Trouble
Item
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Title
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Trouble
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Source Type
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Newspapers
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Publisher
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Birmingham News
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Publication Place
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Birmingham, AL
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Publication Date
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07/15/1898
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Transcript
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TROUBLE At Coaling on Account of the Lynching OF THE NEGRO HARRIS John Durrett Tried to Excite the Blacks and Was Treated to a Dose of Lead. HE DID T00 MUCH TALKING There is much excitement at Coaling, Ala., forty-one miles south of Birmingham, on the Alabama Great Southern railroad. There is likely to be serious trouble between whites and blacks The lynching of the negro rapist. Robert Harris, day before yesterday. a full account of which was given in the News, is the cause of the trouble and since then another negro has beer dealt with by the white citizens of that locality. The second negro dealt with in the last two days is John Durrett. He was found near his home peppered with pistol and shotgun holes. That it was the work of a posse it not doubted. Durrett was still alive this morning early, but the doctors stated there was no hope for him. Durrett is said to have un unsavory reputation. He is reported to have killed a couple of men in his life and is reported be a desperado. Since the lynching he is said to have been very insulting towards the white people of Coaling and that neighborhood. The story that comes this morning from that is very simple, Durrett is said to have been trying since the day before yesterday to incite the negroes against the white people. Yesterday's reports from Coaling were to the effect that further trouble was anticipated and that quiet did not reign supreme. Durrett lives a half mile below the depot. Last night a posse of citizens called at his house. Durrett was awakened. He was asked to come out, which he to knew the posse was after him for this purpose of treating him as Harris was treated day before. He used forcible language, and is said to have jumped out of a window with the hopes of escaping. The entire house was thoroughly surrounded and the posse was ready for any such emergency. When the negro jumped from the window reports from a couple of dozen pistols, shotguns, Winchesters and other weapons were heard. There was no investigation on the part of the posse to see what damage was done, from all reports. It was obvious to them that Durrett did not escape. He was found this morning, says the report with several shots clean through him. Durrett was warned yesterday to leave Tuscaloosa county His absence was desired more than his presence, and he is said to have replied that he would not leave until he was good and ready. was reported to have killed TWO white men before and to have served sentences in the penitentiary There is still considerable excitement in and around Coaling While the information that comes from there does not stipulate any one negro giving trouble. the intimation is that there is much talk among the colored population at large and other trouble is not at all unlikely.
Trouble