The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-21
BROUGH MOVES TO
END NIGHT RIDING
Instructs Poinsett Sheriff to
Call for Troops If
Needed.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark, Oct. 21.-
Gov. Charles H. Brough, citing
threats ito destroy cotton gins along
the Frisco railroad, in several North
east Arkansas counties, and take the
lives of the owners, today instructed
Sheriff w. d. Shelton, of Harrisburg,
Poinsett county, to take all steps
necessary to prevent incendiarism
and night riding, even to the extent
of calling on the adjutant- general of
the state for aid.
The governors attention was called
to the threats in letter from a
committee, headed by ]. A. Enrich
a ginner of Tyronza. Poinsett county
where a meeting was held Tuesday
night at which it was decided to ask
protection. The letter quoted a
warning which had been received by
ginners through the mails and which
was signed, Committee"
The warning charged that the gin
ners were in combination to keep
the price of ginning at high level
and continued:
Unless you Immediately put the
price of seed back to $35 or more a
ton, and the charge for ginning and
wrapping back to the prewar basis
of so cents per hundred of lint
ginned, your gin will be destroyed
and your life forfeited. Likewise the
seed mill people. This is effective
Oct IS. Your trust price of 30 cents
per hundred of seed cotton ginned and
$225 for ties and wrapping is simple
robbery, and will not be tolerated
You have got to come square or take
the consequences"
A telegram was received yesterday
situation
was beyond local control. although no
reports have been received of the
threats having been carried out. The
gins, it was stated, are operating
under a heavy guard
Gov. Brough instructed Sheriff
Shelton to appointeas many deputies
as necessary to maintain order and
in the event his forces could not con-
troll the situation to call upon state
officials for aid.
MARION, Ark, Oct 21-Three
white men were arrested yesterday
near Earle, about Is miles west OF
here, charged with having driven
three negro families from Crittenden
county to prevent them from picking
cotton in this section. The men, r
b. and J. r. Shepherd, brothers, and
|. IT. A. Smithson. will be given a pre-
= liminary hearing Monday. 1t is al
legged that the negroes were at work
in the fields when threatened with
violence if they did not leave al
once.
M'KINNEY, Texas, Oct. 21.--
Threats to burn the three cotton gins
in Princeton, Texas, unless operations
cease for 60 days, or until cotton sells
for 35 cents q pound, were contained
in letter signed Everybody" re-
ceived by ]. W. Chapel, manager OF
one Of the plants. Mr.. Chapel SAID
no attention would be paid to the
threats.
BROWNWOOD, Texas Oct. 21.-
Two gins at May, a small town neal
here have been posted with a warn
ing to close. The gins are running
as usual and the owners said the
warnings would be ignored.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Oct. 21.-Twc
Clarendon ginners reported warnings
received by mail, signed the "Blacl
Seventy Five" to close their gins
wmle a Sumter county ginner founo
notice posted on his gin reading
Run today and burn tonight" Non'
of the gins will suspend operations, i
is said, and a guard has been placed
at one of the Clarendon plants.