Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1909-06-04

Atkinson Must Be Captured.

Atkinson must BE Captured.
Gov. Noel has, up to, this time, pre-
served absolute reticence on the sub
ject of the noted convict, Tom Akin
son, who has been the object of q chase
by detectives and deputies first, and
subsequently by a detachment of the
National Guard, in the businesses of
Winston county, and, to the present
time, without result. Speaking of the
matter Tuesday, Gov. Noel said, in
substance:
81 knew nothing whatever about At
kinson's existence until his escape was
reported and his whereabouts made
known to the penitentiary authorities,
and by them to the sheriff of Winston
county, over month ago. 1t was cur
rently believed, l was told, that Akin
son had declared he would kill or be
killed before being taken or submitting
to arrest, and that family and friends
proposed to back him up in his inten-
ton. As | did not place much Gre
dence in these reports, | sent a SER
geant of the penitentiary and detec-
tive to arrest him. They met confrma-
ton of these reports, and were unable
to see Atkinson but once, and then at
some little distance, and in the pres
ence of three other men, in a field To
have approached him, under the cir
cumstances, would have been practi-
cally to acquaint the fugitive with their
purpose, and place the officers at
disadvantage, and on their return they
suggested that if two more men were
sent with them they could effect his
capture and hold him.
Il then took the matter up with the
sheriff directly, by letter, telling him of
his powers and duties under the law,
and providing the detective and two
penitentiary officials to accompany him
and his posses, if so desired. A posse
of five, including the three sent by me,
a constable and special deputy sheriff,
surrounded Atkinson's home at night,
not knowing whe besides himself, wife
and children, were within. When they
found him he was barricading his home
from within, as he had learned of their
approach and their mission, and that
he would defend himself even to death,
and expected help from his kinsmen
from the outside. All threats prevailed
nothing and failed to induce the wife
and children to leave the house, and
their presence within naturally prevent
ed any extreme measures being taken.
Unable to reach the sheriff by tele-
phone, the officers withdrew, believing
themselves liable to attack from the
outside as soon as hostilities would be
opened.
"The operations, with a view to To-
eating Atkinson and surrounding him,
either in his own house or some other
building, were resumed, with the help
of the penitentiary sergeants, and 1t
was purposed to present such supe-
rior force as to defy successful resist
ance. Reports were to the effect that
he had left his home, and was in hid
ing around the neighborhood, threaten
ing to kill anyone who came within
ange with hostile intent, and it was
then that an employee of the peniten-
tiary, the detective and military de-
tail were sent to cooperate with the
sheriff in effecting the mans capture.
These parties are still engaged in the
quest.
The proposition advanced by some of
Atllinson's friends and neighbors that Il
pardon should be promised him, before
ARES, in order to avoid bloodshed, was
not entertained for moment. Armed
resistance to the state is warfare
against the state. When waged by a
man who was convicted of murder and
who escaped from the penitentiary while
serving life sentence, nothing but his
unconditional surrender or capture
should be considered; it matters not
whose is the otfense or who the offender.
The obligation to recapture an escaped
convict is just as great twenty years
after as twenty minutes after his es-