The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1920-10-14
GIN GUARD KILLED,
FEAR NIGHT RIDERS
Additional Fires Give Rise to Much
Anxiety Over Cotton States
Georgia Sheriff Offers Re-
ward for Capture.

Atlanta, Ca. Oct 12.-The shooting
to death yesterday Of negro guard
at a cotton gin in Arkansas, numerous
fires Of undetermined origin in which
cotton has been destroyed, and wide
spread threats Of night riders to burn
gins whose owners ignore warnings
to discontinue operations until the
staple reaches a price of 90 cents a
pound have resulted ia the issuance of
procIamations By Governor Kilby Of
Alabama and other governors and
statements of their position by Gov
arnor Dorsey Of Georgia and Cooper
of South Carolina.
Governor BFoueh of Arkansas. upon
being advised last night Of the shoot
/ ing of Nora Canada in Loanoke
county, issued a proclamation regard
ing lawlesness ia some Arkansas
counties growing out Of the prevail
ing low price Of cotton The governor
called upon the state adjutant gener-
al and sheriffs Of counties where
there are likely to be disturbances" to
use all power at their command to
suppress these night riding out
RACES
Posts of the American Legion also
were urged to cooperate with the au-
thorities.
May Have Been Robbery.
The killing Of Canada, until last
night mad been regarded by the au-
thorities As possible outgrowth Of
night riding activities, as the owner
of the gin at which the negro was
killed is said TO have received a warn
-.
been arrested and charged with the
killing, however, and one of them Is
said to have confessed that the mo
tive was robbery, refuting the theory
that the shooting was an act of night
riders.
In proclamation citing the burning
Of gins and gin houses in Alabama,
Governor kiiby mas offered q reward
of $3.50 for Che arrest and conviction
OF any person guilty Of the destruc-
tion of property This character of
Elawiessness deliberately violates one
of the fundamentals for which govern
ment established and threats to sub
stitute for orderly government a
reign Of terror and violence, the gov
ernor declared.
May Order Troops.
Governor Cooper. in ccmmunica-
tion to /. w Harris, solicitor of the
tenth judicial circuit of South Caro-
lima. deplored the acts Of fanatics
and gave assurance that should any
situation develop which would require
extra effort on the part of the state
he would not hesitate to order it.
Replying to suggestion from a
county sheriff that the offer by the
state of reward fer the arrest Of
night riders in Georgia would have q
beneficial effect Governor Dorsey
stated that threats against property in
Georgia constituted miSdemeanor
only, and that under the circumstances
he was not authorized te post q re-
ward. The governor declared, how
ever, that in the event property was
committed and that he would ssbc glad
to offer the highest reward possible
under law"
Atlanta. Ca, Oct. Il. Cotton gins
In douglas and surrounding counties
are being posted with warnings to
close on account of the price Of cotton,
Sheriff A. s. Baggett Of Douglas
county reported to Governor Dorsey
yesterday. and added that he had Of
fered a reward of $500 for arrest OF
the gtsilty persons.
The sheriff wrote that "a iawless
saz-sa,1 --s-s ~ vsrsfrxf or
the situation.
Owners Of threatened gins ARE
guarding them at cost Of $40 to SIS
Q day, the sheriff said. Ne gins have
yet been repprTed burned or otherwise
damaged IN Georgia.
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