Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-14
Burning a Negro Alive-.-shoohng
G-entsCle.

j
a ieq weeks s.nos Miss Thornton, al in
teresting Young ciri, residing near Castor
/ Alabama. mas moss lrisi 3 murdered 90,
slave. Immediately aite- TIC murder, and
detection OF The negro. bis immediate punish
meut was seriously contemplated or the peO-
pie OF Sgmpoer county, but, after mature
celebration, the law abiding citizens deliv-
cred him into the custody Of the proper Of
GERS, and he was committed 70 prison
At the last -erm of The circuit court Of
Sumpter county, the attorney appointed By
the couf in tle discharge Ct bis duty, moved
for change OF venue 70 Green county. The
Judge. ls the u0lo was sustained by The
proper afi5avit granted the application.
On Wednesday, the 23d nit, tie citizens Of
South Snmp.er assembled e. asasss at Nh.
Wm McLlroy's and unanimously passed 6
series II resolutions rejecting seriously Upca
the conduct Of the judge, and, after having
pie ige1 themselves % sustain each osber. s
portion Of them proceeded 70 Livingston. and
took the miserable criminal by foloe from tbs
jail where he was confined.
On Friday following. after due preparation.
they carried kiia % the spot whore be 50 cru
ely mur lered his innocent victim, ard burt
him alive al the stake
About three thous md persons were pes
ent, who witnessed With vszsous emotions.
the dreadful spectacle.
We were present" says the editor os ths
Aarioss (lAissY) EeguJlSoar, "bus hcpe that
We VII nsveE again wituess scepe Ike it.
The pyre was composed OF several cords Of
iight-wood, - the centre OF which was green
alllow stake, selected n oo1ssQusooa Of Is
/ ' Gre"
IS On the TOP Of tie Pile CT lgatwood tee
criminal was placed and sscureiy chained to
the stake. While IL this situation re con-
fessed ms guilt, stating tEst lie lad &c 40
c3mEace, that Ia wa actuasei by luz alone.
that nc h1d stssln rsed 70 y.olGte her person.
bat haa failed, AID, % oo1csa Il tie attempt
be had cruelty Murdered hoT hy besitng the
poor inherent creature with stcnp-that
while hs was doing this she inpiored him
70 cayry her homo - her father. and thai sho
would conceal tbs violence he had inflicted;
he then left heT. but soon returned. AID, afssS
again beating her, &c coEccsied the bsdy il
the very hole whsre the stake vas planted
10 which he was chained.
after This confession was made, tie match
was applied, AID Il few minutes tbs de-
yourlng haues were enveloplng the doomed
neSIni LIS fearful CRIES reso1lded through
the All, while the surrounding nssToss who
witnessed his dreadful agouy aud horrible
contoraons. sent.up sc involuntary howl OF .
honor. lis sudernEs though excrutistilg.
were short; II z tsw minutes the flames e1-
veiorcd him entirely, rcvs ding now and
then, as they ftfullv swayed h;ther ana
thither, hls black aai burning carcsse like
demon Of the IRE. ginning Is il II hel.sh
triumph AZ LIS toFnsutors. Soon al was
over. nothing was left but the burning flesh
and ciArei skeleton Of this human dsvil who
could thus deliberately peFpetrSte 50 foul 6
crime. The horTid outrage was fearlul.y
avenged, and though the heavens were rcek-
ms with the stencil of buraing Gest. yet JUS
tee was satisfied the law OF retaliation was
inflicted - nearly as i could be, while the
example made Of this wretch had, no doubt
a salutary effect upon the two thousand slaves
who witnessed his execution"