My friends - Yesterday, I posted the contents of a newspaper article from 1898 in *The Atlanta Constitution", concerning a mob lynching in Graves County. In the same subject matter area, I am passing along today another article from "The Atlanta Constitution" of 20 February 1917, almost 20 years after the date of yesterday's article. There are some similarities and some differences in the mood and approach taken by the public in this case, versus that of the earlier, 1898, actions. -B ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Troops Fill Court to Protect A Negro Lube Martin, Accused of Killing Policeman, on Trial In Kentucky -The Atlanta Constitution 20 February 1917 "Murray, Ky., February 19: With Kentucky national guardsmen posted at points of vantage inside and out of the Calloway county courthouse, the case of Lube Martin,a negro charged with the murder of Gutherie Duiguid, a policeman, was called for trial here this morning. The scene presented was in sharp contrast to that enacted early last January when Judge Charles Bush aroused such a storm by granting a continuance of the negro's case that Governor A.O.Stanley found it advisable to make a hurried night trip half the length of the state to avert possible violence against officials of the court. Today, everything was quiet.There was little excitement, and this was apparently the result of curiosity. Last January, a mob threatened the life of Judge Bush and Commonwealth's Attorney Danny Smith, when it became known that the continuance in the negro's case had been granted. The two officials spent the night in a barricaded hotel which the crowd threatened to dynamite unless the negro was returned for trial. The excitement ended with the appearance of Gov. Stanley. He addressed a crowd in the circuit court room, demanding respect for the law, announcing his purpose to protect the court by his personal efforts, if necessary, and promising that the negro Martin should be brought to trial in due course. The militiamen on duty at the courthouse are members of the three companies returned to Kentucky from the Mexican border at Governor Stanley's request after the outbreak here in January. At that time, every available unit of the Kentucky National Guard was on the border and when the emergency rose, there was no force upon which the Governor could call. The case was finally called after a long delay due to Martin's collapse. Judge Bush admonished newspaper men to give Murray no undue notoriety and ordered that nobody with firearms be permitted in the court room. Officers under the instructions made a superficial examination of those who sought to enter. Martin was brought from the jail under a heavy guard, but no demonstration was made by either the dense crowd at the courthouse door or by those who filled the court room. Two attorneys defended the negro. It was agreed that he should have a speedy hearing and a special venire of sixty was summoned to appear tomorrow. Martin's return to jail was without incident." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++