Potter, Lexington Leader, May 13, 1911

Livermore Citizens

Arrested on Indictments Of Murder for Alleged Participation In Lynching Of A M’Lean [sic] County Negro

LIVERMORE KY., May 13.--As a result of the most vigorous instructions ever given a grand jury in Western Kentucky by Circuit Judge T. F. Birkhead eighteen indictments were returned against alleged members of the mob that lynched Will Porter [sic], a Negro, in the Livermore Opera-house on the night of April 21. The indictments were returned at Calhoun, and it is rumored that other bills are to follow. 

The three alleged leaders of the mob were indicted separately and each is charged with murder. They are as follows: 

Those Indicted. 

Lawrence Mitchell, brother of Clarence Mitchell, who was shot by the Negro who was lynched. 

Clifton Schroeter, proprietor of a floating studio. 

Jessie Schroeter, a photographer. 

The names of the other men indicted are as follows. 

Others named in Bills 

Ellis Thornsberry.

1. N. Davis. 

Cecil Jarvis.

Ira Coghill.

John Fielden.

John W. Taylor. 

Sam Colburn.

William H. Coghill.

Tom Dabner.

George Gephart.

Robert Hays.

Leslie Wright. 

Edward Haney.

Clarence Roberts.

All But Four Arrested.

All of the men are said to have been arrested with the exception of four and they are expected to be in custody before night. Twelve of the men were taken without trouble, nine being placed in jail in Calhoun and the others being held at Livermore. At a late hour Sheriff Beeler and his deputies are still on the lookout for alleged members of the mob who have not yet been served with the warrants. 

The bonds of the alleged principals in the lynching were placed at $1,000 and $500 was the amount of surety demanded of the men charged with being accessories in the blanket indictment.  W. N Davis and Coeil Jarvis have been released, having arranged for the necessary surety. 

Two members of the alleged mob were located in a cabin near Island and when called upon to surrender defied the deputies who sought them. The men are armed to the teeth, it is said, and according to the officers have expressed their determination to put up a desperate fight before being captured. The men who first discovered the fugitives called for re enforcements [sic], and when these arrive the cabin will be rushed [sic]. 

Practically all of the men indicted are well known in Livermore and McLean county, and the news of the action of the grand jury came like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.  

The McLean county grand jury, composed of grim, determined farmers, had been working on the case all week and this morning the result of their investigations was made known. About fifty witnesses were called to give testimony. They were examined by Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard Alexander. 

The scenes in Livermore were pitiful in the extreme. The weeping of wives and sisters over the arrest of their loved ones was heartrending, and will be one long to be remembered by the residents of the little river city. 

A number of officers are in the vicinity of Livermore, and it is thought all those indicted will be arrested at once Circuit Court is in session here this week, and it is likely that the accused men will be given a speedy trial. 

County Attorney Alexander in a statement declared that he would use all the means within his power to erase the blot on the fair name of McClean [sic] county. 

The Indictments are the result of the action of an armed mob that shot William Potter to death on the stage of the theater at Livermore a few weeks ago. It is alleged that Clarence Mitchell, a young white man at Livermore, and the negro, who was employed in a poolroom, became engaged in a difficulty. Mitchell went out on the street and it is stated that as he was leaving the place he was shot and, at the time, thought to be fatally wounded. The negro was arrested by the town marshal. There was bitter feeling against him and in a few minutes an angry crowd had gathered. The marshal handcuffed his prisoner, and with two or three guards hustled him to the theater, fearing the town lockup would be unsafe. 

The doors of the theater were locked and all of the lights were extinguished in the building. The members of the mob, said to be about twenty-five or fifty in number, forced the door of the theater and gained entrance in the building. 

Before the officers had time to rush the Negro from the building a volley of shots rang out, and the Negro sank to the floor.  The members of the mob, having accomplished their purpose, left the building. 

It was several days before the body of the Negro was buried, the colored people of the town declaring that he was a strange Negro and had not behaved himself since coming to Livermore from Tennessee. It was necessary for the white people to bury him. 

Mitchell, who was shot and wounded by the Negro has about recovered from his wounds and will get well. 

The better element of citizens of McCLean [sic] county deeply deplored the action of the mob, and were strong in their calls for the indictment of the members of the lawless band.