Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1907 — MOB SLAYS WOMAN AND CHILD. [ARTICLE]

MOB SLAYS WOMAN AND CHILD.

Lives Lost in Race Conflict In Georgia—Shots on Both Sides. At Reidsville, Ga., a mob included a colored woman and children among its victims at a "lynching." One white man and four colored persons were killed and seven are on the injured list as a result of an effort to capture a colored man who attempted to attack Mrs. Laura Moore, a widow living near Manassas. Fifteen persons surrounded the house of Sam Padgett, whom they suspected of harboring the colored man, and demanded to be allowed to search the home. Permission was given, but when within thirty feet of the house those inside the building opened fire on the posse, instantly killing Hare and wounding Pierson, Daniel and Kennedy. The posse then returned the fire, killing Padgett and his 10-year-old daughter and wounding two other girls, aged 6 and 13, and two of Padgett’s sons, aged 20 and 22. The colored man who shot Hare was started for Reidsville Jail, together with Padgett’s wife and son, who also were caught. On the way the officers were overtaken by about seventy-five men, who took the prisoners from them. The woman was told to run, and as she did so she was riddled with bullets, her son being shot to pieces where he stood. The other prisoner was jailed.