The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-03-20
SHERIFF ELUDES
GEORGIA MOB

uEUNdlA MUD
Lafayette, Ga, March 19.-Learn
ing of the gathering of mob to storm
the Jail and lynch George and Ralph
Baker, alleged slayers of Special Dep.
uty Sheriff ]. w. Morton at Durham
Saturday, Sheriff Harmon last mid.
night slipped the prisoners away to
Rome. On account Of the death OF
four officers at the hands of alleged
moonshiners and whiskey runners re-
Gently, the people of this county have
become greatly incensed and are
threatening to take the law into their
own hands.
According to Sheriff Harmon, Ralph
Baker, who is only II years old, ad-
mits shooting Morton, while the other
brother, George, %, denies that he
fired shot, declaring that he was
unarmed.
Citizens here are demanding that a
special session of court be called to
try the two.
Chattanooga, Tenn, March 19.-Ac-
cording to citizens of Durham, D. w.
Williams, young manager of the COM
missary at the Durham coal mines on
Lookout mountain, played heroic
role in the stirring episodes that fol-
lowed the killing of J. w. Morton
deputy sheriff, by the Baker boys at
Durham yesterday, having almost
single handed on two different occa-
sions and at different places prevent
ed lynching of the accused. The story
related by witnesses in substance fol-
lows:
When the Central of Georgia train
rolled up to the little loading station
Of the mining company yesterday at
noon, Ralph and George Baker, scarce
ly out of their teens, stepped from a
car near which Morton, who was 67
years of age, was waiting to assist his
invalid daughter, Mrs. Georgia Phil
lips, who had come to the mining
town to be treated by the company
doctor. One of the Bakers placed
himself in front of the officer and
said: "Well, you got warrant for
US, have you?" Morton replied: "No,
boys, ] have no warrant for YOU"
Then, without further words, the two
brothers opened fire and the aged
man pitched forward with his body
riddled with bullets, but ared one shot
as he fell dead. Z ss y a
The men standing around the sta
ton were stunned by the suddenness
of the tragedy, but Williams, who was
In the commissary some distance
away, Immediately ran to the scene.
He secured revolver from by
standed and, calling two other young
men to his assistance, started in pur-
suit Of the fleeing gunner. George
Baker was soon run down and cap
tured. When a mob Of men who had
gathered, threw rope around his
neck and were threatening to hang
him, Williams boldly told the crowd
that Baker was his prisoner and that
he intended to protect him, finally
persuading the angry citizens to dis
perse.
Meantime another posse was trail
ing Ralph Baker and found him in
the loft of farm house several miles
from Durham. He was dragged out, a
chain thrown around his neck and
plans made to string him up to a
tree. Williams, who had Joined the
searchers, with a few other men, pro-
tested against the lynching, but some
Of the citizens were determined to
wreak vengeance. One of the leaders
then drew line on the ground and
asked all afvoring hanging Baker to
step across, declaring that majority
should rule. Immediately nearly all
Of the hundred men present stepped
across the dead line, but Williams
again took firm stand for law and
order and again prevented lynching
The prisoner was then taken to
Durham and turned over, with his
brother, to Sheriff Harmon, and both
were placed in Jail.
That the killing of Deputy Morton
was. deliberately planned was indi-
Gated by the fact that the Baker boys
are said to have cut the telephone
wires before boarding the train at
Flintstone for Durham. The affair
coming upon the heels of several other
killings of officers by moonshiners
and liquor runners, has created in
tense feeling throughout the country.