Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-01
Four Negroes, Said to Have Ap-
proved a White Mans Muir
der, Are Lynched.
WARNING PINNED ON A BODY
Mob Entered Town ut Night and SO
Quietly That Inhabitants Were
Not Awakened.

Russellville Ky. Aug -Four
negroes. Virgil, Tom and Robert
Jones and Joe Riley. We're 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 SO men
and the people of the town knew
nothing of the affair until daylight re-
vealed the four bodies dangling from
tree Just outside Russenville on the
Nashville pike. The following note
was found pinned on one Of the
bodies
Let this be warning to you mig
gers to leave white people alone or YOU
viii go the same way. Hugh Rogers
better shut up or quit"
The negroes who were lynched were
members of a lodge and at meet
ing recently, it is said they approved
of the murder of James Cunningham,
white farmer, by his negro tenant,
Rufus Browder, This murder occurred
in the southern part of Logan county
and it is supposed here that the mob
was made up OF men from that part
Of the country.
TROUBLE NOT EXPECTED.
The negroes had been in jail for sew
eral 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 trou-
HE nptiPinl aI
guard around the prison The effort to
get Browder failed. owing to the fact
that he was spirited out Of the Jail by
the sheriff and sent to Bowling Green
and later to Louisville, where he is
confined awaiting trial. The mob came
into town so quietly that not one of the
residents was awakened from slumber
Proceeding at once to the county Jail
the jailer. Jack Butts, was summoned
to the door, his residence being directly
connected with the prison. When ne
appeared he found himself covered by
rifles and shotguns and was given the
commend To turn over the KEYS or be
shot down. After q short parley with
the members Of the mob in which he
tried to persuade them to go away
without doing any violence. he finally
handed over the keys. The mob then
entered the Jail and, finding the four
negroes. forced them to go with them.
dress, were taken along in their night
shirts and the whole party proceeded
at once to the tree on the outskirts of
the city on the Nashville Pike. where
the negroes were strung up In a row.
NO SHOTS FIRED.
Contrary to the usual custom OF
mobs. no shots We're fired nj the swing
ing victims and the mob dispersed as
soon as II had finished its work. There
is no clue TO the members of the band
as the jailer the only witness, did not
recognize them
The bodies Of the negroes were cut
down during the morning.
The negroes We're members of
lodge In the southern part of Logan
county and just when the entire coun-
ty was stirred up over the brutal muir
der of Mr.. Cunningham by Browder.
they held q meeting and expressed
their approval of Browder's deed. The
excitement In that vicinity ran so high
for time that II was feared a race
war would result, but the four leaders
in the meeting were arrested and
brought to this city. and these were the
men lynched early today.
START OF TROUBLE.
The murder which started the
trouble was one Of the most brutal
In the history of Logan county. Brow
der, who was a tenant of Cunning
hams had been discharged and upon
leaving sworc vengeance. The next
day he returned and laid in wait for
Cunningham When the latter came
near his hiding place, Browder fired
at him. killing him instantly. The negro
escaped. hut was captured and placed
In jail at Russellyille. A mob was
Immediately formed. but the sheriff.
hearing that violence would be at
tempted, had Browder taken into the
woods for the night and when The mob
made It's appearance succeeded in con-
vincing II that the negro was not
in the Jail The band dispersed and
the next morning Browder was taken
to Bowling Green, and later TO Louis
Vile.
The meeting Of the negro lodge and
its endorsement OF Browder's deed oc-
cured Immediately afterwurd.
The tree from which the negroes
were hanged has been used for the
same puruOgp before.