Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-01-26
TEXAS.
The Stake and the TOrch-A Negro
Murderer BrutalIy Done to Death q
by am IDfuriated MOb-Burned
and RiddIed with Balls.
The I1ance of Death In Trinity County
Fumes and the Fiddle Result In the
Death of Two, and the Wound
ing of Many More.
Two Men Murdered-One of them from
st. LOuis-TOO Much Morphine
Killed while Playing with an
Old Gun.



RoCKDALE, January 2O.-On the
morning OF the eleventh young farm
er, named J. NJ. Baker, was murdered
twelve miles from here, on the public
highway, by q negro named Anthony
Smith. The particulars were as follows:
Baker had been at Rock6ale, sold his
cotton, and, with the proceeds in his
pocket, was returning home. Some dis
tance from the scene Of the murder the
negro was observed mounted on lay
pony, following close on Bakers wagon.
1t was noticed that he had gun partly
concealed beneath an Oil-clOth coat. A
white man saw Smith shoot his victim,
first from the rear Of the wagon, then
ride to the front and shoot again. The
wHita man, being uharmed, fed for his
safet9. The horses which had been
drawing Bakers wagon were found
struggling near by in a clump of mes
quite, in which they had bscome en-
tangled. 1t was evident that the muir
derer, after committing the deed, un-
hitched the horses from the wagon, and
then went about the work Of robbing.
He got about fly dollars in currency,
remOunted and made away. The
white man who saw the Gead per-
petrated did not at the time know
who the murderer was, and it subse-
quently traUspired that the negro's
name was Anthony Smith. On the
thirteenth, two days afterWard, Smith
was captured aud brought, chained, into
RockdaIe by Dsputy-Sheriff Pete Tur-
ner, who made the arrest. Parties
recognized him as the negro seen follow
ing Bakers wagon. The white man
who saw him commit the deed lecOg-
nizad him as the murderer. The money
was found on him also. Itseemed prob.
able the murderer would receive sum-
mary justice here that morning, and
people could not predict a safe arrival
for him at Cameron, for which place
they left with him Immediately.
THE STAKE AND TORCH.
Anthony Smith was indicted, and his
trial came speedily on at Cameron, its
conclusion being reached yesterday.
The jury returned q verdict of guilty Of
murder in the first degree, and the pris-
oner was sentenced to be hanged. P5o-
pie who witnessed his trial said it was
fairly conducted, and the death penalty
richly merited. Just before day
light this morning an armed
body of horsemen, forty or fifty
strong, rode into Cameron and made
their way to the Jail. They forced an
entrance, took the prisoner from his
cell, and conducted him some miles out
from the town, where they put him to
death in q most horrible manner. The
condemned and doomed negro was tied
I'D by the hands, and luei collected and
hesped under and around him, and a
fire kindIed, which gradually blazed up
and envaloped his body, burning it TO q
crisp. Not satisfied with the torture in
f1icted and the consequent death, the
mob then riddled the charred remains
with bullets. Judge Broaddus informs
your reporter that most il not all the
mob were from Bell county. He says it
was an unparalleled case of lawlessness,
inasmuch as the courts had shown such
vigilance. Some declare it an outrage
on humanity, but there is diversity Of
opinion.
A DANCE AND DEATH.
TRINITY, January 20.-A courier
brings news to-day Of fatal difficulty
that occurred a. private residence in
the lower part of this county. The diffi-
Guilty originated from frivolous cause,
which was, as near a. l can learn, from
the breaking Of violin by one OF the
party. In dispute as to who should
pay for it, fisticuff began between two
parties, ,sLouis Jenkius and Lum MRgee.
Jenkins succeeded in tumblng Magee,
and was piling on the blows thick and
fast, when one Dave Cain rushed to his
rescue, firing twice at Jenkins with a
six-shooter. The two shots took effect
in his side, passing through his body.
He fell off Magee a dead man. Several
shots were then fired by the parties and
friends Of the deceased, during which
time another man, John Johnson, was
hit, the ball taking effect in advance of
the left fore shoulder, and ranging down
passed out behind near tho small Of his
back. Not being missed he was not
discovered until the next morning,
when he was found dead in the
yard. Several disinterested and inno-
cent persons received flesh wounds.
Whisky predominsted. This was not
in town, but in the dark corner of the
county, where the bright rays OF tenn
perance aud civilization have not yet
penetrated. The community feels in
this difficulty that it is an advantage, to
say the least. The veil has long since
been raised from our town, and now
christianity and temperance, hand in
hand, WELD their influence. The Meth
odist organization is in full blast, and
next Sunday the Baptists will organize.
Accessions are made every meeting Of
the temperance council. Only one
memter has violated the obligation
since its organization.
TWO MEN MURDERED.
PARIS, January 2l.-Last night about
eleven o'clock Captain II. II. Hail, of
the firm of Hall & Bradens, prominent
and respectable citizens Of Paris, was