Looks For Lynchers Alabama Governor Demands Reports By Sheriffs Six Cases of Lynch Law Are on the List and Four Sheriffs Report- Two Constables Are in Jail- One Mob Composed of Negroes- An Acquittal on Murder Charge

Case(s)
Source Type: Newspaper
Author: n.a.
Publisher: The Times-Democrat
Place of publication: New Orleans, LA
Date of publication: 8/28/1904
Transcript:

Special to The Times-Democrat.

Montgomery, Ala., Aug. 27. – Gov. Cunningham has begun a thorough investigation of the lynching of negroes in Alabama. Since April 6, negroes have been put to death in six counties of the State. They were Gaines Hall, Autauga county; Rufus Lesuere, Marengo county; Reuben Sims, Baldwin county; Ed Avery, Walker county; Will Robertson, Pickens county and Edward Bell, Dallas county.

A letter addressed by the Governor to the sheriffs of these counties demanding a complete report of the violence, with their efforts to apprehend the guilty ones, the brought to-day replies from all of them except the sheriffs of Dallas and Pickens counties. The four sheriffs who answered declare they have been diligent in their investigation, but have not been able to secure any information. Only two of the negroes were in charge of officers when they were seized by the mob. Ed Avery was taken from the village prison at Cordova and put to death in the absence of his guard. Edward Bell was lynched while en route to jail in Selma in charge of three white constables. These constables are in jail. They claim Bell was lynched by a mob of negroes.

Gov. Cunningham declares that he will exhaust all of the authority of the executive department to apprehend the members of the mobs.

At Hayneville to-day Edward Dickson, a prominent white man, was acquitted on a charge of murder. On April 7 Dickson shot and killed William Polly, an aged planter, who was a cripple. The tragedy and the trial aroused considerable interest in Middle Alabama. Dickson pleaded self-defense.

The State Capitol Commission met today to hear report from Attorney General Wilson on his progress in condemning the city square to be used in extending the Capitol grounds. The attorney general was not ready to report, and the commission adjourned without date.

Citation:

“Looks For Lynchers; Alabama Governor Demands Reports By Sheriffs; Six Cases of Lynch Law Are on the List and Four Sheriffs Report- Two Constables Are in Jail- One Mob Composed of Negroes- An Acquittal on Murder Charge.” The Times-Democrat (New Orleans, LA), August 28, 1904.