The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-03
DEF|ED IN.
TENNESSEE
|: |: BYMOB
HIM mMHAH
Masked Men Who Murdered 2
| Men in Cold Blood Have
/ Terrorized Citizens.
By international News Service.


rs CAMDEN, Tenn. May "a six
xEnonths' murder mystery, in which
two men were taken from Jail, hor-
ribly beaten and then murdered by
"a hooded mob, is nearing solution,
with an appeal before Governor Aus
~tin Peavy for emergency action to
relieve an alleged reign of terror
knlaintained here since the killings.
= The case presents a dramatic
Mparallel to the hooded mob muir
treers of Morehouse Parish, Loulsi-
ana, even to the failure of grand
Mjuries to hold anyone responsible
flor the slayings.
Thirteen Men in Band.
Thirteen men comprised the Cam
,sden hooded mob" which crashed
Its way into the county Jail one
anight last October. They dragged
Edward Hartley, fty-five-year-old
farmer, and his son, George Hartley,
xtwenty-two from their cells, beat
-twenty-two, from their cells, beat
4fhem aUlmost to death and then
dragged their mutilated bodies out
@into the jailyard, where Volley after
svolley OF shots were fired into the
bruised forms. The mob then dis
MperSed, but for months afterward it's
nhand was felt everywhere in the
tense, silence that followed the mur-
aders.
The murders were brought to pub
slic attention finally when Judge
mRobert E. EllSins, of the Circuit
Court, appealed to Governor Peay
Tor aid in solving the crime. AS a
result j. Ben Fuqua. a noted crimi-
hal lawyer and Might Rider
wprosecutor, was named special coun-
sell F'uqua Immediately launched
AN investigation, aided by Sheriff
~. L. c'Whispering Smith, of a
nearby county. The inquiry met a
stone wall of silence, revealing a
strange hold was still held on the
Mcommunity by the hooded mob mem.
Ubers.
Second Appeal Made.
The impasse resulted in another
appeal to Governor Peay by Judge
Elkins. The case is now awaiting
the Governors action.
= The two Hartleys - father and
son-were in Jail at the time of the
Aragedy after being convicted of kill
ing Connie Hartley, twenty-six,
&relative, in a family feud. The feud
grew out of a quarrel between Cd
ward Hartley and his brother, John
81artley, sixty five, also farmer.
Connie, the slain man, was a son
@of John.
d The two brothers. each aided by
his son, met in the mountains al
most a year ago to fight it out.
When the smoke Of battle cleared
Connie was dead and his father
badly wounded. The other two Hart
leys were uninjured, but were imme
Ns1iately arrested. After two trials
they were found guilty of manslaug:a-
Ter and sentenced to from two to
len years in JAIL Pending an ap-
peal to the Supreme Court, they
were to be released under bond.
Murdered in Jail.
It was on the night before the
scheduled date of their release that
che hooded mob broke into the jail
and murdered them. A member OF
The mob raped on the Jail door, and
when Sheriff E. G. Flowers opened
The door the mob filed in. easily
Dverpowering the official. Thirteen
men were in the mob. and each was
disguised with black mask queerly
made out of Women's stockings.
In possession Of the Jail. the
mob went to the Hartleys' cells and
ordered them out The father and
Bon obeyed,. hat Immediately began
Fighting, having learned instantly
that they We're doomed men. In the
Tight that followed father and son
were horribly beaten. The elder
Hartley had his left eye gouged out.
mis- right arm almost torn from the
Booklet, and his face and head covered
with wounds. He died at last I'M
der the frightful torture. The young
I'll Hartley was equally beaten until