LYNCH LAW IS INVOKED IN ALABAMA
- Title
- LYNCH LAW IS INVOKED IN ALABAMA
- Source Type
- Newspapers
- Publisher
- The El Dorado Daily Republican
- Publication Place
- El Dorado, KS
- Publication Date
- 01/04/1915
- Transcript
- LYNCH LAW IS INVOKED IN ALABAMA Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 4.—Ed and Will Smith, negroes, charged with implication in the murder of R. A. Stillwell, a prominent Elmore county farmer, were lynched early today by a mob. The negroes were taken from the jail at Wetumpka, where they had been confined since Friday morning. Soon after reports reached the governor's office that a mob had overpowered the jail attaches at Wetumpka and removed the negroes, Montgomery militarimen hurried to ward the scene in automobiles. They were too late to prevent the lynching. Stillwell was shot several days ago while guarding his barns against thieves. Bloodhounds led directly, it was declared, to the cabin of the Smith negroes, who were arrested. About 1:30 o'clock this morning a mob of men, masked and armed, entered the jail, overpowered Sheriff Jackson, bound him to a chair and forced a negro trusty to unlock the cells of the two negroes. With the prisoners carefully bound, the men left, going in the direction of Elmore Station. Details are meagre as to what occurred after their departure. The bodies have not yet been found. The militia are today endeavoring to round up some of the participants in the party. The mob was composed of 15 or 20 men.
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