No. 5; Treason

A determined mob's efforts to stage 1930 lynching No. 5 succeeded last week, after police, Texas rangers, militia, had fought to prevent it.

George Hughes, 41, a Negro, stood in the prisoners' box in the courthouse at Sherman, "Athens of Texas" (1920 population, 15,031), famed locally for its cultured, 95% white people, its two colleges, 27 churches, fine schools. He pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting white Mrs. Drew Farlow, young farmer's wife. Outside in the square milled a crowd of Shermanites and thrillseekers from the environs. They knew that: 1) No matter what the prisoner said, Texas law requires a taking of testimony; 2) Mrs. Farlow, as a witness, was to be carried to the courthouse on a stretcher. There she was! As she entered, so did the crowd, soon a howling mob. Four Texas rangers adjourned court with tear gas bombs.

There was a big steel vault in the county clerk's office. "Take your choice," the sheriff told Hughes, "be locked in there, or run for it." The Negro chose the vault.

Governor Dan Moody, apprized of the situation, sent 70 militiamen, was reported to have telegraphed: "Protect the Negro, but don't shoot anybody."

"That means they'll get the Negro," said Ranger Captain Frank Hamer.

They did. Hurling bricks, bottles, shooting guns, they broke the cordon of troops, set the courthouse aflame, hacked the hose of arriving firemen. In the fracas, John Melton and Floyd Barker were shot by comrades. The $60,000 building was demolished. George Hughes, in his vault, eventually roasted to death.

When the fire had cooled, the mob was still hot. With dynamite and acetylene torches it opened the vault. Hughes's still-limp body was chained, dragged about town, strung up, burned.

Late next day, Governor Moody denied having told Capt. Hamer to hold his fire. He proclaimed martial law, sent more militiamen, restored order. He was interviewed on the telephone from 5,000 mi. away by a London Daily Mail reporter who exclaimed: "Well, well! Is this a common occurrence in Texas? . . . thanks and cheerio!"

Governor Moody's edict said: "I hope the officers find the persons who set fire to the courthouse. . . . Send these persons to the penitentiary. . . . Firing on [soldiers] was treasonable."

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