
and 90 let the law take its course. at
the same time promising that full
Justice would be done the three black
men.
This met with disapprovai. and
Mr.. Burnett pleaded with the men
that if they were determined 20 lynch
the Negroes. 20 at least wait until
night had fallen. Taylor Hall. a
brother of the wounded deputy sher-
in. said I'm effect that a pOstponement
of the lynching would be satisfactory
20 him. IL was soon seen, however,
that IL would be impossible TO stem
the tide Of feeling Of the mob.
Then came the most deplorable
part of a. an. the surrender of the
law to the mob. the participation in
the murders of the duly authorized
officers of the law. The trial was
nothing less than farce and the mob
knew il. These court officials had
unlawfully entered into a combina-
ton with a band Of criminals, who
should have been then in the county
Jail.
Twelve men, alleging to represent
the court together with the Judge and
sheriff had entered into this COM
bination and then they wanted to rob
the mob OF it's right 10 continue to
participate I'm this ridiculous miscar-
riage OF justice.
The mob said. ''No" Tt stood up
on it's rights. ~ it ever had any. ItI
knew that these colored men had
fought only as brave men can fight
and 1t wanted blood. When the Of
fcials got through convicting. the
lynchers held them mp TO the com
pact They wanted 20 do the hang
ing and they did &c. althougF TFe sher-
M stood back with evident satisfac-
tion. Tt was his sworn duty TO pre-
vent the murders.
We do not know the law in Ten
nessee and we are puzzled at the des-
ignation Justice" instead OF Judge. |
In this state. this would apply TO
magistrates. commonly known as
Justices Of the peace. Here these off,
fcials try only misjemoanor cases
and do not have juries in their
courts But then it is different I'm |
Tennessee. Here is what the report
says:
CAS- n las resort s. J. Caldwell. a |
townsman. aud Sheriff Haynes went
before Justice Lee Davis and told OF /
the mcnacinr attitude OF the crowd /
which thrOngod the streets leading |
90 the JAN. Justice Davis at once a. |
greed TO open his court. and az !
o'clock summoned a jury OF twelve /
men and allowed the Negroes after !
an evidence that could be- adduced. |
was heard. 20 be duly sentenced 90 /
death
Meanwhile Governor Patterson
was advised by telephone OF the sit 4
uation, and ordered company OF INF /
litia in this city TO proceed with an /
haste 90 Secure the Negroes and con- |
duct them to- "a place OF safety. The |
troops were started Mt once. but /
failed to arrive in time TO prevent the
lyuching"
This then is q violation OF a con-
sututlonal right guaranteed TO every |
citizen Here is the way they
tried" them:
AT the trial only the evidence oil
those who had seen the kilink was /
heard. and in an incredibly short !
time the case was given 20 the jury. |
who, In a few minutes, returned a /
verdict OF guilty. and fixing the pen
atty an death. The sentence had
barely been pronounced when the mob
with whOOp and a yell. swarmed
into the courtroom. seized the Ne !
groes and rushed them to a large
tree near the edge OF the town, and 4
hanged them, firing volley after vol |
ley into the air as the bodies were
raised"
The Governor. on being appraised !
of the trouble about noon to-day, |
sent the following telegraph message /
20 half dozen Tiptonville prominent |
citizens:
Prevent lynching by all means.
70 viii bring additional disgrace and |
notoriety 10 our State AS Governor. !
] implore tn the law may take its
course. Read this TO the people "
II would have been far better for |
the mob TO have gone on with the !
lynching without any interruption by |
the officers Of the law. than that they
should have been parties to one Of !
the blacklist crimes that mas dis
graced the name of the common
wealth of Tennessee.
These colored men surrendered on
ly when their ammunition had given
out. Had it lasted. the presumption
is that there would have been diff |
ferent stroy TO this dark tragedy. |
This Tennessee case reminded us of |
the one in Oklahoma where Jim
Deckard a noted Negro desperate |
died with his boots on" and with a !
bravery that CHALLENGES adrofroffor,