Newton County GaArchives News.....THE SHERIFF ASSAULTED March 5, 1891
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Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 September 23, 2006, 9:53 pm

The Georgia Enterprise March 5, 1891
     Friday morning when Sheriff Anderson opened one of the cell doors in the 
jail four of the Negro prisoners made a dash for him, evidently with the 
purpose of murdering him in order to make their escape. Four Negroes, HOWARD 
LONG, JOE SMITH, SAM DURDEN and another prisoner jumped at the Sheriff just as 
the door opened and two of them caught his hands while the other two tried to 
disarm him. He fought them, as best he could, kicking the breath out of one, at 
the same time giving the alarm. A colored man, named PHIL MURPHY, in the same 
cell, jerked ring-leader LONG away from the Sheriff, throwing him back into the 
room and proceeding to aid the Sheriff in his struggles with the other two. In 
the excitement of the moment SMITH and DURDEN rushed out into the open air, got 
over the high jail yard fence, and left in double-quick time, going in 
different directions. Quite a number of men and boys gathered in the 
neighborhood of the jail, gave chase and soon re-captured the prisoners. The 
Sheriff was bruised about his arms in the unequal struggle, but not otherwise 
injured. In return for the help rendered by PHIL MURPHY, the Sheriff secured 
his release from prison, and since that time PHIL has been one of the happiest 
darkies in all the land, notwithstanding like to “friz to death” in the 
jail “enduring of the blizzard” Thursday night.


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