Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-05-01

emcnt where tho theft had been perpc.
trated, and allowed fifteen minutes for
the money to be forthcoming vowing
If it was not produced within that time,
10 put steam to his boat. and drag the
house into the river. The money was in.
stantly produced,
81 witnessed a sight there" continued
the lhimble conjuror, "that almost froze
my blood with horror, and will servo as
n specimen Of the customs OF the far
South. A planter, Of the name of Fos.
ter, connected with the best families in
the State, unprovoked, in cold blood,
murdered his young and beautiful wife
few months after marriage. He beat her
deliberately to death in a walk adjoin.
ing to his dwelling, carried the body 10
the hut OF one Of his slaves, washed the
dirt from her person, and assisted by his
negroes, buried her upon his plantation.
Suspicion was awakened, the body dis.
inferred, and the villains guilt establish.
ed. He fled, was overtaken, and SC cured
in prison. His trial was, by some device
Of tho law, delayed ill the third term of
the Court. At length it came on. and SO
clear and indsputable was the evidence
that not doubt was entertained Of the
result; when, by an oversight Of the
sheriff, who neg lected swearing into Office
his deputy who summoned the jurors, tho
trial was discontinued, and all proceed.
ings against Foster were suspended, OF
rather ended.
"There exists throughout the extreme
south bodies Of men who style themselves
Lynchcrs. When an individual escapes
punishment by some technically Of the
law, or perpetrates an offence not re.
cognizcd in courts Of justice, they seize
him, and inflict such chaslsement as
they conceive adequate to the offence
They usually act at night, and disguise
their persons. This society at Natchez
embraces all the lawyers, physicians,
and principal merchants of the place.
Foster, whom all good men loahsd as
monster unfit to live, was called into
court, and formally dismissed. But the
Lynchers were at hand. The moment he
slept from tho courthouse, he was knock.
ed down, his arms bound behind him !;
his eyes bandaged, and in this condition
was marched to the rear Of town where
deep ravine afforded fit place for his
punishment. His clothes were torn from
his back, his head partially sea ped, they
next bound him to tree /; each Lynch.
er was supplied with cowskin, and they
took turns at the aogging until the flesh
hung in ribands from his body. quan.
tity Of heated tar was then poured over
his head, and made 10 cover every part
Of his body they finally showered a
sack Of feathers on him, and in this hor.
rid guise, with no other apparel than q
miserable pair of breeches, with drum
mer at his heels, he as paraded through
tho principal streets at nnonday. No dis.
guise was assumed by the Lynchers ; the
very lawyers employed on his trial, took
part in his punishment.
"Owing to long confinement, his gal,
> had become cramped, and his movements
very falteiing. BY the time the process
sion reached the most public part Of the
town, Foster fell down from exhaustion
and was allowed to lay there for time
without exciting the sympathes Of any
one,-an object Of universal detestation
The blood oozing from his stripes hat
become mixed with the feathers and tar
and rendered his aspect still more horri
BILE and loathesome. Finding him un
able to proceed any further, common
dray was brought, and with his back tt
l the horses tail, the drummer standin,
8 over him, playing the rogue's march, h
!; was conducted to prison, the only plac
S at which he would be received.
! ga guard was placed outside of tn
II Jail to give notice to the body Of Lynch
+ ers when Foster might attempt to escape
s for they had determined on branding hiI
on the forehead. and cutting his ears OF
Is AT two O'Clock in the morning Of the Sc
}. cond subsequent day, two horsemen wit
ID a led horse stopped at the prison, an
5. Foster was, with difficulty placed astrd
Is "The Lynchers wished to secure him
h he put spurs to his beast, and passe
t. them. As he rode by, they fired at him
% ball struck his hat, which was throw
,e to the ground, and he escaped but
- ever found within the limits Of the sta
a. will be shot down as if price was set {
IS his head.
$. "Sights of this kind" continue
o. Thimblerig, "are by no means unir
I'd quent. l once saw a gambler, Sc
I'd Of a friend Of mine, BY .the.way, d
gs tected cheating at faro, at time VIII
IL the bets were running pretty high. Th
he flogged him almost to death, added t
lis tar and feathers, and placed him aboa
tn dug.out, sort of canoe, at twelve
night; and with no other instruments
is navigation than bottle Of whisky a
a a paddle, set him adrift in the M
no sissippi. He has never been heard
.es since, and the presumption is, that
be either died of his wounds or was r
an down in the night by a steamer. A
70. this is what we call Lynching in n
he chez"
to Thimblerig had also been at Vic
he burg in his time, and entertained as
~. tie fixing for that place as he did
he Nachez. He had luckily made
,ed escape a short time before the rec
mt clea ring. out Of the slight.of.hand gen,
he and he reckoned some time would ella
sti. before he would pay them another vi
l.