Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-10-12
OFFICIALS SEEK
TOEND BURNING
OF COTTON GINS
Depredations of Night
Riders Must End,
Governors Say

ATLANTA, Oct. 12.-SeveraI fires
of undetermined origin IN which cot
tan was destroyed and widespread
threats of ''night-riders" to burn cot
ton gins whose owners ignore warn
ings to discontinue operations until
cotton reaches 40 cents pound, have
resulted in the issuance of procla-
nations by the governors of Arkan-
sas and Alabama and the statement
of their position regarding these acts
of lawlessness by the governors of
Georgia and South Carolina.
The shooting of a negro named
Nora Canada, gin guard in Loneoke
county, Arkansas, marked the first
death growing out of might riding"
and resulted in proclamation being
issued last night by Governor
Brough, calling upon Arkansas Offic-
ials to use all the powers at their
command to suppress the night-rid-
ing outrages."
Governor Kilby, of Alabama, has
offered a reward of $3.50 for the ar
rest and conviction of any person
guilty of the destruction of property,
in an effort to end the reign of law
lessness in that state.
State Fire Marshall Williams, who
has been investigating fires in north
ern Alabama, reported yesterday to
Governor Kilby that the fire which
destroyed a store at Hanceville last
week was of incendiary origin, but
that the destruction of gin in Nor
gan county and another in Cullman
county was accidental Gins in Moul-
ton, Ala, were idle today after the
posted on them ordering them to
| close until cotton brought 90 cents a
pound and cotton seed $40 ton. In
Calhoun county, Ala, every gin was
posted with similar notices during
SUNDAY night, it became known yes
| terday.
Two additional cotton fires were
reported in Texas Monday. The plat
form of the Farmers Union ware
house at Rockdale was discovered in
| flames, but the fire was extinguished.
| At Thorndale several bales of cotton
were destroyed by fire the same day
The heaviest loss sustained since
the night riders campaign began was
at Cameron, Texas, where the com
press and warehouses of the Comeron
| Compress Company and 1000 bales
| of cotton were burned. The flames
! destroyed property there values al
| $1,000,000 and while some officials
believe the fire was of incendiary orr
gin others do not. A report that
an automobile driven at high speed
was seen to leave the vicinity Just
before the fire was discovered is now
being investigated.
Gins around Douglas, as well as at
Toccoa and in Stephens and Hart
counties, in Georgia, have been post
ed with night riders warnings, and
Sheriff Baggett, of Douglas county
has offered a reward of $500 for the
arrest of the guilty persons. Sheriff
Ba0gett wired Governor Dorsey that
''a lawless crowd is trying to get con-
troll of the situation" and suggested
that the governor offer a reward for
their apprehension, to which that of
fetal replied stating that threats
against property in Georgia consti-
/ tute only misdemeanor for which
the governor is not authorized to of
! fer a reward, but that in case of de-
struction of any property, which is a
felony. he would be glad to offer the
highest reward possible.
No gins have yet been burned in
Georgia, but owners of these plants
where warnings have been posted are
guarding them at cost of SO to
SIS day in several parts of the
state.
The Fort Worth cotton gin al
Pursley, Texas, owned by G. B
Moore, was destroyed last night BY
fire. 1t is believed to have been Of
incendiary origin.