The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-08-22
200 MASKED MEN TAKE VICTIMS
FROM DEPUTY AND SHOOT
ING FOLLOWS.
MURDER CHARGE AGAINST BOTH
Had just Been Taken from Ardmore
jail and Were on the Way to
Paula Valley for the
Preliminarles.

Ardmore for preliminary hearings on
charges of manslaughter, were taken
from Deputy Sheriff Will Buckholts,
at the edge Of town and lynched by a
mob of 200 masked men, most of
whom are believed to have been farm
ers. The negroes after being taken
from the officer were turned loose in
the road and shot to death.
The two lynched men were Sanders
Franklin, who killed A. G. Arlington,
white man, at a negro picnic on July
26, and Henry Ralston, who shot David
Vanness, a boy who the negro caught
in his watermelon patch. Vanness
was shot on July II and died three
weeks later.
For three hours Deputy Bucholts
eluded the mob which met him at the
edge Of town, but finally he was found
and overpowered, the mob taking the
negroes and killing them. One of
them, Ralston, did not die until $3.50
o'clock, although the lynching took
place about o'clock, and he was left
liz the road by the mob which believed
him dead
81 was bringing the negroes from
Ardmore to Pauls Valley for prelimin-
airy hearing" said Deputy Buckholts,
speaking Of the event, land had got
ten of the train at Wynnewood where
an automobile was waiting to take us
to Pauls Valley. Just as we reached
the bridge over the Washita river at
the edge of town about $3.50 o'clock,
saw the mob.
Deputy overpowered.
Getting out of the car, l hurried
through corn field with my prison
ers, who were willing to go
along at rapid pace and
we lodged the masked men for about
three hours, covering several fields.
Finally we were sighted about $50
o'clock and the men overpowered me
by force, taking the negroes. l did
not attempt to shoot as that would
have been useless, considering the size
of the mob and the fact that all were
armed with rifles and shotguns.
The negroes were taken back to
the public highway close to the bridge
and the shackles binding their feet
together were unlocked. They were
turned loose and promiscious shooting
followed, to which was witness.
"One Of the negroes, Ralston, was
shot and fell Immediately, the other,
Franklin, ran for about one hundred
yards, receiving wounds but keeping
on his feet. He was caught and
brought back beside the other and
when the next shots we're fired he fell
dead within two feet Of his compan-
ions body. Believing them both dead
the mob departed quietly.
II stayed near the bodies and soon
discovered that one of them was I'M
conscious. but breathing. He lived
until after o'clock. About $50
o'clock l had the bodies moved into
Paul's Valley for the inquest.
Appearance Of Farmers.
- Most of the members of the mob
wore handkerchiefs over their faces
with holes cut for the eyes. Some had
other cloths with which they con.
cealed their features. The majority
wore oVeralls and their general ap-
pearance indicated that they were
farmers probably from the Hennepin
neighborhood where Arlington lived,
which IL In the extreme southern part
OF Garvin county. l do not believe
that many citizens living In or near
Pauls Valley were connected with the
AFFAIR.
An inquest was held over the bodies
OF the negroes, the coroners Jury find
Ing that they came to their deaths at
the hands of an unknown mob. It is
believed here that no further investi.
cation OF the case will be made as the
county attorney and other officers
aave taken no action.
The killing Of Arlington followed his
Eisit to negro picnic at Hennepin.
He had taken a load OF watermelons
to the picnic and was selling them
when a dispute arose over the price
Arlington. seeming trouble, started to
'un, but was caught by three negroes
and two Of them held him while the
third. said to have been Franklin, cut
ais throat from ear to ear.
The shooting OF the Vanness boy
followed his visit to the farm of Raj.
yton. The negro stated that on previ.
GUS occasions boys had stolen his
melons and he believed Vanness was
there for the same purpose. Without
questioning the boy the negro opened
are and the boy fell TO the ground.