BAD BOLIVAR BLOOD


Jackson, Miss, Aug. 13 – Rev. Lowry through adjutant General Henry today ordered the Rosedale rifles of Bolivar County, B. H. WEST captain, to report to the sheriff of Bolivar County at once for duty and render any assistance he might demand in arresting WEISSENGER, the editor who killed HULL at Rosedale a few days since. Capt W. H. GALDART, captain of the Greenville Rifles, was ordered to also hold his company in readiness for duty if it should be needed. Gov. Lowry ordered the company out in compliance with several telegrams from the deputy sheriff of Bolivar County. C. L. Jones, the sheriff, not being in the county. The last one says:

I again sent a deputy up to Concordia to demand Weissengers surrender. They refuse to surrender him. They say he is under arrest already and that he will be tired before a magistrate above or near Concordia. I am uncertain as to the number of men guarding him, but hear there are from twenty to thirty well armed. To carry a posse there would be useless. I therefore in pursuance of the attorney–general's telegrams inform you of this fact, and if you will direct that he be arrested under S.W. S. Stedham's warrant I request that you order out the military for that purpose. I hear that parties guarding Weiseenger are advised by his counsel that they are right under the law, and I think many of them believe such is the case. I am more than anxious to prevent blood shed and await your orders and the militia. The militia is alone can prevent bloodshed. There is no danger of Weiseenger's being lynched, as I propose to take him via Shelby to Greenville.

C L. JONES
Deputy Sheriff Bolivar County
Wessenger's first escape was due to the fact that he believed he would be lynched and he at once went to the Mayor of Concordia in the same county and surrendered himself. He afterwards refused to be placed back under the custody of the sheriff, claiming that he was already under arrest and in charge of an officer. The governor received a telegram from C. L. Jones late of this afternoon that Weissenger had escaped, that he had been carried by his friends to Shelby, where he took the train.
[From Marion Herald, Marion County, AL, August 15, 1889 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney]