Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-02-19
Constable Killed
Negro Lynched

Constable ]. T. Kemp was killed
Sunday night about 7;S0 o'clock by
Horace Hill, negro that Kemp, with
three other white men, were attempt
ing to arrest.
The killing occurred at the negro's
house on Mr.. Drew Cade's place about
13 miles west of Brooksville. and about
two miles from the Winston county
line.
Horace Hill. the murderer, had got
ten into a quarrel several days before
with two negroes, Alex Shine and Jack
son Burrell while they were in the
woods getting out ties. He picked up
an ak and ran Alex Shine, an old negro,
out of the woods Alex went to JUS
tice of the Peace White and made an
affidavit against Hill for assault, and
warrant was issued for his arrest. The
negro eluded the officer several days
and Sunday night, with Messrs. Pat
Boykins. Forest and Derbert Cade,
Constable Kemp went to the negro's
house to affect his arrest The house
was surrounded and Kemp and Boykin
went to the front door and called out
for Hill to come out. Hills wife re-
piled that she would open the door in a
minute and when she did, she ran out.
The two officers last mentioned stepped
in the house, which was one room, with
shed room and had just gotten in
when the negro fired from the shed
roo n, the load tearing away half of
Kemp's face. Boykin ran from the
room and reported that Kemp had been
killed, and the murderer ran out Of the
rear door. He was shot at several
times but was not hit
Alex Shine. who lives between quar-
~ and half mile from Hills house
heard the shoossi;1T T~and knowing that
Hill had threatened his lifss got hisg gSill
and stood on bis flcnt gallery. II a
few minutes f5ill came running to-
ward Snine. who called To him to halt
and when be did not stop. shot AZ him.
hitting him in the hip. Hill ran short
distance befnre fsiIing. but as 1t was
dark. Shine did not see him. Search
was made for si.a, all night but without
success and it was afterwards found
out that the wounded negro had crawl
ed under Shines house, where he re-
mained until everything became quit,
when he hid in the woods, where he
was found the next morning by Burley
Jackson, who took him to another neg
ro's house and reported the capture to
officers Immediately.
The sheriff office in Macon had been
notified and blood hounds were ordered
from Houston, Miss. by phone. Deput-
les Sam Clark and jeff Jackson reach
ed the scene of the trouble about a
O'Clock Mondaymorning and at II o'clock
they had the murderer in charge. Quite
crowd had gathered at the point
where the negro was held and the dep
uties soon realized that the temper of
the crowd was such that it would be a
miracle almost if they succeeded in
getting to Jail with the murderer. and
for while they were afraid to start
with him. Finally about l o'clock the
crowd thlnned out and they started out
but had gone only mile or two when
they were halted. sacks thrown over
their heads and their hands tied and the
negro taken away. Exacted what hap
pened to the negro is not known but it
is supposed he was shot to death.
This is the first lynching that has
ever happened in that section, but the
murdered officer was quiet, sober, in
dustrious man, who held the respect of
all and the feeling was such that it was
foregone conclusion the murderer,
who has been considered bad, DANCE
rous character. even more by his own
race than the whites, would never reach
Jail.
Court was in session in Macon: there
was no question that proper punish
ment would be promptly meted out to
the murderer and it is very much to be
regretted that the law was not allowed
to take its course. The murderer, too,
was in the hands of the sheriff's deput-
les.
1t is said on good authority that
Kemp had more relatives in Lowndes
and Oktibbeha counties than in Noxu-
bee and as many friends. and the mob
was composed largely, if not almost en-
tirely, of Lawndes, Winston and Ok
tlbbeha men.
Mr.. Kemp leaves a wife and four
children and great sympathy is felt for
them.