The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-05
LYNCH|p:, 1ilL BE PR0bED l0 LIMIT,
 SAYS THE GOVERNOR
Special Grand Jury Ordered to Consider Case-GOv- ernpr Issues Statement
 Denouncing Actions

Montgomery. January 4-(specia,.l ''The people of Alabama must under stand that their protection comes not from a mob of cowardly lynchers. influenced by passion or prejudice, but only from the majestic supremacy of the law. un- der which alone their rights of person and property can be protected."
 With this statement, the governor of Alabama expresses in no uncertain terms his opinion of mob violence, and specially oeclares his feeling reEard'rs thc lynch ing of Will Smith and Ed Smith. two negroes who were taken from the We tumpka jail early this morning and hung to tree. The negroes were charged with the murder of R. A. Stillwell. a promi- nent Fillmore county farmer, who was killed last Wednesday. The negroes bodies were found by members of the Alabama National Guard, who were or dered cut by the governor to protect their lives. near the scene of tho alleged mur- der.
 Informed of Attack
 The governor was informed of the at tack on the Wetumpka Jail about ? O clock last night, whereupon he immedi- ately ordered Gen. J. B. Scully, adjutant general. to call out the local military and at once proceed with all haste to the assistance of the Fillmore officers. Auto- mobiles were secured. and in less than an hour 90 members of the local militia were on their way to Wetumpka. They ar rived too late to protect the negroes from mob violence.
 The militia accomplished nothing ex- cept to arrest three white men on sus- picion. They were lodged in the We tumpka jail. under strong guard and 8 special grand jury, ordered by the gov ernor. will tomorrow investigate the charges against them as we'll as the crime. A special term of the Fillmore circuit court will be at once convened by order of the governor to try the guilty parties.
 The lynching of the two negroes just a few miles from Montgomery outraged the governor, and this afternoon he is- sued strong statement regarding the crime. Those who have undertaken to perform the functions of judge. jury and executioner have brought merited re- preach upon our state." declares the gov- ernor. The history of every state in the union shows that mob or lynch law eoes not check. but oniy increases crime. There is absolutely no Justification for lo xnyt In, 1o hos 1,ox- <- and laws amply sufficient to bring the guilty parties to justice The men who were parties to this lynching have brought reproach upon the state, and as long as I am governor all the power of my office will be used to bring them to justice. 4..t &
 New Law Needed
 This dastardly crime committed just upon the eve of the assembling of the state legislature accentuates the import erce of their taking such measures as may be necessary to maks lynchlng irri- possible in Alabama. The men who lead n'obs are generally those who have no respect for law or authority, who are cowardly and unwilling to face real danger and yet by their lawless acts do not hesitate to bring the blush of shame to every honest and patriotic citizen of the state.
 T am grat'fied to know that; the en- frightened public continent of the state no longer tolerates mob or lynch law. If crimes are committed they can be pun- iFhed by the courts and the admlnistra- ton of justice should not be entrusted to a band of cowar1iy mtscfeants. who are willing. in order to gratify their prejudice or passions, to bring ruin and confusion upon the state
 ''It may be that the grand jury of El- rr ore county will refuse to inaict or the petit Jury to convict. have the consola- tion of knowing that have discharged my duty under my. oath of office, and invoke the support Of every citizen of Alabama who is opposed to the mob ana who believe that our civilization has not yet proven a, failure and that the, rights of person and property in this state can still be protected by law