The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-06
THE SOAFFOLD.
Another Negro Hanged for 0utraging a
White Woman.
Disgusting Details OF the Crime-Descrip.
tons Of the Fiend and His
Helpless Victim.
RocKnSGnAn, Richmond Comfy. n. c., /

June z, 1871.
In the presence of aboat thirty witncsses-com-
Drlsing citizens State officials and members OF the
press-Ned NcLendon to-day exp,aled, with his life,
the crime OF rape, committed nearly twelve months
ago on the person off,
WHITE MARRIED WOMAN,
named Sallie L. Usher. Sad though II be 10 say IL,
thus Is one of the crimes 10 which the negroes nave
become addicted since their emancipation Ihey 90
mol hesitate, when opportunity offers ana there Is
little fear of detection TO crafty, by force, their
hrutai passions on the persons OF white females.
though retribution, sure but often swift, follows the
preparation of such a ndeous and revolving out
rage. And 1t might here be remarked, by way OF
parenthesls that II there is one cause
more than another to which can be attri.
butsd the alleged Ku KluX ousrages this
and many or the other Southern States, 1t is this
propensity OF the negro despite the frlgntful exam
pies before nm, 10 violate the persons OF white
women But few OF these horrible crimes are ever
allowed TO await the tedious though certain, course
OF law. Vengeance Is sure 10 follow III the
footsteps OF The act. aud brother father husband,
or a combined indignant populace, usually wipes
out
WITH BLOOD
the unnatural outrage on female virtue. In hume.
rous instances, where negroes have been shot,
hanged, or otherwise Ku kiuxed in this State par
ticuary, the primitive causes pe directly traced
10 ndignities offered to outrages perpeTated
upon white females. about which nothing ever APP
pears in the public prints; and these acts
are then paraded before the Northern people
as evidences or reheious spirit on the
part of the South. This is all fudge;
for, Notwithstanding the speech OF Mi. Jefferson
Davis at Atlanta, nine-tenths Of the Southern
people do .'accept the situauon,' ana majority OF
the growing generation deeply regret that he should
have given such serious concern 10 their future
course. This depression from the subject matter OF
my report hope will be excused.
Twelve months and more ago Mr.. John Usher a
well-,o-do millwright and thrifty farmer OF this
county, hired as farm hand
NED M'LENpoN,
negro short in stature, contracted IN hyscal de-
yelopmen, with head the peculiar formation
OF which was eminenty suggestive of the species OF
animals said to be closely allied 10 the negro
The head was small, but large in the bumps at the
back and just above the neck; the features were
like the body, contracted with low, narrow FORE
head: eyes tnat had a nalf imoecile expression; a
mai squatty sort negro nose, ana projecting thick
lips, far out OF proportion even Tor negro when
taken in connection with his entire form. Ned mad
been IN the employment or Mir Usher perhaps two
months, and with the exception OF a small white
boy, he was the Only domestic IN the family.
usher's peculiar avocanons frequently required his
absence from home, and he mad made 1t one of
Neds imperative duties 70 supply tue house
WITH WATER
Ned 10 he particularly carelul IN his ABSENCE his
wiie Was III very delicate nealtn ana none OF their
three little ones were sufficiently grown 10 be
able TO 90 To the spring. Ned Carefully complied
with MS strict EJunctions unli Thursday, the 2st
OF June 1870, when, his beastly passions having got
the better OF reason, he abseuted himself ana IN.
tenuonaily neglected 10 bring the water Owing 10
tins Mrs. Usher was necessarily compelled, about
twelve O'Clock. on this thursday, the day being eX-
cessiyeiy hot To go TO tne sprirg alter water-litfe
suspecting That = fend In human shape was there
concealed III the bushes waiting Rer arrival at the
spring. Mr.. Usner was absent from home
adjoining county. Mrs Usner reached the spring
and was assidv ouslv dipping up the wafer III
stopped position, INTO her pau, when she was
SUDDENLY SEIZED
from behind, and upon looking over her shoulder
she beheld the excited aud Unnamed features OF the
negro Ned McLendon. she was dashed rather Than
thrown to the ground. With whal feeble strength
she had leit, and though IL was twelve O'Clock mid
day, beneath the rays OF tropical sun, she
screamed Tor help, though conscious that none was
At hand. Then this poor, helpless and still beauti-
1nI woman appealed TO The monster III piteous
let me 60; you know you are doing wrong" TO
which Ine ,<end replied, YES, Knows Is, but the
10 shock your leaders BY recital Of
perpetTated detailed tie evidence upon The
trial subsequently. Terror stricken Mrs. Usher be-
came UNCONSCIOUS, ana the back demon cratlied
hls peasIly iusts out not before her shriekng Tor
mercy and appealing lor help THAI was not within
hearing. Here was a chance FOR another
NJ ELUX OUTRAGE
Az soon as Mrs Usher recovered her senses she tot
tered or rather staggered 10 the house. anu ner poor
children clustered around tne weeping mother,
craving In their innocence the wafer which the IN
fortunate mother was unable to bring. She looked
al them sadly and pitifully, with what feelings can
best DC understood. la the meantime the
MONSTER had FLED.
He sought refuge IRON the impending vengeance
thar Was certain 10 follow his peasIly act on the
Grassy Islands, the Zee Dee river, aud there pro-
cured EMPLOYMENT from one Mr.. Cooper. Here. IN
this unirequented region, ne thought lie was secure
but The stern haiid OF Justice Was on ms trach
Mrs Usher, as soon a. she mad recovered from her
mi in 10 n 90 al q sltn
mile and half 10 the residence OF her iatner, MIR.
Bosuck, 10 whom she related the terrible Outrage,
III agonizing tones, that had been committed upon
her. In sorrow, IN silence ana with deep numilla-
uon, the aged father listened 10 the recital OF ms
said, submitted TO the d.crees OF the Almighty.
and counseed his daughter 10 patiently bear
Notwithstanding TINS, however, Mrs. Usher's
brother soon heard or his sister wrongs, and, with
injured brother. gun IN hand, ne Went ~ quest Of
the Dend VINO ad violated Ms sister, but ne Was NO
where
Her father, Mr.. Bostick. was one OF those genuine
old law-aplding cluzens oil the old North stale, who
deprecated violence, and VINO adm0nisned both
his injured daughter and her indignant brother That
the law IN such case should take ie course, and that
they should not interfere and mar the Justice
that must ultimately be melted out to tue offender
against the laws OF both God and man. WIN the
return OF Mir Usher these wise counseis prevailed,
and on the saturday following the day upon which
the outrage was perpetrated Ned McLendon
WAS ARRESTED
the Pee Dee river, where he was al WORK for Mr..
Cooper. lie committed lor examination and
was sent on for indictment by the Grand Jury Of
thus county: and at the october tein 1870, "A true
biz was found against MIN. At The February term,
ISL Lbs
TRIAL TOOK PLACE.
Owing TO the widespread interest In the case the
court room was packed 10 suilooauon. Ned was
ably defended by Mr.. Archie Mcdonald OF Moore
county, ana General bargain, OF Wadesooro-the
latter an eminent member or the bar--who made q
most powerful aud Surfing appeal Ia his de!ence.
The jury was composed VI
EIGHT NEGROES AND FOrR WHITES,
and. after hearing the evidence and arguments IN
the case they retred. In tAreequarters ol an hour
they again reappeared IN tho court room. There
WAS an Intense silence among the crowded audience
the foreman hanued IN Dis verdict plea OF n
sanity had been offered, which, u WAS thought,
would have some weight with the lpry. Every ear
was strained tue audience he'd It's breath. the
foreman announced, IL the most solemn tones, I'VE
IND the prisoner