The daily Minnesota pioneer., 1855-06-23
Burning a.Nesro slave.


Asfew weeks since Miss Thornton, an inter-
|esting young girl, residing near Castor, Ala.
was most brutally murdered by slave. I'm
mediately after the murder and detection oil
the negro, his immediate punishment was Sc
riously contemplated by the people of Sumpter
county, but after mature deliberation, the law
abiding citizens delivered him into the custody
of the proper officers, and he was committed
to prison.
At the last term of the Circuit Court, of
Sumpter county, the Attorney appointed by
the Court in the discharge of his duty, moved
for change of venue to Green county. The
Judge, as the motion was sustained by the
proper affidavit, granted the application.
On Wednesday, the 23d ult., the citizens Of
South Sumpter assembled en- masse, and passed
series of resolutions, rejecting seriously upon
the conduct Of the Judge, and after having
pledged themselves to sustain each other, q
portion of them proceeded to Livingston, and
took the miserable criminal by force from the
jail where he was confined.
On Friday following, after due preparation,
they carried him to the spot where he so cruelty
murdered his innocent victim, and burnt him
alive at the stake.
About three thousand persons were present,
who witnessed, with various emotions, the
dreadful spectacle. | ~. .'.
"We were present." says the editor of the
Marion Miss Republican, "but hope that
we will never again witness scene like it.
The pile was composed of several cords of light
wood, in the centre of which was green will
low stake, selected in consequence of its indie
structability by fire. '.'.-'.-....
On the top of the pile of light wood the
criminal was placed, and securely chained to
the stake. While in this situation he confess
ed his guilt, stating that he had no accomplice
that he was actuated by lust alone, that he
had attempted to violate her person, but had
f failed, and to conceal the attempts he had
cruelty murdered her, by beating the poor in
/ nocent creature with stump; that while he
was doing this, she implored him to carry her
home to her father, and that she would conceal
f the violence he had inflicted. He then left her
2 but soon returned, and after again beating her
f he concealed the body in the very hole where
the stake was planted to which he suffered.
E CATER this confession was made, the match
g was applied, and in a few moments the devour
ing flames were enveloping the doomed negro
his fearful cries resounded through the air
while the surrounding negroes who witness x
his dreadful agony and horrible contortions
set up an involuntary howl of horror. Hi'
SuuerlnSS, tnouSn cACIutIdIluS, "0iC SAO. ~ IL
/. few minutes the flames had enveloped hin
entirely, revealing now and then, as he fitfully
/ swayed hither and thither, his black and burn
v ing carcass, like demon of the fire, grinninl
y as if in hellish triumph, at his tormentors.-
t Soon all was over, and nothing was left bu
t the burning flesh and charred skeleton Of thi
j human devil, who could thus deliberately per
e petrate so foul crime. The horrid outrag
> was fearfully avenged, and though the heaven
were reeking with the stencil of burning flesh
q yet justice was satisfied /; the law Of retalia
t tion was inflicted as nearly as it could be
!, while the example made of this wretch had
f no doubt, salutary effect upon the two thou
f sand slaves who witnessed his execution"