The Morning News

BELIEVES THE MOB DID IT.

BROUGHTON'S BAPTIST TABERNACLE DESECRATED.

Door Broken Open, Water Tank Up-set, and Paint Smeared on the Floor and Walls-Placards Found Denouncing His Stand on the Newnan Lynching-Dr. Broughton Scouts the Plumbers' Idea That It Was an Accident.

Atlanta, May 1.-Dr. L. G. Broughton, pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, who has come to be known as the sensational preacher of the town, has evidently been made very nervous by the receipt of the gruesome packet from Palmetto last week.

This packet, it will be remembered, as stated in these columns, contained a piece of the flesh of the negro Sam Hose who was burned at the stake, together with a bunch of salad and a note of warning telling Dr. Broughton that he must vacate these parts within six days or stand the consequences. The packet was sent to the preacher in consequence of the bitterness with which he denounced the members of the mob who lynched Hose.

The tabernacle, which is at the corner of Harris and Luckie streets, was broken into some time during last night and considerably damaged.

A door leading into the Sunday school room from an alley was wrenched from its hinges, a large tank in a toilet room torn from its fastenings, water ran over the floor, soiling the carpets, and paint was smeared on the floor and walls. Several chairs and a table were broken and piled in a heap.

Placards were found nailed to the building, bearing various sentiments regarding Dr. Broughton's stand against the Newnan affair.

Had Denounced the Mob.

The night of the Hose burning Dr. Broughton denounced the mob as murderers. It was last week that he received several pieces of Hose's flesh accompanied by threatening letters, and last night he replied to the senders of the missives, calling them cowards.

The tabernacle is a new edifice and was dedicated but recently.

The plumbers who were called to repair the damage done to the pipes, say the trouble may have been caused by the giving way of the tank, but this Dr. Broughton scouts.

"Vandals did it," said Dr. Broughton. They broke open the door which leads from the alley into the primary department. They wrenched the door of the ladies lavatory from its hinges, broke down the tank, took out the lead pipes and allowed the water to run all night over the floor. They overturned a bucket of paint and smeared the contents all over the floor, walls and blackboards.

Believed It Was Designed.

"It was done by the same gang that has been sending me notes of a threatening character for the past week or two. I preached a sermon last night in which I reiterated my position and remarks which were made in a former sermon. In that sermon I stated that I was not afraid of all the devils in hell, and I still stick to what I have said."

Dr. Broughton said he would not ask for police protection, nor would he order the janitor to sleep in the church as a precautionary measure.

The police to-day found additional placards posted in prominent places on adjoining streets bearing the sentiments: "What do you think of Broughton? I think he ought to be whipped. Who will join a crowd to whip Broughton, the negro lover?"
Last night some time the flush tank in the basement of Dr. Broughton's church fell down and in its fall knocked a door off its hinges and upset a bucket of paint.

Was Threatened Again.

To add to the discomfiture of the doctor, circulars were distributed out on Marietta street in his neighborhood this morning, characterizing him as "a negro lover," and calling upon all who resented his utterances to come out and help give him a whipping. These circulars were not taken seriously, however, and so far the doctor has not been whipped, though he has been caused a lot of uneasiness.

In his sermon last night Dr. Broughton said he was not afraid of all the devils in hell. He bade defiance to the Palmetto committee who sent him the negro meat, and reiterates the declaration that he will not leave town unless he is carried out feet foremost.