Griffey, The Wichita Beacon, October 23, 1894

Colored People Threaten to Avenge the Lynching of Griffey.

PRINCETON, Ky., Oct. 23. – There is considerable excitement in South Christian, in the neighborhood of Lafayette and Pee Dee, over the efforts of certain negro leaders to work up a race riot. The animus is the hanging of Willis Griffey, who was lynched here a week ago by a mob, supposed to be from the section where the turmoil is now brewing. Griffey was a rapist from Christian county, and his victim lived in Lafayette. He was brought here for safe keeping, but a mob, after three ineffectual attempts, formed in the section where the crime was committed, came here, took the negro from jail and lynched him. Secret meetings have been held since amongst the negroes, from house to house, and they have become so bold in their utterances and threats that Rev. Garrett, a Baptist minister, proclaimed from the pulpit Sunday night that he, for one, was ready to should his musket against the enemies of the colored race; that the negroes had made the wealth for the whites, amd when they lynched one of their number the time had come for them to arise against such acts. Marshall Weaver, another leader, voiced the same sentiments. The white citizens are alarmed at this aspect of affairs and are sleeping on their arms, ready for any emergency.