The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-08-19
MOTHER BEATEN, CHILDREN DES-
TITUTE, HUSBAND JAILED, ALL
ROBBED.

Atlanta, Ga, August l7.-Beaten al
fost to death, Willie Peters, Oconee
county farmer, stole his way to At
lanta, where he received treatment at
the Grady Hospital. He was followed
by officers sent by members of the
mob that had broken into his home
and assaulted him and his wife, the
mother Of four children and about to
give birth to another The mob mem
bers had had warrants swoon out for
arrest charging him with the shot
ing of two of its members. He was
consequently taken from the hospital
and lodged in jail.
His wife fled from their seventy
five-acre farm to Atlanta, where her
fifth child (all under 10) was born.
She is now in destitute condition at
Sc Stonewall street, has been robbed
of her farm by her husbands attorney
and the husband is facing hanging.
Peters, 20, and his wife. rs, lived on
their farm in Ozone county between
Staten and Winder four miles from
Staten. One night after dark aheir
house was broken into by band OF
masked white men. The family was
asleep. -.
The men in the mob Immediately
dragged Peters out of bed and began
beating him, telling him that he had
better leave he country Mrs. Peters
awoke from the noise and seeing her
husband on the floor and beaten she
reacmhed for pistol which was hang
ing over the head end of abe bed. -.
One of the men, however took the
pnstol away from her before she
could get it out of the holster andbe-
gan beating her over the head with
it, telling her to the floor. She crawl
ed under the bed and emergisg on
the other side of it, she was again
beaten by a man. BY this time the
shooting had started and bullets were
flying in all directioss through the
house. Nine bullets were traced that
rad penetrated the sides of the house.
Willie Mae, the nine-year-old daugh-
ter of Peters came into the room to
assist her foaher, lying on the floor
She, too, was beaten by the men. One
hit her over the head with the butt
end of his pistol and she sank to the
floor
The father finally managed to get
loose from the mob and ran out OF
the house through the woods. Several
tried to follow him in the dark, shoot
ing as he fled. Is the darkness and
in the excitement several chance shot
hit two of the men who were the clos
est on Peters trail, who got away and
made his way to Atlanta and the Ora
dy hospital. -.
He had feant to have warrants issu-
ed for the Arrest of the white men, but
they beat him to it, getting the war
rents and charging him with the
shooting of the two men whom they,
the members of the mob had shot
Peters procured attorneys. These men
made repeated visits to Mrs Peters
after she had also made her way to
this clay. They soubht to induce hife
to sell the farm.
The Peters had lived on their farm
for the past six years and were law
abiding citizens. Two white neighbors
of the Peters, Henry Hardy and
Frank Rouden, aad repeatedly tried
to buy the Peters place, but were told
that the farm was not for sale. Their
refusal to sell finally brougho about
the above outrage.
Mrs. Peters happened to recognize
several of the mob members and she
accuses Paul Williams as being the
man that beat her with the pistol. She
also accuses Matthew Stanchcomb
Guy Thelman, Frank Burson, Roy
Perkins and Mr.. Grast bookkeeper
In the state bank.
Peters after being locked up in jail,
secured the services of Attorney Len
B. Guilleheau and R. B. Russell of At
lanta, who advised Fir. Peters to sell
her place to defray expenses for her
husbasPs trial. After repeated call
ings upon Mrs. Peters, they claimed
that nothing could be done for her
husband and that they could only
save him from being hung. After scar
ing her in this manner. she agreed
to sell the place which she valued
at 81, 500. A few days later the at
torneys claimed that they could not
sell the fart and had offered to buy 1t
themselves for $4,000. Mrs. Peters,
not knowing what csc to do, agreed
to this and the attorneys gave her
5000, claiming the other $4,000 for
their legal services.