The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-02-10
A RIOT IN LEE COUNTY
TWO WHITE MEN AND A NEGRO
KILLED SATURDAY NIGHT.
Trouble Grew Out of Shooting of Abb
ner Green Several Months Ago ana
AcouittaI of Negro Who Did 1t.


Acquittal of Negro Who Did 1t.
News reached Dawson Sunday that
Constable Tucker Cassells was serl-
ously shot, his deputy, Marion Bass
was shot dead, and another deputy
Harris Larramore, was signify
wounded wthen they attempted 10
arrest two negroes at their homes
Saturday night in the northeastern
mart of Lee county. One negro was
caught and killed.
The clash was the result of a for
mer shooting, in which Abner
Green's eyes were shot out and Will
liam Webster, the supposed leader
of the gang in Saturday nights
shooting, escaped punishment on
change of venue to Sumter county.
Bass was instantly killed in a fu-
siIade fired from ambush by the ne
groes, who were concealed under
house, and the other two men were
wounded, but returned the fire OF the
negroes.
One of the negroes, Edward Tyson,
was later caught, and in his confess
sion to shooting Bass, was killed
while attempting to escape.
That entire section has been
scene of wild excitement. Lee, Crisp
and Sumter counties are being comb
ed by heavily armed possess with
dogs in an effort to catch the other
negroes in the party, and their cap
ture is considered certain. Cooper
Bivins and William Webster are the
blacks being sought by the enraged
white men.
How Trouble Started.
About six months ago Abner
Green, a prominent white farmer,
had trouble with two negroes, result
ing in his killing one negro boy, him
self having both eyes shot out, rem
dering him entirely blind. Webster,
the surviving negro, was tried at
Americas for shooting Green, and
came clear.
Saturday afternoon Green and his
overseer, returning to their Lee
county home from Leslie, were at
tackled by two negroes as they were
passing a negro house near the Green
place. Seven shots from a Winches-
ter rifle were sent after them by the
negroes, but escaping to phone they
summoned assistance. Tucker Cas-
sells, Harris Larramore and Marion
Bass, constables, responding, went
Immediately to the house where the
shots were fired at Green. Two of
the men, Cassells and LarramOre,
went to the door and Bass remained
in the yard.
The negroes at once fired on them,
the first shot taking effect and kill
ing Bass instantly. Cassells was hit
in the hip twice, once in the hand
and once in the stomach by small
shot from a shotgun. Cassells and
Larramore located the negroes un-
der the house and began firing upon
them, but they escaped in the nearby
woods.
Bass Killed Instantly.
Bass was instantly killed by a
"rung' entering his left side just I'M
der the heart Cassells and LARA
more were carried by another party,
passing some minutes later, in an
auto to Leslie for treatment. Their
wounds, while serious, are not neces-
sarily fatal, so the physicians claim.
Cassells was shot through the hip
with a A, and Larramore through
the hand and bowels by a shotgun.
One Negro Killed.
One of the negroes, Edward Tyson,
was later caught and after confessing
that he shot Bass was killed while at
tempting to escape. Parties were or
ganized and are securing the woods
along the line of Lee and Sumter
counties for the other negroes. If
located they will be killed at once,
probably. However, there are some
cool heads among the searching par
ties, those who have said that never
again shall Lee county be disgraced
hN q lVnching marty.