South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-30
WO MEN KILLED
BY GEORGIA MOB
Pastor Hats First Attempt on
One But Crowd
Returns.
internntIonal - -.

international News Service:
NOWATA, Okla, Sept. S0.-Two
Negroes accused OF being impHcat-
cd in the killing Of Deputy Sheriff
james Gibson. during a jail delivery
here Friday. were taken from the
Jail by a mob tonight and lyncbed
in front OF the court house.
Pleas Of the Rev Mr Pierce. a
Methodist minister. earlier in the
evening. Overcame the thirst for
vengeance Of a mob OF 500 persons
who had dragged a Negro through
the streets and started 10 hang his
unconscious form 10 tree in the
parsonage yard The words Of the
minister quoted the large crowd
which thronged the yard and the
swinging Negro was cut down and
taken 10 jar.
Events eliminating in the double
lynching moved with dramatic
swiftness. Three Negro prisoners
effected an escape from the county
Jail late today. They were discov-
cred in the act by Sheriff James
May. who was knocked down and
robbed OF his pistol.
Gibson Shot 90 Death.
Gibson went 20 his aid and was
shot 20 death.
1T was only a few minutes after
the Negroes had gained their free
dom that a mob bent on vengeance.
was in close pursuit. Two Of the
Negroes took refuge in a house i'm
the outskirts of Nowata, where they
were surrounded and re-arrested.
The third Negro apparently made
good his escape. One of the re-
arrested Negroes. John Foreman.
alleged To have been the man who
killed Gibson. was wounded when
taken into custody and was not
mOlested but the unwounded Negro
was seized by the mob. which had
grown 10 large proportions and
parade through the principal streets
began with the Negro SCREAMING
for mercy at a ropes end. When the
mob reached the Methodist church
n large tree with OutspreadinE
branches. offered the opportunitv
which the rope around the Negroes
neck suggested.
Pastor Appears.
Let's lynch the Negro on holy
ground" shouted some one in the
crowd. The prisoner was SWIM,
clear Of the ground and was being
choked 10 death when Mr.. Pierce
appeared, attracted from his study
IN the y -sonage by the Negro's
screams. lie rushed from the house
into the midst OF tie crowd and be-
gan his pleadings for the seemingly
eloomed mans life.
The mob paused in its work to
hear what the minister had To say
Men, 1 beseech you in the name
Of God not TO desecrate this holy
ground. pleaded Mr.. Pierce. DO
not stain the name OF our city bv
going into this terrible affair"
With great earnestness. ne de-
manded that the law be allowed 10
take its course. Five minutes the
pastor spoke. until one of the mob
leaders, turning 10 his fellows. said.
Men. Mr.. Pierce is right Take
the Negro back to Jail and let the
law take its course"
The mob, sobered by the words
Of the pastor, and the assumption
OF leadership taken by one of its
members, led the Negro back to
Jail
Nowata was quiet following the
episode. but quiet was only the mu
before storm.
Mob Carries Out Work.
shortly after the dinner hour
Foreman and the Negro who had
been rescued from the mob i'm the
afternoon and who had given the
name of sunny" Powell. to the iaiI
authorities. were taken from the iail
py another and larger mob of citi-
Gems. Foreman was strung up 10
lamp post near the court house and
Powell was hanged from a tree a
few feet distant. The sheriff was
not at the Jail when the mob sought
entrance. The deputies left to guard
the Negroes were pushed aside and
forced into submission.