The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-01-25
NEGRO WHO WAS ROBBED
TELLS OF THREATS MADE
Declares He Was Told ITO
Make Himself Mighty
SGa'SH'

Capture Of Hilliard Young near
Paris, Texas, by Sheriff Bart Murphy
marks the opening of a relentless war
on Witnesses who allow themselves
to be run out of town by the Guthrie
negro "Blackhand' Absent witness
es have been keeping several of the
negro crooks out of the penitentarX
and all officials concerned are in the
fight to break up the practice.
Just as wen 90 back" Young when
the sheriff loomed up near a hiding
place Young did not try to avoid
/ coming back by requiring requisition
lie admitted he knew he would be
caught He was in hiding at his
! brothers home on white man farm
| near Paris, and he had been there
| seven DAYS without the knowledge OF
the landlord, and had evidently not
! stirred out Of the house in daylight
Capture a Fine Piece of Work,
The capture of Young was a fine
piece Of work. He came mere three
weeks ago with $130. and stayed at
the notorious Matthews place, South
Second street. VIII Miles, his cous-
in, slept with him One morning his
"roll' was gone The police, on no
tice, g0t on VIII Matthew'S trail, and
fhe soon showed up ii a clothing store
wth a 500 bill described by Young.
AT the same time viii Miles was N
the store looking over high-prced
clothing. Both were nabbed. When
time for hearing came Young could
not be found The money all except
a few dolars, was recovered by the
police.
Sheriff Murphy found chat Young
went from Guthrie to Boley the negro
town. thence to Weleetka, thence to
Sherman, Texas, and thence TO Paris
aud to his hiding place He was
tracked all the way. The sheriff got
in with him this moning and the
hearing Of the accused negroes was
commenced this afternoon.
Says He Was threatened.
Y6ung says that the Matthew's gang
did not say anything directly to/um
but that various people, whom he did
net know, approached him, telling him
he had better be scarce around here
, Harm was openly mentioned
That the Matthews gang is organ
ized is shown by three recent eases
Last fall Lon Matthews carved Susie
Smith almost to finish because
: Susie had been thick with LOUIS hus
band, John When time for trial came
Susie was missing and she Is still
away consequently Lou is not worry
ing much about a trial Ion is the
mother Of viii and was shot at The
same time Will was last winter, Whei
John Sykes came near clening up th'
family,
A few weeks AGO a negro was in
dicted for stealing twelve tons of Goa
from Fort Smith cars. The Officers
got the evidence down fine and hat
p,enty Of eye-witnesses But whel
Justice Seaton called the case ther,
was not an eye witness in The count!
and it was found that they had beef
threatened by the same agents uset
in the other cases to terrify witness
Is. The case was dismissed Their
7 have been other instances Of such do
G ings among negro criminals.
Will Make War on Gang.
Chief Mitchell, Sheriff Murphy
County Attorney Adams and other
D realize the situation and are doini
l. everything possible 70 keep witnesse
/. here. and they will probably fill tn
q Jail the next time the Matthews crow
does anything. 1t has for severa
: years been the practice for witness
n es to disappear, and the custor
!. makes the officers sore and discom
r. aged, resulting in many fiascos i
, court.
Several indictments are Likely to b
\ made on various grounds SO that tn
Y Malta practices may be aired.