Lyonh Law in the States.

Manawatu Herald, 26 November 1904, Page 3

Lyonh Law in the States.

A wholesale lynching of negroes is reported to have taken place at Statesboro’, Georgia, where fifteen negioes Were strung up for the alleged crime of murder. Recently a Mr Charles Hodges and his family of four were found to have been murdered OH their plantation near Statesboro’, and negroes were suspected of having committed the crime. The murder, which waa a brutal one, highly excited the people in the vicinity, and a search was immediately made for the murderers. Two negroes were captured, who, after being confined in Statesborough Gaol for some days, confessed to the murder, and implicated thirteen other negroes, who, the prisoners said, were concerned in the murder and robbery. The sheriff and his assistants were able to capture the whole of the thirteen, and all the prisoners were held for trial. Fearing lest his prisoners should be lynched, the sheriff asked for and obtained the services of a State Militia to guard the gaol. A mob overpowered the guard, and took the negroes out and lynched them. This is the most serious crime of the kind that has ever taken place, even in Georgia, which easily holds the palm for negro lynchings, and it is considered the most serious because it occurred at a place in the heart of civilisation, less than 50 miles from Savannah.