Governor Jelks After Lynchers
- Title
- Governor Jelks After Lynchers
- Source Type
- Newspapers
- Author
- Frank Harvey Miller
- Publisher
- Birmingham Age-Herald
- Publication Place
- Birmingham, AL
- Publication Date
- 07/05/1901
- Transcript
- GOVERNOR JELKS AFTER LYNCHERS. He Directs an Investigation of the Elmore County Case. COURT MAY BE CONVENED. The Governor Says He Will Do Everything in His Power to Bring to Justice All Violaters of the Law. BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER. Montgomery, July 4.-(Special.)-Governor Jelks is very much disturbed over the recent lynching of the negro Robert White in Elmore county, and is determined to see if some punishment cannot be meted out to such outrageous infractions of the law. This is the first lynching which has occurred in Governor Jelks' administration, he having by prompt action prevented a threatened lynching the other day in Lee county. In talking about the matter today with an Age-Herald correspondent the Governor said that he had communicated with Judge Denson and Solicitor Bremer of the Fifth circuit in regard to calling a special term of court in Elmore county if they thought it advisable to investigate this lynching. The Governor had previously conferred with Sheriff Robbins of Elmore, who stated that there was no danger of the other negro now in the Wetumpka jail being lynched, and that he had dispatched a deputy to the scene of the outrage to keep down further trouble. The Governor advised Judge Denson that he understood from Sheriff Robbins that the people around Wetumpka felt greatly outraged. The bailiff from whom the prisoner was taken by a mob of ten men was not an officer of the sheriff, and at the time the prisoner was taken from him he was accompanied by a justice of the peace and probably two. Sheriff Robbins advises a special term of court, and the Governor has notified both the sheriff and Judge Denson that he is disposed to offer a large reward for information leading to the conviction of the law breakers. Governor Jelks further said that those people who favor occasional lynchings found in this story proof that if the law is violated in respect to one crime there is no limit to its violation. In this case there was no possible excuse for lynch law, if there ever is excuse. The license to lynch under one circumstance seems to give license to lynch under all circumstances. It forms the lynch habit, so to speak. The Governor said he was sure this crime had ruffled the feelings and disturbed the equilibrium of Judge Denson. Solicitor Brewer thought as much himself, and he was pleased to know that the sheriff was also very indignant and that the people about Wetumpka denounced and protested against this needless crime.
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