Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-06-29
Burning a Negro Alive-Shucking
Spectacle,

4 few weeks since Miss Thornton, al
interesting young girl, residing near Gas
ton, Ala, was most brutally murdered b.
slave. Immediately after the murde
aud detection of tho negro, his immediat,
punishment was seriously contemplated b,
the people of Sumpter county, but, aftel
mature deliberation, the law abiding citi
zens delivered him into the custody of tho
proper officers, aud be was committed tC
prison.
At the last term OF the Circuit Cour
Of Sumpter county, the attorney appointed
by the court, in the discharge of his duty
moved for a change Of venue to Greer
county. The Judge, as the motion wa.
sustained by the proper afi Iayit, granted
the application.
On Wednesday, the Esd ult., the citi
zens of South Sumptcr assembled en- n,aSse
at Mr.. VIM. McEtroy's, aud unanimously
passed series of resolutions rejecting Sc
riously upon the conduct of the Judge
and after having pledged themselves tc
sustain each other, portion of them pro.
ceeded to Livingston, and took the miser-
able criminal by force from the Jail where
he was confined
On Friday following, after due prepara-
ton, they carried him to the spot where
be so cruelty murdered his innocent vic
tim, and burnt him alive at the stake.
About three thousand persons were pres
t,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 pyre was composed of sew
cral cords Of light wood, in the centre of
which was green willow stake, selected in
consequence OF its indestruetibility 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
confessed his guilt, stating that he had no
accomplice, that he was actuated By lust
alone, that he had attempted to violate her
person, bud had failed, and to conceal the
attempt he had cruelty murdered her by
beating the poor innocent creature with a
stump that while doing this she implored
him to carry her to her father, and that
she would conceal the violence he had iu-
dicted. He then left her, but soon re-
turned, and after again beating her, he
concealed the body in the very hole where
the stake was planted to which he suf.
fered
"After this confession was made, the
match was applied, aud in a few moments
the dcvouring flames were cnveloping the
doomed negro his fearful cries resounded
through the air, while the surrounding
negroes who witnessed his dreadful agony
and horrible contortiops, sent up an iuvo-
luutary howl of horror His sufferings,
though, excruciatDg, were short in few
minutes the flames had envelopcd him en-.
tiroly, revealing now and then,as they fit
fully swayed hither and thither, his black
and burning carcase like demon of fire,
grinning as if in hellish triumph, at his
tormenters Soon all was over, nothing
was left but the burning flesh and charred
skeleton Of this human devil, who could
thus deliberately perpetuate so foul
crime. The horrd outrage was fearfully
avenged, and, though the heavens were
reeking with the stencil Of burning flesh,
yet justice was satisfied; the law of retail
alton 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 cxecu-
ton"