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Title
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ALABAMA MOB AVENGES DEATH OF WHITE MAN
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Source Type
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Newspapers
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Author
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N/A
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Publisher
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The Pensacola Journal
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Publication Place
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Pensacola, FL
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Publication Date
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January 5, 1915
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Transcript
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ALABAMA MOB AVENGES DEATH OF WHITE MAN Negro Brothers, Charged With Murder of Prominent Farmer, Removed Quietly From Jail at Wetumpka, Ala., and Lynched BY ASSOCIATED FRESS. Montgomery, Ala. Jan. A.-Ed. and will Smith. negroes, arrested accused of implication in the aseissination of R. A. Stillwell, an Elmore county farmer last Thursday were lynched early this morning by a mob of fifteen or more men. About 1:30 o'clock this morning a mob of men, heavily masked and armed entered the jall at Wetumpka, over-powered Sheriff Jackson, bound the officer to a chair and forced one of the negro trusties to unlock the cells of the two Smith negroes. With the two prisoners carefully bound, the men left in the direction of Elmore station. Governor O'Neal ordered Adjutant General Scully to mobilize the Montgomery militia and at 3 o'clock the guardsmen left here in automobiles for the scene of the disorder. Stillwell was assassinated some time early Thursday morning while guardIng his barn against negro thieves. He was shot in the back of the head. Bloodhounds were put on the trail and the scene led directly to the cabIns of the Smith negroes. They were accordingly arrested. Tracks near the Stillwell barn, it is said, fitted the tracks made by the negroes, when arrested. Details are meager as to events OC- curing after the mob left the jail. "The negroes were lynched" is the announcement given out at the Wetumpka jall, although no official report of the finding of the bodies has been made. The military companies under General Scully are packed in a collection of automobiles, endeavoring to round up some of the known participants in the party. Wetumpka is fourteen miles from Montgomery in Elmore county just across the Tallapoosa river. The bodies of the negroes were found hanging from trees in the woods near Elmore station, five miles from Wetumpka this morning. Three supposed members of the lynching party are in jail at Wetumpka, but their identities are being kept secret by the authorities. Governor O'Neal has ordered a special session of the Elmore county grand jury to investigate the lynchings. The three Montgomery companies of the state milita will remain at Wetumpka throughout the day. SPECIAL SESSION OF GRAND JURY CALLED Montgomery, Ala.. Jan. 4.-A special session of the Londes county grand jury this morning at Hayneville, by order of Governor O'Neal began an investigation into the lynching of will Jones, a negro, by a mob at Fort Deposit, two weeks ago.
