TWO NEGROES LYNCHED CLOSE TO ALABAMA CAPITOL
- Title
- TWO NEGROES LYNCHED CLOSE TO ALABAMA CAPITOL
- Source Type
- Newspapers
- Author
- N/A
- Publisher
- St. Louis Post
- Publication Place
- St. Louis, MO
- Publication Date
- January 4, 1915
- Transcript
- TWO NEGROES ARE LYNCHED CLOSE TO ALABAMA CAPITAL Militiamen in Autos Too Late to Save Prisoners-Three Mob Suspects Held. MONTGOMERY, Ala., Jan. 4.-Two negroes, Ed and Will Smith, were taken from the Wetumpka fail early today and lynched by a mob. They had been accused of implication in the murder of RL A. Stillwell, an Elmore County farmer. Wetumpka is near the capital. Soon after reports were sent to the Governor's office that a mob had over-powered the jail attaches and removed the negroes. Montgomery militlamen were hurried toward the scene in automobiles. They were unable to reach there to prevent the lynching, but companies were left on guard. Searching parties later found the negroes' bodies hanging in the woods five miles from Wetumpka. Three supposed members of the mob are in jail at Wetumpka, but their names have not been revealed. Gov. O'Neal has ordered a special session of the Elmore County grand jury to investigate the lynchings. Stillwell was shot several days ago when guarding his barns against thieves. Bloodhounds led directly, it was declared, to the cabin of the Smith negroes, who were arrested.