The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1920-10-13
Two MORE GINS burn
in TEXAS; WILL PROBE
Federal Agents Instructed to Investi-
gate Destruction of Property by
Night Riders in South
PROSECUTION MAY FOLLOW
Cotton Gins in Alabama Idle as Re-
suit of Warnings Posted OH Build
ings-Quiet in South Caro-
lima and Georgia.

: riders in the South, who are waging a
campaign to keep cotton off the mar
ket until it reaches price of forty
cents pound by threatening to de-
stroy gins whose owners ignore warn
ings to discontinue operation until
that price is realized
The Department of Justice last night
announced its agents in the affected
areas had been instructed to investi-
gate instances where federal laws re-
latlng to interference with shipments
in interstate commerce might have
been violated
Department of Justice agents have
been investigating the destruction of
compress and warehouses at Gamer
on, Texas, Sunday morning, with
loss estimated at 100000, according
TO A. j. Dossett owner of the prop
erty who returned to Waco last night
from Cameron.
The burning of two more gins in
Texas was reported yesterday and last
night. One at Pursley was destroyed
">'>s'S 'tito'ie WIN a lOSo DldCCu aG
$4,000, while the other, at Branch
vile, near Cameron, was burned Mon
day night with loss Of approximate
ly $4,000. Both fires are believed to
have been of incendiary origin.
Flames were discovered at the Fort
Smith, Ark, compress last night. 1t
was the third fire in a period of two
weeks at this plant but there was
nothing to indicate a wilful attempt
at its destruction.
The posting of warnings on gins in
Arkansas is continuing, operators at
LaVaca, near Fort Smith, last hight
discovering placards on their plants
with inscriptions:
Don't start this gin until sixty
days. If the wheels turn you know
the results-unlcss the price gets
right"
Guards were placed about the gins
and the owners wore TO confer today
with farmers 10 determine what course
to pursue.
Several additional gins in Morgan
County, Alabama, were idle yesterday
after the receipt Of warnings to dis
continue ginning.
Up to Il late hour last night there
had been no reports of the receipt of
farther warnings by ginncrs in Gcor-
s7,i. and South Carolina.
Washington, Oct. 12.-Fcdcral prose
cutlon of might riders" and others
responsible for the burning Of cot
ton and cotton gins in the Southern
States will be ordered if an invcsti-
cation ordered today discloscs viola
ton Of any federal laws. Department
of !ustic agents have been instructed
to investigate and report Immediately
instances where federal laws appear
to have been violatcd
In most cases, officials believed, the
outragcs have constituted crimes only
under State laws, but the investigation
was ordered when it was indicated
there might have been interference
with shipments in interstate com
lncrcc.
Warnings Are Found.
Fort Smith, Ark, Oct. 12.-Warninps
were found posted on cotton gins at
Lavaca, Ark, near here, tonight, and
armed guards were placed about the
plants.
The ginncrs will meet with farmers
tomorrow to consider what action thew
shall take. Several other gins have
been posted near here, but no deprcda
tions have followed.
For the third time in two weeks fire
broke out tonight at the Fort Smith
compress, but as on the two previous
occasions damage was slight. 1t was
impossible tonight to determine
whether the fire was Of inccndiarv
origin. No warnings have been posted
at the compress.
Cotton Gin Burned
Waco, Texas, Oct. IA cotton gin |
at Branchville, IL miles east of Cam |
cron, was destroyed by fire Monday
light, according to reports received
here today. Loss was estimated at
approximately $4,000. A small grst
mill adjoining the gin also was de-
stroyed.