Three Persons Murdered

Item

Title
Three Persons Murdered
Source Type
Newspapers
Publisher
The Semi-Weekly Messenger
Publication Place
Wilmington, North Carolina
Publication Date
06/21/1898
Transcript
Three Persons Murdered Montgomery, Ala., June 16.-On Tuesday night seven miles from Wetumpka, William Carden and his wife, an old couple, and William Carlee, also an old man, were murdered and their house burned to conceal the crime. Carden hoarded his money and the party were murdered to secure it. Yesterday Sol. Jackson, Lewis Speir and another negro were arrested for the crime. This afternoon a crowd of 500 men from the neighborhood of the crime, gathered at Wetumpka to mob the prisoners. Since they have been in jail two of the murderers, Jackson and Speir, confessed and told where they buried the money-$1,200. The mob broke in the jail about 5 o'clock, but were unable to get into the inner cage where the prisoners were. The sheriff telegraphed the governor for troops and at 8 o'clock tonight about ninety of the former members of the militia companies left here on a special train. A few minutes after 8 o'clock word was received that the mob succeeded in getting blacksmith tools, broke open the cage and secured the prisoners. The intention of the mob. it is stated, is to take them to the scene of the crime and hang them. The military company will not reach Wetumpka in time to oppose the mob.