Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-03

was intense and there is little like
lihood that the Negro IL captured,
viii ever be brought to trial
At 4 O'Clock this afternoon IL was
learned that the posse had located
jenkins In a swamp a few miles from
the Howell home and dogs had been
Put on the trail.
The tragedy is shocking and ev-
cry one will regret that reason did
not prevail instead of passion. But
what are the facts? Jenkins quit
work. He had a right so to do as
freeman. Mr. Howell wanted him
to keep at work and he attempted to
I force him 20 keep at work This
was what ne did not have a right to
DO. He attempted to make jenkins
pay a debt, although he knew that
the courts Of Johnson county we're
there for that very purpose. He
took the law in his own hands and
in this he was met more than half
way by the Infatuated colored man.
As a result two families are in
mourning. one white and the other
colored. Was the game worth the
candle?" Hundreds OF white men
became desperate and they proceed
ed 20 join in the Negro hunt" Jen-
kins wisely took TO the swamp. where
capture could De delayed and where
the blood hounds were useless in the
man-hunt Should they meet. the
colored man with a knife could set
tie accounts quickly with the animal.
Viewed from any stand point. It
would seem that the white farmer
was glaringly at fault. while the col
ored man was not at all wise. still.
il may have been case where the
servant is always in debt and the
task-msster demanded that he should
remain with him as long as the un-
paid balance remained. He deter
mined 10 do and die. to kill and be
killed to end the misery on earth
with hope of Joy in Heaven.
He had killed a white man and
possibly a white female. He knew
that the stake was his portion. and
that the odor OF burned flesh and
horrid tortures awaited him. He
hurried on TO the place provided by
nature. His grave might be there.
but 1t had no terrOrs for him. Il
may be that the people OF this coun-
try. who are impartial and who can
sympathize with the helpless: il
may be that they can swap places
with that lone, but desperate Negro
in Georgia and form some idea as
20 his undOne condition.
Jenkins was slated for lynching
He was marked for slaughter and
the following press dispatches en-
phasizes that fact:
savannah. Ca. June 2s.-Want-
ed in Washington county for shooting
a white man named Mullins about a
year ago, Willie Hall. colored. was
captured here last night by Patrol
man W. T. Stewart and was after
wards identified as tallying with the
detail description OF the Negro. Ro-
bert Jenkins. who shot Mr.. and Mrs
George Howell at their home near
Dublin last Tuesday Two employ
ees OF the Central OF Georgia railway
identified the Negro.
If he Is the same man. a large
lynching party and the sherins Of.
Laurens and Johnson counties are
now searching for him. He has
been taken to Sandersville. but tbe
ohcials OF Laurens and Johnson viii
be given chance to positively iden.
tity him and he will be turned over
70 them for the higher crime of mur-
der ~ he Is mted.
fhe Washington county sbootinc
Is not so we'll remembered. but the
shooting OF the Howells is fresh in
the minds OF the public. Last T1,es-
DAY Mr.. Howell discharged the NEGRO
Jenkins. He thought No moro 90 l.
until the Negro returned AMI com
menced hring. Mr. Howell was kill
ed outright. Mrs. Howell was se-
riously wounded. but the shot AZ
their son missed him. Hall nut nm .
savage fight here, ana PatroIroan
stewart was almost forced to shoot
MN When searched there were
Two loaded revOlvers in his pocket
II HAN is the Negro Jenkins. he
Will hardly be taken back N either
Laurens or Johnson county. as a de-
,ermined mob has been formed TO
ynch him ass soon as he is caught
Inc Negro is known as a desperate
character"
1t viii be seen how quickly and
readily the accounts OF the tragedy
shifted Both were sent out bv
white correspondent. jenkins seem
ed to have understood the situation
thoroughly. II has been alleged that
Negroes aid other Negroes to escape
and that they do not apprehend and
aid in the capture OF criminals NJ