True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-27
Burning a Negro at the Stake in.
Mississippi.

Some time since we published an ac-
count of the murder of Miss Thornton,
an interesting young girl, residing near
Castor, Alabama. Immediately after the
murder and detection of the negro, his
immediate punishment was seriously con-
templated by the people of Sumpter cOun-
ty, but after mature deiberatiOn the law
abiding citizens. delivered him into the
custody of the proper officers, and he was
committed to prison,
At the late term of the Circuit Court of
Sumpter county, the attorney appointed by
the Court, in the discharge of his duty,
moved for a change of venue to Green
county. The Judge, as the motion was
sustained by the proper affidavit sustained
the application.
On Wednesday last the citizens of South
Sumpter assembled en- masse at Mr. Will
liam McElroy's and unanimously passed a
series of resolutions, rejecting seriously
upon the conduct of the Judge, and after
having pledged themselves to sustain each
other, portion of them proceeded to Liv-
ingston, and took the miserable criminal
by force from the iail where he was con-
fined.
On Friday last, 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 pres
ent, who witnessed, with various emotions,
the dreadful spectacle. Wew present,
but hope that we will never again witness
a.scene Ike it. Thepyre was composed of
several cords of light wood, in the centre
of which was a green willow stake, select
ed in consequence of its iudestructibility
by fire.
On the top of the pile of light wood
the criminal was placed, and securely chain
ed to the stake. While in this situation
he confessed his guilt, stating that he had
no accomplice-that he was actuated by
lust alone-that he had attempted to vio-
late her person, but had failed, and to con-
ceal the attempt he had cruelty murdered
her, by beating the poor innocent creature
with a stump; that while he was doing
this she implored him to carry her home
to her father, and that she would conceal
the violence he had inflicted. He then
left, but soon returned, and after again
beating her, he concealed the body in the
very hole where the stake was planted to
which he suffered.
After this confession was made the
match was applied, and in few moments
the devouring flames were envelOping the
doomed negro; his fearful cries resounded
through the air, while the surrounding ne
grocs who witnessed his dreadful agony
and horrible contortions sent up an invol-
untarv howl of horror. His suferings,
though excruciatiDg, were short; in few
minutes the flames had envcloped him en-
tirely, revealing now and then as they fit
fully swaycd hithcr and thither, his black
and burning carcass, like demon of the
fire, grinning as if in hellish triumph at
his tormentors. Soon all was over, moth
ing was left but the burning flesh and
charred skeleton of this human devil, who
could thus deliberately perpetrate so foul a
crime. The horrid outrage was fearfully
avenged, and though the heavens were
reeking with the stencil Of burning flesh,
yet justice was satisfied; the law of retail
iation was inflicted as nearly as it could be,
while the example made Of this wretch
had, no doubt, a salutary effect upon the
two thousand slaves who Witnessed his ex-
ecution.
We are far from approving Of the in
Fiction of mob law, yet in aggravated
cases like it, popular ebullition will mani
fest itself and in view of the enormity Of
the wretchs ofense, we, as public jour
nalists, cannot approve, yet we have Meth
er time nor inclination to censure the con
duct of the people of South Sumpter
Justice was inflicted by them, and a thous
and deaths of the kind were too good fol
a devil like negro Dave.-4NariOn Miss.
Republican.
CROPS IN ARKANsAs.--The Little Rocl
Democrat of the 22d ult. says.-"We ha,
fine rains here on Thursday evening and Fl