The Dothan Eagle
1909-1910
Compiled & contributed by: Lisa Graham, lisagraham32@aol.com, JAN 2005
The Dothan Eagle June 11, 1909 Edition
COMER WILL SEE TAFT
WILL ASK FOR PARDON FOR W.S. HARLAN
President Taft expected to make decision on question within a few days-
Washinton, D.C. June 19 -
Governor Comer arrived here today to confer with President Taft regarding a
PARDON for
W. S. Harlan of Lockhart, Covington County, convicted in the United States
Court on Peonage charge.
It is remembered that the case was reviewed by the Attorney General Wickersham
and was sent to the White House with recommendation that the verdict stand.
The Alabama and Florida Senators as well as other prominent members have interested
themselves in the matter.
Those who have been working in behalf of Mr. Harlan claim that he is the victim
of a peculiar chain of circumstances and they hope, the declare, to convince
President Taft of that fact and secure executive clemency.
All that can be said about the matter just now is that it stands as it did
10 days ago. President Taft
is expected within the course of a few days to decide whether or not the sentence
of the court should be carried out. The friends of Harlan are quite hopeful
today. although the President has not stated positively what his action will
be. Ex Congressman Jesse Stallings, Attorney for Harlin, is also here again
working hard on the case - Alfred J. Stofer to Montgomery Advertiser.
(Note- It is unclear to me why the Dothan Newspaper is dated June 11, 1909
on Microfilm, yet the article is dated June 19 - this was apparently a typing
error)
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THE DOTHAN EAGLE MAY 17, 1909 EDITION
RELEASED ON BOND
_________
John Bullard and Henry Richardson, two of the Covington County
night riders, were released from County jail, each having made
bond of $400 for his appearance before Judge Jones for trial
in the United States Court on May 25.
Six of the alleged night riders remain in jail, John Richardson, Jim Bullard,
Frank, Bud, and Ebon Goolsby, and Flem Richards.
The men were indicted for nightriding and conspiracy. It is alleged that they
scoured
the country about Covington County, dragging men and women from their homes
in
the dead of night and whipping the victims with the effort to intimidate them.
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The Dothan Eagle September 7, 1909
Messrs. Andrew BARNES and C. F. Baker have returned from a trip through
the country to Gantt, Covington Co., and returning by Enterprise and Hawe Ridge.
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The Dothan Eagle Oct. 05, 1910
VENGEANCE IS METED BY MOB
____ NEGRO BURNED AT STAKE IN THE COUNTY OF COVINGTON.______
Andalusia, Ala., Oct. 4-- Six hours after he had committed criminal assault
upon MRS. HIRAM STUCKEY, a prominent young woman of Covington County, BUSH
WITHERS,
a negro "trusty" at the Henderson convict camp was taken from the
warden last night while
en route to prison at Andalusia, tied to a stake by an infuriated mob of 400,
and burned.
The lynching was conducted in a quiet and orderly manner, after which the mob,
formed from adjoining towns, dispersed to their homes leaving no traces of
their fury
except the ashes of the negro.
The crime for which the negro was lynched was committed early yesterday afternoon,
when he went to the Stuckey farm for the purpose of getting drinking water
for his fellow
convicts, who were employed at a swamp near by. Entering the house, it is declared,
the negro assaulted Mrs. Stuckey, after which he cudgeled ( cudgel-a short,thick
club) her into insensibility in an effort to strifle her cries. This morning,
it is reported, the woman is in
a precarious condition, with little hope of recovery. Fracture of her skull
is feared.
Before lapsing into insensibility, Mrs. Stuckey informed her rescuers of
the assault, naming
the "trusty" whom she knew, as the perpetrator of the deed. The negro
was caught and
hurried to the stockade at Sanford, six miles from Andalusia. Upon hearing
rumors of the mob,
Warden J. L. Long at 9 o'clock attempted to spirit the convict to prison at
Andalusia, but was
intercepted on the outskirts of the village, where his charge was taken from
him. Then tied him
to a stake, shot at, and burned.
The negro was sent up from Morgan County in 1901 on a charge of Robbery. Up
to the time of yesterday's assault, he had been regarded as a faithful employee
at the lumber camp, and served as water boy for the convicts. He was about
30 years old
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