Reward Offered
- Title
- Reward Offered
- Source Type
- Newspapers
- Publisher
- Birmingham News
- Publication Place
- Birmingham, AL
- Publication Date
- 07/10/1901
- Transcript
- REWARD OFFERED - By Governor Jelks for Elmore County Lynchers. A Proclamation. Special to the Birmingham News. Montgomery, Ala., July 10.-Governor Jelks has determined to put a stop to lynching in this State, and with this end in view he offered a reward of $200 each yesterday for the arrest and conviction of the members of the mob that lynched the negro Robert White in Elmore county last week. It will be remembered that Robert White and his brother had gotten into a difficulty with a white man over the latter killing their chickens, and that a few shots were exchanged. The two White boys were arrested, and while being carried to jail, a mob of about a dozen "unknown citizens" took Robert White from the officers and hanged him to a tree in the immediate vicinity. The brother was safely lodged in jail, his captors having succeeded in eluding the mob. The case has caused much indignation throughout the State and the lawlessness has been almost universally condemned. The affair has been thoroughly investigated by Governor Jelks, and as a result of his investigations he issued the following proclamation relating to the reward yesterday: "Whereas, Robert White, a helpless citizen of this State, in charge of a peace officer and on his way to a jail of detention, was foully set upon and murdered by a mob of unknown persons in Elmore county on the 2nd day of July, 1901, disgracing the State, bringing discredit and dishonor upon the fair name of justice and outraging all good people - a crime for which there was no possible excuse, the prisoner himself not being charged with a capital offense. "Now, therefore, I. William D. Jelks, Governor of Alabama, by virtue of the authority in me vested, do issue this proclamation, offering a reward of two hundred dollars for evidence which will secure the final conviction of each one of the persons who engaged in this assault upon the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama, costing this helpless prisoner his life and all law-abiding citizens annoyance and shame; provided that the total reward for the conviction of any number of those engaged shall not exceed eight hundred dollars. "Done at the Capitol in the city of Montgomery, this the 9th day of July, 1901. (Great Seal) Wm. D. Jelks. "By the Governor: "Robert P. McDavid. "Secretary of State."
Part of Reward Offered