The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-22
Mob Fooled Sheriff Who
Had Prisoner In Jail
for Safe Keeping
BODIES ARE FOUND
HANGING TO A TREE
Carefully Executed Plans
Of Lynchers Carried
Without Trouble

Albany, Ca, Jan. 21.-Forty or fif-
ty men acting with precision indica-
tive of carefully laid plans, took five
negroes from the Worth county Jail
at Sylvester last night, carried them
IN automobiles to Lee county and
hanged them all to one limb of a
tree close by the side of the principal
road leading into Starkyilie. The ne
groes were being held in the Worth
county jail IN connection with the kill
| ing Of Sheriff Moreland of Lee coun-
| ty who met his death at the hands
Of negroes in Worth county during
the Christmas holidays. StarEville is
hamlet three miles from Leesburg,
the county seat of Lee county.
Cutting all wires leading north
from Sylvester was included in plans
of the party. For that reason the
fate of the negroes was not definite
ly known until today, hours after they
had been lynched. They were quick
| " taken from the jail, loaded into
automobiles and started north but
nothing more than that was known
for some time. The bodies perforated
with bullet holes, were cold when
found this morning.
At about 10 O'Clock last night,
Sheriff T.. Al. Potts and his jailer at
Sylvester were awakened by four or
FIVE men who announced that they had
captured a negro bound with ropes.
Suspecting nothing, the officers
watched the men as they calmly loos-
ened the bounds. Suddenly the sit
uation changed however as the visi-
tors seized the officers and demanded
the keys to the cells. They were soon
Forthcoming. At that moment sew
eral automobiles were driven in front
of the jail. The men in them hurried
| " entered, Joined the men who had
preceded them and all who did not
watch the two officers, helped get the
negroes.
They were rushed out of the jail,
| bundled into the machines and all
started north at a rapid pace. The
officers Immediately attempted to re-
sort to the telephone to head off the
PARTY. but it was soon assertained
that all lines north were out Of order
and later it was learned the wires
had been cut.
BODIES FOUND HANGING.
The bodies were found by Lee coun-
ty citizens who were out on the roads
early today apparently under the inn
preston that there was reason to be
lieve that If any of the negroes were
taken from the jail they would be
taken to Lee county, where Sheriff
MoreIand was popular. Going out
from Starkville, short distance, they
encountered the ghasty scene of the
five men hanging to one limb within
full view from the road. Apparently
they had been strung up and then be
came targets for the men who had
taken them from Jail.
Four of the victims were of one
i fan1ily-Felix Lake and his three
sons, Frank, Dewey and Major. The
i nth was Rodius Seamore.
/ It was believed, however, that Jas.
Keith, a negro, was the prisoner most
wanted BY the lynchers. 1t was said
4 that there was more evidence against
him than any Of the others. Sheriff
POTTS. however, had taken the precau-
ton to remove him several days ago
to some other Jail, the location of
which he has not divulged.
i Moreland was killed at the home Of
i Felix Lake when he went there to
arrest a negro. It was reported that
more than one of those in the house
shot him and all were arrested later.
IN EIGHT AUTOMOBILES.
i Ranorts from Oakfield today were
/ that eight automobiles passed
/ through there late last night gong to-
wards Leesburg. Leesburg citizens
also reported that eight machines
passed through that town at about
! 1890 o'clock this morning. Stark
i vile ia three miles from Leesburg
which is between Is and 20 miles
from Sylvester.
| Sheriff Potts today stated the men
| made no attempt to modest the p
other persons in the jail:
The bodies had not been cut down
several hours after they were found
but preparations were under way for