The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-02-12
What Sheriff Greer Says.

The following is taken from the
report of the IynGhing by Mr..
W. M. Steele, staff correspond
ent of the New Orleans Picayune,
who came to Brookhaven Monday
evening:
The responsibility for the fail
ure of the troops to fire on the
mob rests with the Sheriff, j.
Frank Greer, who assumed his
office on Ian. l. He shoulders
the responsibility cheerfulIy and
is willing to bear the conse-
4uences, if any there be, to criti-
else his course.
1 wanted to save the prisoner
and did all in my power to do so, "
said Mr.. Greer tonight" but l
was not ready to sacrifice the lives
of any nf my people in doing my
duty. could not see that the
people, my friends and neighbors,
the people who are as a rule law
abiding and all worthy citizens,
should he shot down in an effort
to save the life of this man. who
was doomed beyond a doubt, if
not legally, certainly by violence.
| was not fooled about the fate of
the negro, but | was fooled as to
the time. | did not expect the
Iynchine until after the trial"
The suggestion that the mob
was not bent on violence at first,
is secuted by some who point to
the fact that fully three hundred
men came from the Ruth neigh
borhood and that in itself was
sufficient refutatiOn of the story.
There is the further fact that as
soon as the negro came off the
tram, the father of the girl, with
an oath, rushed upon him with
long knife and stabbed him several
times, while his friends crowded
around and overpowered the sol
diers.
TROOPS OVERWHELMED.
Then it was Sheriff Greer order
Ell the men not not 10 fire. but
urged them to beat back the mob.
They were powerless against the
overwhelming numbers for time,
but finally did rescue the fend
and started on run up the main
street towards the courthouse
turn, but there the mob bad re-
formed with more of semblance
of organization, two meG being
told to overpower each soldier and
they did it in the style to make
the heart of bully of the feudal
times swell with pride. But there
was one soldier who would not
submit gracefully. Sergeant
Orme, of jackson. He saw man
coming at him and struck at him
with great force with his bayonet.
The man was the father of the
girl, Mr.. Williams. Instantly the
anger of the crowd was aroused
and they set upon Orme, bore him
TO the earth, and trampled on him.
He was badly hurt and was almost
unconscious when borne to the
train.
Tonight all is quiet herr and
there are no indications If any
further trouble. Judge Wllkin-
son went to Fayette by way of
Jackson, where be stopped to re
port to Governor Noel. Adiutant
General Fridge also returned to
jackson, where he made his re-
port.
Major Huskins left to attend
Masonic meeting. The people of
the Ruth npiehborhood have gone
home. Sheriff Greer is at home
with his family, feeling that he
has done his duty under most dis
tressing conditions and ready to
bear any responsibility for his
part in the affair.
He was in most unfortunate
position. lie and Mr.. Williams
were boys together. His wife is
a cousin of MIR. Williams wife.
Their families have been intimate
all their lives, and only few days
ago Mr.. Greer attended the funer-
al of Mrs. Williams father. A
man who could do his best to do
his duty under conditions such as
these deserves credit, nor will any
one blame him for not firing on
his people.
He tells straightforward story
of the whole affair, which is given
in practically his own words, as
follows:
1T had first been decided to
bring the negro back without the
militia. Then Judge Wilkinson
told me to remain in Brook haven
until he arrived. Sunday night
Governor Noel called me up over
the phone and said Judge Wilkin-
son had thought it better to have
the~miIitia. | went up Sunday
and came down this morning with
the prisoner, my brother acting
as special deputy, with Edward
ISmitn and the jackson company.
The troops got off the train first
and then | got down with the
NEGRO and my two deputies.
When we stepped down the crowd
was there, and the boys crowded
around on all sides of us, and |
Isaw they meant trouble. ! did
mot want to hurt any of them, for
many we're my lifelong friends,
Continued on Fourth Page.