The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-09-29

peered out of the windows and then
hastened to cover, believing, they said
Yesterday, that riots of more serious
proportions had broken out
The two boys, soon after leaving
their home, went to the home Of for
mer Constable Frank Keinstly, and
when he responded to their call to
come out he was shot through the
head by Walter Jones' Keinstlv's son.
William, saw his father fall and reach
ed for a gun, but before he could fire
he received bullet in one OF his
hands The Yazoo and Mississippi
Valley depot is near the Keinstly
home, and the two Negroes walked in
that direction. A train had arrived
from Natchez Just few moment be
fore. aud Conductor f. P. Applebv
was standing at the station talking to
Flagman w G. Bond. Without warn
ing the two Negroes fired on them and
both fell. Then the Negroes directed
their fire at Claude Freeman, who was
waiting for a train to take him to
his home in Fayette, MINI. He was
instantly killedt The Negroes then
fred into the train, terrorizing the
passengers.
A sleeping car from Natchez is left
every night at Harriston until the
through train from Memphis to New
Orleans arrives. After the train from
Natchez had departed this car was a
target for the fire of the two Negroes
While many windows were broken, no
occupant of the car was hurt With
the blood lust at the highest pitch, the
/ two Negroes made their way to cot
tonseed warehouse near by 1t is be-
i lleved they then realized that this
wholesale killing could not long con
tlnue without opposition and that they
determined to make their last stand
at the seedhouse.
Frightened citizens by this time had
gathered their wits and telephoned
for Sheriff Hammett at Fayette. sum
moning former Sheriff GilIis TO accom-
pany him, Hammett started for Har-
riston on horseback, arriving about
} 0 clock. 4 small crowd of men were
firing INTO the seed-house. but no one
had Ventured to lead the posse to the
place. Taking a few men with him
Sheriff Hammett. heavily armed, start
ed toward the seed-house. whereupon
Walter Jones went to the tall grass
nearby, and as Hammett approached
the Negro fired, killing him instant
~. \ shot from the seed house brought
down ellis
BY this time the countryside had
been aroused and farmers came pour
ing in from every direction. \ gen
eral fusilade of shots was directed at
the seed-house. a call was sent Il
Gov Brewer for troops. Finding lis
hiding place TOO precarious, VIII .Jone.
started to run toward coal chut,
nearby, but had gone only few step,
when bullet ended his life A rop,
was placed around the body it wa.
strung up to 4 telegraph pole ncar
the station and became target fo
everyone not shooting ut the seed
house. soon after viii Jones wa
killed Waiter Jones pie ked Ton
Weeks, Negro. off the coal chute b,
his deadly aim. Weeks fell to tn
ground, dead
Not long after Weeks was killed tn
special train bearing the Natche
! guardsmen arrived While the soldier
were detraining the crowd rushed tb
seed house. Not a shot greeted them
: and as the leaders went into the plac
with drawn weapons they found Wal
ter Jones completely unneryed, but no
injured They quickly placed rop
: around his neck and rushed him to til
coal chute. As the Negro was draw
, up the rope broke and he fell heavil
10 iHb 9IOuHu NOt 4 NOfU or act q
protest came from Jones when a large
rope was drawn around his neck an
again he was pulled up. large crow
looked on as the drug saturated bod
: writhed until life was extinct
The crowd then went to the hom
of the Jones Negres, where they foun
: two Negro men, whom they were abou
; to lynch when officers persuaded thel
to desist. 1t is believed that the Jonc
f Negroes had planned details of thei
: murderous night, as they were we
3 armed and had plentiful supply G
. ammunition. Their mother said on
{ of them had remarked that he was Q,
: ing to ''shoot up the town, but sh
: thought he was joking Whether tn
. two Negroes found at the Jones hous
knew of any plans the Jones Negroe
might have had is not known. The
= were arrested.