Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-01
VICTIMS OF LYNCHERS
Four Men Hanged to a Tree
Near RusseI|vil|e, Ky.
TAKEN FROM COUNTY JAIL
Mob of Fifty Did It's Work Without
Arousing Town.
LEFT A NOTE OF WARNING
Men Were Charged With Conspiracy
to Murder a Farmer-Ringleader
Removed to Safety.
LEFT A NOTE OF WARNING

RUSSELLVLLE. KY. August l-tour
negroes 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
neople of the town knew nothing of the
affair until daylight revealed the four
bodies dangling from tree just outside
Russellville on the Nashville pike.
The following note was found pinned on
one of the bodies:
Let this be warning to you nlsgers
TO let white people alone or you Will go
the same way Hugh Rogers better shut
up or quit
The negroes who were lynched were
members of a lodge and at meeting re-
Gently it is said they approved of the
murder of James Cunningham. "nl'e
farmer. by his negro tenant, Rufus Brow
der
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.
Saved Prisoner.
The negroes had been in Jail for several
davs. and while there had been consider
able unrest since the attempt on the part
of the mob to fake Browder, the slayer Of
Cunningham from the Jail some nights
ago. no trouble was anticipated and there
was no guard around the prison. The ef-
fort to get Browder failed. because he
was spirited out Of Jail by the sheriff and
70 liv,c at n
tille. where he is now confined, awaiting
trial.
The mob came into town so quietly
that not one of the residents of the city
was aroused from slumber. Proceeding
at once to the county Jail. the mob called
Jailer Butts to the door of his residence,
directly connected with the prison. When
covered by rifles and shotguns and was
given the command. to turn over the keys
of the Jail or be shot down.
After a short parley with the members
of the mob in which he tried to persuade
them to go away withoat doing any vio-
lence. he was finally forced to hand over
the keys. The mob then entered the.
Jail and. finding the four negroes, forced
them to go with them. Two of the men.
not being given time to dress were taken
along In their nightshirts, and the whole
PARTY proceeded at once to tree on
the outskirts of the city on the Nashville
pike. where the negroes were strung up
in a row.
Fired No Shots.
Contrary to the usual custom of mohs,
no shots were fired at the swinging VIC
Tins and the mob dispersed soon as 1t
had finished its work There is no clue
10 the members of the band. as the jailer.
the only person who saw them close
enough to get a good look. could not
recognize them.
The bodies of the negroes were cut
down during the morning.
The negroes were members of a lodge
in the southern part OF Logan county,
and il is alleged just when the entire
county was stirred up over the kllllng OF
Mr.. Cunningham by Browder they held
meeting and expressed approval or Brow
der's deed. The excitement in that Nlcih-
ity ran so high for time thal IL was
feared a race war would result but the
four leaders. in the meeting were arrest
ed and brought to this city. and these
were the men lynched early today.
Law in Wait for Victim. :
The murder which started the trouble
was one of the most brutal in the history
of Logan county. Browder, who was
tenant on Cunningham's place, had been
discharged, and upon leaving s"ore YEN
geance. The next day he returned and
Law in wait for Cunningham. When the
latter came near his hiding place Browder
fired at him, killing him Instantly The
negro then escaped, but was captured ana
placed in Jail at Russellvllle. mob was
Immediately formed. but the sheriff. hear
ing that violence would be attempted, had
Browder taken into the woods for the
night. and when the mob made It's ap-
pearance succeeded III convincing IL
that the negro was not in the jail. The
band dispersed and the next morning
Browder was taken 10 Bowling Green ana
later to Louisville.
The tree on which the negroes were
hanged has been used before for the same
purpose
LOUISVILLE, Ky, August 1.-Rufus
Browder the negro who killed James
Cunningham was brought 20 Jail here
week ago from Bowling Green for safe
keeping.
Browder when told by reporter that
the four negroes had been taken from
Jail at Russellville and lynched. said: