The Cairo bulletin., 1910-02-20


after and consulted with Judge
Dewey as to what course to pursue
sseShenff summoned other deputies and
Instructed them to fire in air when
he gave signal believed this would
scare the mob: il mob kept coming
on they would have to do what was
necessary to stop them. Mob came
about 1880 O'Clock; Sheriff met them
could not come in; that it was his
duty as sheriff to protect his pris-
onerS and he purposed to do so at all
hazzartls scae one in mob said ITO
Hell With You" and they came up
the steps; while the sheriff was talk
ing some one in the mob fired, sheriff
had pistol but did not fire first; he
stood behind the sheriff when firing
commenced by mob and turned to go
into house; was followed by sheriff
deputies responded to fire; believed
windows were raised and deputies
fired through ouening; had instructions
to raise windows, but witness was
not sure they had done so; no shots
were fired after mob left. Witness
had pistol and fired but not to hit any
one only to scare them.
Deputy Collector Ben Jones said he
was in sheriff's office; sheriff sum
moned deputies by phone; said to
them when mob comes ! will go out
and talk 70 them, if they continue to
come | will fire signal shot, then fire
over their heads to warn them; #
they do not go We viii have to 10 the
best we can to keep thcm OUT Be
lieved we were all in danger; first
shot was fred outside; I shot through
opening in raised window; can't tell
(which way | shots don't know that |
shot at crowd; shot to scare the men
outside
! Jerry Dunning is a farmer recently
appointed deputy sheriff to attend
court; said he was in one of the rear
offices; when shooting commenced he
came to front door to shoot but did
not fire a shot; did not know who
was at the windows; it was dark;
was scared sheriffs instructions
were to fire first shot in air: did not
say how to shoot after that Witness
! said he was ready to quit; farming
looked good to him.
! B. F. Thompson, an old man par
TALLY deaf, said he had a revolver
and was stationed under stairway;
came up when shooting began and
saw men in yard. Did not shoot to hit
any one
Chas. Hudson, negro constable said
he had gone to bed when summoned
by sheriff and directed to come at
once to court house; sheriff did not
/ tell what he was wanted for but he
! took gun and hand full of cartridges
and got drink on way was stationed
in rear office watching windows;
when shot was fired he came forward
as per sheriff's instructions; sheriff
was at front door talking to mob and
they We're shooting into court ffouse;
heard glass falling and knew mob was
firing; went into circuit clerks office
and shot through window, shot in air
over heads of mob; had five bullets
in pistol and emptied it and reloaded;
fired over heads of mob first, but com
menced shooting down when mob
shot back; had no gun, only pistol,
SO many shots were fired by mob he
could not tell how many, glass was
falling thick and fast inside of cir
cult clerks office; could not tell who
+, was in office with him; knew all but
| could not see as room was dark,
neard voices but did not recognize
them; recognized Capt Greaney by
ais voice when he came to take body;
sheriff told him If 1t was his own
brother he would have to lie there till
militia came; windows were down
and he fired through glass pane.
Joe Gotthart and Amos Dennis said
they were not in court house at time
and knew nothing about the case.
George Jackson, negro deputy, said
he was summoned by sheriff had
shot gun and 80 revolver; was or
dered to shoot overhead if mob
came; fred first shot in air but
couldn't tell where he fired other
shot; was at front door; sheriff and
Deputy Fuller were standing in door,
he remained in front door which was
wide open after sheriff and deputy
had left; was GA years old, but not
afraid because he had seen nine years
regular army service; something
passed close to him which made a
little wind but he paid no attention
/ to it; fired three shots first overhead
next lower down; did not shoot at
| crowd, If he had could have killed
three or four men; was sure sheriff
fred first shot; stood near him and
\ saw him plainly; this was the first
shot fired; no one in the mob had
fired a shot UP to that time. crowd
/ did no firing but kept coming on,