Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1901 — MOB RULES THE TOWN. [ARTICLE]

MOB RULES THE TOWN.

Pierce City Drive* Negroes from It* Borders asd'BtirnsThelr Homes. With the exception of a few car porters, who are known to be respectable, there is not a negro in Pierce City. Mo. For fifteen hours an armed and fujjops mob coursed through the streets chasing away every negro. The homes of live negroes were burned, and in one of them I’eter Hampton, aged 71 and feeble, was cremated, as he was unable to escape. Beginning Sunday afternoon, when the mangled remains of Miss Gazelle Wild were discovered iu a ravine, where she had been murdered while struggling with a negro assailant, the community has been in a terrible fever. Will Godley, a suspect, was arrested and lynched. His grandfather, French Godley, was shut to death. Eugene Carter, alias Barr. tt. als > a suspect, was strung up until he confessed, and may die of his injuries. A boy was perhaps fatally injured by a stray bullet during the raid upon, the negro quarters. After the lynching of Godley it was thought the excitement would die down, but instead it became more intense, inasmuch as the impression grew that GodId* was not the real culprit. Early the following morning the mob broke into the arsenal of-the local militia company, secured the rifles and ammunition nnd started out to clear Pierce City of all negroes. The work was thoroughly done. The terrified blacks, bullets whistling about their-ears and in some instances finding lodgment in their bodies, tie 1 to the woods and near-by towns, where they are lieing hidden by friends. In the afternoon partial quiet was restored, but this faet is due to the lack of negroes to work upon. Citizens, mindful of several atrocious crimes against women hereabouts within recent years, have decreed that no negro can hereafter live in Pierce City or pass through the place on pain of death. This may necessitate a complete change in the car porter system of four railroads centering near there.