The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.8, page 186, Feb. 1905, U. of Illinois Press

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The BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Papers for a similar offense, and those we intend to indict at this term of Court. I know that the Attorney General is taking a very great interest in these peonage cases. In fact it is my information that he has stated that he considered the Clyatt case the most important matter now before the Supreme Court of the United States I thought that the reading of these briefs would throw much light upon this subject that a layman ordinarily would not be in possession of. I am about to embark upon the prosecution for the lynching of a colored man (by name of Edmund Bell) at Sardis, Ala. on the 6th of August, 1909. This place Sardis is only a few miles from Selma the home of Senators Pettus3 and Morgan. Two terms of the State Grand fury have been held at Selma one closing Saturday last, and neither of them found any indictments against the parties who lynched Bell. The facts are about like this: Bell was charged with the murder of a colored woman, and three constables, Stanfield, Cherry and Ransom started from Sardis to convey him to the Selma jail. These three constables claim that as they were passing through a clump of woods, they were overpowered by a mob of negroes who took Bell from them and lynched him in their presence. It has since been shown, I think, conclusively that it was a scheme between the white constables and the colored mob that this should be done as it was done. The strength of this case is that no charge can be made that it was a scheme or that it was done because the parties accused were negroes, for if any are guilty the whites and the negroes are both guilty. I know that a great hue and cry will be raised in the State in reference to this matter, claiming that it is an interference with State's rights etc., and that when the matter of my reappointment comes up January next that there will be made a violent attack on it, but I consider that it is my duty to move in this matter because in my humble opinion it is right. The State Grand Jury has had the right twice to indict and refused to take advantage of it, and therefore, it is the duty of the other co-ordinate branch of this great Government to take some action under the authority given to it under the fourteenth amendment. I know that attacks personal and political will commence to be made upon me as soon as this matter is known, and I must of necessity look to those who feel friendly to the fight that I have made to protect me, because in a short while with the methods that are going on in this State the regular organization will be disbanded and every man will 186