Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-03-14
GOVERNOR REMOVES JA|LER
FROM WHOM MOB TOOK NEGRO

about 100 yards from another
tree from which a negro was
hung by mob less than Is years
ago.
Whether Jailcr Edgcr was able
to identity any of the men in the
mob is not known. 1t is believed
however, that he did not rccog-
nize any of the men as the four
who seized him when he came to
the door of his home were mask
ed. The others were some dis
tancc away and standing in the
dark. The members of the mob
arc all believed to have come
from the Midway section as they
came to Versailles in machines
from that direction.
The tree from which James was
hung is about 400 yards from
Margaret College, a girls school.
The institution faces on a street
OF Versailles, but from the rear
of the institution the spot where
the negro was hung can be plain
ly seen.
Feeling has been high since the
trial of James began, though au
thoritics were not prepared for
such action on the part of the
citizens. James was accused of
the killing of Ben T. Rogers and
Homer Nave. of Midway, on Oc-
tobcr 8 of last year. when he was
apprchcndcd while attempting to
rob the Midway distillcry. James
was arrested along with two 9th
CT negroes who are now i'll jail at
Frankfort in custody of federal
officers who have them charged
with the robbery of the distillery.
The killing of Rogers is said to
have been especially brutal as it
was shown that he was shot in
the back at close range. powder
burns having been found on his
clothes.
The trial Of James has been on
for several DAYS in the Woodford
circuit court before Judge Robert
l.. Stout .Altcr being hopelessly
hung for q hours. the jury trying
the case was released shortly af-
ter O'Clock Saturday afternoon
by Judge Stout. The final ballot
when the jury was discharged
stood II for imposition Of death
and one for life Imprisonment.
Judge Stout i'll an attempt to al
lay feeling ordered the case as
signed for rctrial on March %,
calling 4 special term Of court.
With the discharge OF the jury
Saturday afternoon. &. NJ. Harris |
and n. w. Nuchols, attorneys
who had been appointed by the
court To defend James. asked that |
they be relieved of further service
i'll the case. Their request was
granted.
The shooting OF Rogers and !
Nave, of which James was accus-
ed, occurred carly on the morn
ing OF October s. James along |
with several other negroes was !
discovered in the distillcry by the !
guards. Nave and Rogers rushed !,
to the assistance of the officers |!
anil during the exchange of shots
Rogers and Nave were killed. Ro-
gers died at the Good Samaritan
hospital shortly after being shot.
Both men fell near the door of |
the distillcry leading from the Of |
flee into the warehouse.
Federal authorities Immediate
ly began a search for the men
to have done the shoot |
ing and entered the distillery.
Five negroes were arrested for
the crime and several days later !
Harry Seay, in charge of the bot
Ting plant of the distillery, was
also taken into custody, it being
charged that he on several occa-
sions had admitted the negroes |
into the distillery. Seay is out on
bond at the present time.
James surrendered to the au-
thorities two days after the oc-
currence- of the shooting. During
the fight with the officers he was
wounded and hid in cornhelds, fl
nally making his way to a negro's
home in Midway. He later sur
rendered to the federal authori-
ties, who took him to Lexington.
James for several weeks was in a !
serious condition, the bullet hav-
ing penetrated his abdomen. He
recovered, however. and was
again placed in the Fayette jail. !
Shortly afterwards he was taken
to Versailles and placed in jail,
where he remained until he was
taken out and hung.
DR.. Pryor, Veterinarian, phone952