The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-24
GEORGIANS LYNCH NEGRO.
Take Ex-Convict From Sheriff With
cut Trouble Accused of Brutal
Crime.

Fitzgerald, Ga, Aug. 20 Henry
Taylor, q negro ex-convict charged
with assaulting white woman Tues
day and then numbering her and her
3nfant, was this afternoon taken from
che sheriff Of Wilcox county, between
L.:mpkin and McRae, and lynched, ac-
co~ding to reports reaching here to-
night. III
The crime Tor which the negro was
lynched by indignant citizens was one
pi the most brutal ever recorded in
The criminal annals of Georgia.
The negro's victim and her s.
llonths-old baby were left at their
home at Lumpkins Ferry Tuesday af-
ternoon and that night when the hus-
band and father returned from his
work both his wife and baby were
missing. A search revealed the fact
that they We're not at the home OF any
neighbor. Soon their disappearance
with suspicion Of foul play,was known
search for them was Immediately COM
menced. Thursday afternoon the bod
les were found in small pond not a
great ways from the woman's home.
The woman had been assaulted aid
then checked to death, while the ba-
by's skull had been crushed. Henry
Taylor had told Of seeing the womao
with her baby, going in the direction
of the pond in which their bodies were
found. Suspicion was Immediately dl-
rected toward him on the finding OF
the bodies, but he had disappeared.
Early today Taylor was arrested
in Ben Hill county, near Lnmpkins
Ferry. He was taken in charge by tie
sheriff Of Wilcox county, who I'M
mediately started for Fitzgerald.
Finding that his way was blocked by
the presence Of large numbers OF
aroused people, a circuitous route was
taken. The citizens, howe:e:, learned
of the change Of plans, and, contlnu-
ally augmented by blood-ttuirsry men,
the mob followed the trail OF the
sheriff and finally came upon him be-
tween Lumpkins Ferry and Mekae
and quick work was made Of the ne
cro. After being strung up to a iree,
Tavlor's body. was filed with bullets.
Taylor had only recently completed
serving a chain gang sentence in this
county.
Later Report Says He Was Not
Lynched.
McRae, Ga. Aug. 21.-Henry Tay-
lor. the negro charged with the muir
der of Mrs. Josh Vickery and her IN
.rsnt at Lumpkin' s ferry in Teltalr
county, was not lynched, but is safe
in jail here, as are also Josh Vlck-
erv, the husband Of the unfortunate
woman, and Sambo Robinson, a cous-
in of Mrs. Vickery.
The negro was not taken from the
sheriff Of Wilcox county.
Sheriff J. D. Williams and Deputy
Etheridge of McRae and others
crossed the river and captured the
negro at Evergreen Thursday night,
brought him over to the scene OF the
murder, had an investigation and the
general opinion is that this negro IS
not guilty of the ofense.
The negro and white men are no"
in Jail here, and all denied any
knowledge of how and when the
crime was committed. The negro was
especially loud in his protestatlons OF
snnocence and said he could prove
an alibi. +
When brought to the scene OF the
murder, feeling was high against him
and threats Of lynehing were made
and a rope was tied around his neck
and he was told to confess, but he
stoutly declared his innocence and the
people believe him after investigation.
Vickery and Robinson are beng
held on account Of alleged conflicting