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NEW SERIES—VOL-I—NO. 45.
BLOODY RIOT .
IN ATLANTA.
Four White Men and Four Negroes
Killed in Battle
five WHITE MEN WOUNDED-
Entire Block of Houses Burned in
Effort to Arrest a Half-
Breed Desperado.
Atlanta. Ga., May 17.— In a bat
tle between negroes resisting arrest
an d the police today four negroes
were killed, five men seriously
wounded and an sntire block of
buildings bu.ined in an effort to drive
the blacks from cover. Before the
battle terminated Governor Cand
ler ordered out a detachment of the
state militia and the entire city was
aroused. The dead are:
Edward Battle, bailiff, of Fulton
county; white.
Edward Crabtree, Atlanta. v city
policeman; white.
Thomas Grant,Jj Atlanta city
policeman; white.
H.G.Ozburn, Fulton county po
liceman; white.
Will Gregg, negro, killed for dis-'
paraging remarks.
Will Richardson, negro who in
cited the riot and killed three men.
Milton Risby, negro, killed while
escaping through a V “
Unknown negro, killed while
running through a yard.
The wounded are: y
W. A1 wright, Fulton county
policeman; shot in left shoulder.
Finzer Shepherd, negro hack
man, shot through the hand.
George Heard, Fulton county
policeman; shot in the arm.
E. T. Jackson, street car con
ductor; shot in the hip.
Owen Heard, Fulton county po
liceman; shot in the shoulder.
J. Spradlin, shot in the arm and
thrown from a bicycle.
START OF THE TROUBLE.
The trouble started last night. S-
A. Kerlin, a former policeman, who
had incurred the enmity of the
negroes, was set upon and nearly
killed while traveling homeward
along McPherson road, just out
side the city. The approach of a
trolly car frightened the negroes,
of whom there were five. A ser
geant at Fort McPherson heard the
commotion and found Kerlin un
conscious and badly beaten in the
road.
Kerlin had recognized one of his
assailants as Will Richardson, an
Indian half-breed, and warrants
were issued for him and his com
panions. The Fulton county offi
cials learned that Richardson and
his companions were hiding in the
house of Annie Wilburn, in Mc-
Daniel street, Pittsburg, a suburb
of Atlanta, largely, populated by
negroes. The city police were
asked to assist in the capture.
County Policeman Golden was
joined by Officers Cheshire and
Dunbar and a number of Kerlin’s
neighbors volunteered their ser
vices.
The little posse arrived at the
Wilburn house at 1:30 o’clock this
morning and found it dark. As
the officers near some one on the
inside opened fire without warning,
and Owing Heard one of the Ful
ton county officials, fell to the
ground, shot through the shoulder.
His companions hastily dragged
him out of range and held a con
sultation. It was ascertained that
Richardson, who owned the store
adjoining the Wilburn house, had
a stock of winchesters and ammu
nition and was prepared to make a
desperate assistance.
WAITED FOR DAYLIGHT.
In the council of war it was de
cided to awm the coming of day
light before renewing the attack,
and the house was quickly sur
rounded. At 6 o’clock the officers
again approched the house and
called upon those inside to surren
der. The reply was a volley of
rifle shots, and Couuty Officer Bat
tle fell dead. The survivors scram
bled for telegraph poles and trees
and began a fusillade upon the
house.
At this j uncture the door was flung
open, and Will King a negro ran
out, begging the officers not to
kill him, as he wished to surrender.
Meanwhile Richardson, the des
perado, from his vantage point in
the house, had a clear view in three
directions. Just a block away
Policeman Tom Grant of the At
lanta city police force stepped from
THE NEWS AND COURANT.
behind a tree to fire at the house.
As he raised his rifle Richardson
sent a bullet through his brain.
, A riot call was sent to police
headquarters and all the reserves,
heavily armed, hastened to Pitts
burg in patrol wagons. The news
had spread by this time, and crowds
of armed men began to gather at
the scene. The futility of attack
ing the house was recognized, and
it was determined to burn out tne
negroes.
. SHACK ON FIRE.
King, the negro who had sur- j
rendered, was supplied with a ■
torch, and under pam of instant
death wvas ordered to set the Wil
burn shack on fire. As the flames
rose over the building the officers,
eager that no one should, escape,
stepped out of their shelter in ev
ery direction. Officer Edward Crab- 1
tree was instantly shot through
the brain, and a second later Police
man Ozburu was killed. Again
there was a race for coyer, and I
everybody began firing into the \
bouse.
Meahwhile Governor CandU r
had been notified of conditions and
had ordered fifty soldiers with a
platoon fiun to the scene.. As the j
recruits ’dashed up the negroes I
began scattering from the burning !
house. Orders were given to fire 1
every building in which they sought *
refuge, and soon the entire block 1
was burning.
Richardson, the leader, had been
lost sight of, but he soon gave evi
dence that he was still fighting.
W. T. Jackson, a street car con
ductor, came into view as he ap
proached the house and received j
a bullet in the hip. A second later
a stray bullet to: e through the hand
of a negro hackman. who was driv
ing a spectator to the scene of bat
tle. Special Officer Spradlin, has
tily responding to a call, was speed
ing to the battleground on his bi
cycle, when a bullet broke his arm
and threw him from the wheel.
TWO NEGROES KILLED,
Two of the negroes attempted to
escape through a sewer, but were
discovered. As they emerged from
t le mouth of the tunnel they were
literally shot to mince meat. Mean
while the officers were arresting
every negro the vicinity. The
flames swept over the cabins de
stroying everything in the block,
yet there w-as no trace of Richard
son. Two of his companions,
Steve Nisbot and Jim Singleton,
were rescued from the enraged
mob with the greatest difficulty.
They were thrown to the bottom of
a patrol wagon, which was driven
at break-neck speed to the Fulton
county jail. *
Sheriff Nelms mounted the smok
ing ruins and counseled the people
to desist from further violence.
His talk had the desired effect, but
for hours after the battle large
parties of white men patrolled all
the street heavily ajmed.
As soon as possible the ruins of
the cabins vvefe. searched and in
what had been a woodshed in the
rear of Richardson’s store was
found the charred trunk of a man.
Lying near it was the steel barrel
of a rifle,and it is thought to be the
remains of Richardson, the half
breed, who caused all the trouble.
Mrs- Maffett Dead-
Mrs. Belle Maffett died at her
home, in this city, Tuesday night.
Her death was an unexpected
event and is a sad olow to her rel
atives.
She was the wife of Mr. W. F
Maffett and a daughter of Mrs.
Jane Smith, with whom she has
lived for a long time. She leaves
a husband and four bright chil
dren to mourn the loss of a loving
wife and devoted mother.
CARTERSVILLE, GA., THURSDAY. MAY 22. 1902.
SEABOARD GETS
EAST AND WEST.
Road Will be Extended Both East
and West-
WILL BE A THROUGH LINE
An Entry to the Coal Fields Has
Long Been Desired by the Sea
board Air Line.
Mr. John Skelton Williams,
president of the Seaboard Air
Line railroad, and a party of offi
cials of that road, caine in from
Birmingham over the East and
West railroad last Thursday eve
ning and went on to Atlanta on
the evening train over the N. C.
& St. L
The party spent several days in
Birmingham and it is stated that
Jh;y were looking out for terminal
facilities for an extension of the
East and West railroad which is
reported to have been bought by
the Seaboard people.
On Friday evening a corps of
engineers with their instruments
and teams arrived in Cartersville
and it is stated that they will first
go out over the line of the East
and West toward Birmingham.
It is reported that the road will be
extended from Cartersville east to
some point ou the Seaboard near
Winder, Ga., which would be most
satisfactory to Cartersville.
In regard t'o this deal we find
the following in the Atlanta Con
stitution of Saturday last:
The purchase of the East and
West by parties acting presumably
in the interest of the Seaboard Air
Line yesterday was a step that has
long been expected and one that
will have important results for At
lanta.
The purchase of this line, which
extends from Cartersville to Pell
City, Ala., means that the Sea
board has definitely decided to at
once begin operations for getting
sui ci! dii uuuguaui. vui a
long time such action on the part
of the Seaboard has been predicted,
but it has never been known wheth
er the East and West would be
purchased or an independent line
constructed by the Seaboard.
The purchase was consummated
in Balt more yesterday. The de
tails of it are told in the following
dispatch from that city:
Baltimore, May 16.—A syndi
cate, of which Ladenburg, Thal
mau & Cos., of New York, are the
managers, has bought thi East
and West Railroad of Alabama
from the Kelly estate of NewYork.
The purchase is in the inteest of
the Seaboard Air Line, t( take
that system to Birmingham Ala.
The terminals at
| are to be secured by purchae of
; the Birmingham Belt railroad H.
I M. Atkinson, of Atlanta, height
| the Belt line last year for thOld
Colony Trust Company, of Boton,
and as a part of the Seaboard pins.
Shott connecting lines are t be
built to unite the Seaboard ith
the East and West railroad,whh,
with the reconstruction of theit
j ter will bring the total cost tyto
| $4,000,000,
The Seaboard has long een
anxious for an entry into Bm
ingham both for the purpo. 1 of
getting a line of its own intoflie
coal fields and for the puroo of
getting a strong western corec
tion. The Frisco system,of wch
Birmingham is the eastern tm-
Light Biscuit
Delicious Cake
Dainty Pastfies
Fine Puddings
Flaky Crusts
inus, is said to be very friendly to
the Seaboard and the two roads
will doubtless work together close
ly.
Richmond, Ya , May 16. —Pres-
ident John Skelton Williams, pf
the Seaboard Air Line railway, ar
rived here tonight from Birming
ham, Ala., and in an interview re
garding the reported extension of
his system to Birmingham said:
“The story that Ladenburg,
Thalman & Cos., of New York,have
purchased the East and West rail
road for the Seaboard Air Line
railway is incorrect, although it
may be true that the firm mention
ed have bought the railroad refer
red to for themselves and associates,
and that the latter include certain
friends of the Seaboard. As to
whether the Seaboard Air Line
railway will ever acquire an inter
est in the East and West road will
depend entirely upon circumstan
ces and future conditions. Neither
the Seaboard Air Line railway nor
any of its people have any interest
in the belt line referred to. They
are not and have not been nego
tiating foi it and have no expecta
tion of acquiring it.”
EuTaRLEE INSTITUTE.
Commencement Exercises Will be
Held Next Week.
As has been announced,the com
mencement exercises at Euharlee
Institute will begin with the bac
calaureate sermon ou Sunday
morning, May 27, n a. m.,by Rev.
F. L. McFadden, of Cedartown,
Ga. Dr. G. G. Sydnor, who was
to have preached the sermon, has
been detained by a meeting now
in progress in his church at Rome.
The exercises following, will be
on Monday and Tuesday evenings,
beginning promptly at 7:30.
On Monday evening the exer
cises will consist of the contest in
elocution by fifteen young ladies
for the trustee’s medal; together
w r ith the commencement exercised
proper on Tuesday evening, Rev.
A. W. Bealer will deliver the liter
ary address before the students, af
ter which the students will present
several,plays, and two of the young
men will deliver debate speeches
op the subject, “Resolved. That,
I rusts ana Should be
Abolished by Direct Legislation.”
All medals will be awarded on
Tuesday evening.
The annual meeting of the board
of trustees will be held at the In
stitute on Monday afternoon, May
25th.
We give every one a cordial in
vitation to attend all the exercises
and promise you a pleasant time.
OFF FOR GRIFFIN.
Cartersville Firemen Left Yester
day Mornlngr.
The running team and several
other members of the Cartersville
Fire Department left on the early
train yesterday morning for Griffin
to attend the annual meeting of
the Volunteer Fireman’s Associa
tion and take part in the contests.
The team has been hard at work
for several weeks practicing for
the races and expect to capture
some of the best prizes offered.
Those who went are Percy Ren
froe, Ben Purse, Sam Verner, Mad
ison Milam, Harrison Duuahoo,
Howard Hicks, J. H. Wofford, M.
H, Gilreath, Jr., Robt. Munford,
T. W. Simpson, Evans Hall, Ru
fus Powell, Paul Smith, R. L,
Stover, Dr., C. H. Griffin, John T.
Norris, J. W. Stanford, Geo. G.
Stiles, and Tony Comarata, mas
cotte.
The boys will return home Fri
day.
Thanks for Gold Fish-
The following letter from the
corresponding secretary of the Cal
houn Woman’s Club has been re
ceived by the Cherokee Club of
Cartersville, in regard to the gold
fish recently sent them for the
park fountain in Calhoun:
"We thank you warmly and sin
cerely for this token of your re
gaid. It is highly appreciated.
We wish you success in all your
undertakings.
Idalette Hillhouse,
Cor. Secretary.”
A Card from Capt- Bob Anderson-
To the voters of Bartow count) 7 :
After mature consideration I have
decided to retire from the race for
clerk of the superior court in fa
vor of Mr. W, C. Walton. In the
event of Mr. Walton’s election I
will be associated with him in the
clerk’s office. I earnestly hope
that all my friends will vote for
Mr. Walton.
J. R. (Bob) Anderson.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WILL CLOSE.
Annual Exercises to be Held Next
Week.
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
Interesting Exercises at theTaber
nacle—Contest for Medals
Tuesday Morning.
The present session of the pub
lic schools which has been the
most largely attended, and one of
the most successful sessions in
its history, is fast drawing to a
close.
On Tuesday last the pupils spoke
for places. A large crowd of pa
trons and friends was in attend
ance at each school. The commit
tee of judges after listening to the
declamations, selected two pupils
from each room of the grammar
grades and four from the three
grades of the high school, to con
test for the two medals offered by
the board. The following were
chosen:
At the East School from the Ist
and 2nd grades, Dayton Landers
and Caroline Knight; from the 3rd
and 4th grades, Leonell Moon and
Tony Comarata;?rom the sth grade,
Rebecca Knight and Freeman
Puckett.
At the West School from the Ist
and second grades, Rosylin Lump
kin and Evelyn Lewis; from the
3rd and 4th grades, Jessie Daves
and Annie Pope Allen; from the
6th grade Lillian Akin and Doak
Proctor; from the high school
grades, Verdery Akin Lindsay
Forrester, Lizzabel Saxon and
Sarah Tutnlin.
These sixteen speakers will be
divided into two sections, those
of the first four grammar grades
constituting the junior division,
the other the senior division, each
to contest for a medal next Tues
day at the tabernacle.
The order of exercises next week
is as iotinws:
Monday, 26th, regular and re
view work in each room. The
written w'ork of the terra will be on
exhibition.
Tuesday 27th 10 a. m.—Elocu
tion contest at the tabernacle.
Wednesday 28th, 10:30 a. m. —
Graduating Exercises; award of
prizes for composition and elocu
tion; and delivery of certificates of
promotion.
The class to be graduated this
year is composed oi four boys and
ten girls. The class roll and hon
ors are as follows:
Cbas. Benjamin Gilreath Ist
honor.
Elizabeth Ford, 2nd honor.
Juliett Neel, 3rd honor.
Mary Earl Gilreath, 4th honor.
Irene Elizabeth Alley, Clifton
Corley, Walter Weaks Daves, Jr.,
Ada Emaline Dunahoo, Florida
Fite, Addie Beatrice Gaines,
Mamie Josephine Ginn, Julia Cros
well Hall, Avis Jackson, Eliza
williams Neal.
The public is cordially invited
to be present at all the execises
next week.
AGAINST A DISPENSARY.
Rev. Sam P. Jones Opposes Liquor
Shop for Bartcwe
Cartersville, Ga., May 17th, 1902.
Editors of the News and Courant:
Will you permit me to say to the
good people of Bartow county a few
things in reference to the coming
primary when the question of dis
pensary or no dispensary shall be
voted on and perhaps settled one
way or the other for the county. It
is with misgiving and anxieties
that I contemplate this subject. I
know how burdensome the taxes
are upon people just at this time,
and yet the taxes levied for the
court house last year have been
paid, the taxes levied for the court
house this year will be paid before
any dispensary can posibly be in
augurated in this town. The bur
den of taxes will have been gone be
fore the dispensary can ha s e been
inaugurated, and our taxe light
ened so that we can carry
them along a thousand times
better than we can suffer the de
bauch of our boys and the ruin of
our people by the work of a dis
pensary.
I quote literally from a letter
copied from the Wesleyan Chris
tian Advocate published in AtlanJ
ta, and signed by A. J. Hughes of
OLD SERIES—2I ST;YEAR
Athens. It is headed “Some
Facts,” and reads: *
“When the Athens dispensary
was established it was supposed it
would be a lesser evil than a num
ber of bar rooms,and some thought
that if they did not take the dis
pensary they would have saloons
thrust upon them, after having pro
hibition.
But, the dispensary was to sup
plant the saloons and carry on the
work the saloons had been doing;
that is, debauch, 10b, and ruin the
weak. All its advocates claimed for
it was that it w'ould destroy fewer
people than saloons. But this in not
now evident. For the first year its
sales aggregated $53,000 00. And,
last year its sales w'ere $93,000.00.
And, as they are not allowed to sell
less than a half a pint, it is likely
the $93,000.00 buys a fourth more
liquor in the dispensary than it
would in bar rooms. Again they
claim shall be pure, that is have
less water and more poison.”
“Only the indefinite can know the
drunkenness, debauchery, wretch
edness, and crime caused by the
vast quantities of liquid poison sold
in the Athens dispensary. In Ath
ens it is spoken of as a big barroom,
in which the town and county un
dertake to monopolize the drunk
ard making business. And about
all that can be said in its favor,
over saloons, is that it opens at sun
up and closes at sun down, and the
liquor is not to be drank on the
premises. But these are possibly
outweighed by the larger quanti
ties sold, for they are drank on
somebody else’s premises.
“But, granting that it is a lesser
evil than saloons, we see it sells
vast quantities of liquid poison.
That it is doing on a large scale
the work of saloons. Its mission
is to debauch character, to destroy
health and life, wreck homes, and
damn souls. It is without a dis
pensary feature; it is a drunkard
factory, pure and simple, and, like
the saloon, it is without a re
deeming feature; the sum of all
villanies, and mother of all
crimes. Every reason for con
demning the beverage liquor traf
fic holds with full force against its
sale in these grog shops, misnamed
dispensaries.”
These are the honest statements
of art trnnest man who has looked
upon the wreck and ruin in the
work of the Athens dispensary.
Let the good people or this county
weigh these w r ords. I know we
are cursed some with the blind
tigers and that liquor is shipped
in on us, but woe be to our
town and county when the dispen
sary opens up for business in our
midst. I dare say that it will not
be one week until many who voted
for it to come will shudder with
horror at the sight, and the thous
ands of our citizens who look on
the work it will do will regret the
day that it was ever planted in our
midst.
This question is up to the white
voters of this county. My neigh
bors, you can decide it for your
selves. and let your decision be
overwhelmingly in favor of sobri
ety and uprightness and temper
ance. .
May God direct this thing to His
own glory and to the good of all
our people is my honest prayer.
Yours truly,
Sam P. Jones.
• Card from Capt- Conner-
I will follow the direction of the
majority vote in the primary upon
the dispensary question.
I favor the passage of a law tak
ing from persons in jail charged
with crimes in misdemeanor cases,
the right to demand indictment by
the grand jury; so that they may
be put upon trial in the city court
upon accusation, and thus save
the county the expense of keeping
them in jail until the grand jury
meets. This has been frequently
recommended by our grand juries.
I favor a uniform system of pub
lic school-text books; so that pa
trons of the public schools will not
be put to the expense of buying
new books with every change of
the wind.
I favor a division of the public
school fund between the races in
proportion to the taxes paid by
each race.
I favor the cutting down of taxes
at all points where it can be .done
without damage to the public ser
vice.
I am opposed to the sale of the
W. & A. railroad.
I will have something additional
to say in next w r eek’s issue.
J, J. Conner.
r warf |
j CONSUMPTION