Dispute About Small Debt Led To 6 Deaths In West Alabama

Case(s)
Source Type: Newspaper
Publisher: Our Mountain Home
Place of publication: Talladega, Alabama
Date of publication: 7/9/1930 0:00
Source URL: View Source
Transcript:

DISPUTE ABOUT SMALL DEBT LED TO 6 DEATHS IN WESTERN ALABAMA Unidentified Negro Man and Woman Posses’ Victims Sunday ESCAPED NEGROES ARE NOW IN MISSISSIPPI MONTGOMERY, July 7- When Gov. Graves learned of the two additional killings near Emelle, one of which occurred across the line in Mississippi, he declared that every resource at his command would be used. if necessary to restore order. He said he had talked with Sheriff Scales, of Sumter County Sat- urday and that the sheriff had assured him he needed no assis- tance. The Governor said he then told the sheriff the latter would be held responsible for maintaining order. Gov. Graves added that the rewards he offer- ed Saturday were not alone for negroes but for the capture of anyone responsible for murder at Emelle, white or black. The Governor was in tele- phonic communication last night with Capt. Potter Smith, of the state law enforcement depart- ment, who is in Emelle. Capt. Smith told the Governor the death of the negro woman early Sunday morning, had no con- nection with the clash at Em- elle. EMELLE. Ala., July 7.-(I.N.S.) Quiet reigned here today in the wake of the slaughter of four negroes by a mob which formed to avenge the killing of Grover Boyd. a storekeep- er. and Charlie Marrs, a farmer. The death toll in the rioting reached six yesterday when an unidentified ne- gro and a negro woman whose hus- band, James Eyer. failed to heed the command of a mob of some two hun- dred men to halt their automobile, viously killed, slain Two hands of were several mob. pre- were negroes at the a It was first reported that other negroes were also victims of the posseman, but a checkup later spiked the reports as false. The previous death list included: Grover Boyd, white, storekeeper. Charles Marrs, a white farmer. John Robertson, negro, brother of Tom. Jacob Robertson. The unidentified negro killed at Narchetta was killed after he had fired at the possement and wounded Clarence Bush, of Emelle, in the el- bow. Bush returned the fire, kill- ing the negro. Members of the posse said they had found the negro in the station house and had sought to search him. Instead of complying with orders to raise his hands he opened fire. Eyer apparently became panic stricken when ordered to halt. Shots were fired in an effort to halt him and as the machine rolled to a stop, other occupants of the car fled. It was then discovered that the woman had been killed. Officers Trace Reports State law enforcement officers sent here Saturday by Gov. Graves from Montgomery were kept busy Sunday tracing down reports that the negroes sought had been captur- ed. Possemen also drove hurriedly to various points, but as the day passed the conviction grew that the negroes had fled the country. Late Sunday afternoon a few hands continued the search but they gave indications that they too would abandon the hunt by nightfall. The trouble had its inception the afternoon of July the Fourth, in an argument between Esau Robertson and Clarence Boyd, nephew of Grov- er Boyd, who took a battery he had sold the negro from the car when he could not pay for it. The negro lat- er appeared at Grover Boyd’s store and began to talk to Clarence. When the younger Boyd went out- side he was attacked by Esau. his father and brothers. Grover Boyd running to his nephew’s aid was shot down from behind by Jacob. One Hanged By Mob Bystanders grabbed Jacob, but the negroes fled. Jacob was held in cus- tody by a crowd that gradually grew as word of the shooting spread and that night he was taken to the woods and hanged by the mob. DISPUTE ABOUT SMALL DEBT LED TO 6 DEATHS IN WESTERN ALABAMA Unidentified Negro Man and Woman Posses’ Victims Sunday ESCAPED NEGROES ARE NOW IN MISSISSIPPI MONTGOMERY, July 7- When Gov. Graves learned of the two additional killings near Emelle, one of which occurred across the line in Mississippi, he declared that every resource at his command would be used. if necessary to restore order. He said he had talked with Sheriff Scales, of Sumter County Sat- urday and that the sheriff had assured him he needed no assis- tance. The Governor said he then told the sheriff the latter would be held responsible for maintaining order. Gov. Graves added that the rewards he offer- ed Saturday were not alone for negroes but for the capture of anyone responsible for murder at Emelle, white or black. The Governor was in tele- phonic communication last night with Capt. Potter Smith, of the state law enforcement depart- ment, who is in Emelle. Capt. Smith told the Governor the death of the negro woman early Sunday morning, had no con- nection with the clash at Em- elle. EMELLE. Ala., July 7.-(I.N.S.) Quiet reigned here today in the wake of the slaughter of four negroes by a mob which formed to avenge the killing of Grover Boyd. a storekeep- er. and Charlie Marrs, a farmer. The death toll in the rioting reached six yesterday when an unidentified ne- gro and a negro woman whose hus- band, James Eyer. failed to heed the command of a mob of some two hun- dred men to halt their automobile, viously killed, slain Two hands of were several mob. pre- were negroes at the a It was first reported that other negroes were also victims of the posseman, but a checkup later spiked the reports as false. The previous death list included: Grover Boyd, white, storekeeper. Charles Marrs, a white farmer. John Robertson, negro, brother of Tom. Jacob Robertson. The unidentified negro killed at Narchetta was killed after he had fired at the possement and wounded Clarence Bush, of Emelle, in the el- bow. Bush returned the fire, kill- ing the negro. Members of the posse said they had found the negro in the station house and had sought to search him. Instead of complying with orders to raise his hands he opened fire. Eyer apparently became panic stricken when ordered to halt. Shots were fired in an effort to halt him and as the machine rolled to a stop, other occupants of the car fled. It was then discovered that the woman had been killed. Officers Trace Reports State law enforcement officers sent here Saturday by Gov. Graves from Montgomery were kept busy Sunday tracing down reports that the negroes sought had been captur- ed. Possemen also drove hurriedly to various points, but as the day passed the conviction grew that the negroes had fled the country. Late Sunday afternoon a few hands continued the search but they gave indications that they too would abandon the hunt by nightfall. The trouble had its inception the afternoon of July the Fourth, in an argument between Esau Robertson and Clarence Boyd, nephew of Grov- er Boyd, who took a battery he had sold the negro from the car when he could not pay for it. The negro lat- er appeared at Grover Boyd’s store and began to talk to Clarence. When the younger Boyd went out- side he was attacked by Esau. his father and brothers. Grover Boyd running to his nephew’s aid was shot down from behind by Jacob. One Hanged By Mob Bystanders grabbed Jacob, but the negroes fled. Jacob was held in cus- tody by a crowd that gradually grew as word of the shooting spread and that night he was taken to the woods and hanged by the mob.