The New York herald., 1877-11-28
MOB LAW.
x Negro Publicly Executed
Without a Trial.
HIS OF FEN CE.
The Lady Assaulted Condemns
Him to Death.
rpr TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD J

COLUMBIA, Tenn, Nov. 81, 1871
On Saturday morning last, at about six o'clock, Miss
Bette TcmpIcton, young lady about twenty years
old daughter OF Rev. A. Temple,on, pastor OF tho
Cumberland Presbyterian Church here, stepped INTO
tho back yard nity yards from tho house. when
she was confronted by = negro ruman ca1cd McGhce.
The cud seized by the throat and threw her down
but shc succeeded In frustrating his purpose Ho then
drew large knife and forced her 10 place her hand
upon her heart and shc would never re-
vcal his attempt any ono. Hc then fed.
and shc was found nsonsible where tho villain bad
,stt her When she became fully conscious she told
shc story to her father, who Immediately gave an
alarm. and In a short time hundreds OF armed and
excited ctixens securing the country In search
of The negro Suspicion was soon fostcncd on tho
negro named, who had been in town only q few
weeks and had been calling himself "Frank''
McGhoe The description given by the young lady
enabled them to readily identity McGhee US the
offender.
Tbe search was continued in every direction all day.
Tho citizens formed themselves into squads and
searched every house In the city. but with
out success. At night patrols were ON the
alert. and guards were stationed around
tne town to intercept McGheo he should attempt to
escape Sunday morning dawned upon tho excited
and indignant community, but brought no tidngs
OF tho wretch who had attempted to DESC
. late one OF the purost and happiest family
circles. Tho vigilance Of tho people did
mot abate, however, and persons were sent
out on the various country paths aud railroads to
complete tho search A large reward was offered,
finally Tor tho upprehens sion Of McGnee. On the day
bstore the assault McGheo had handed his employer
letter to mail but fortunately 1t had beon over
looked and upon breaking It open It was discovered
tnat he was from Columbana, Ala and he signed his
name George Roper.
M'GHEE, ALIAS ROPER, BROUGHT BACK.
On Monday morning telegram was received from
Athens Ala. stating that Roper had been caught and
would be brought back the tram at six O'Clock tho
same evening. Tho railroad authorities furnished a
special train aud Roper, under strong guard,
reached Columbia at halEpast four O'Clock. large
crowd had assembled the depot and Roper was
ducted 10 tho mousse Miss Templeton, In order that
tho young lady might dentify him. She Immediately
recognized him, but requested that no he taken to
Jail until morning when sho hoped to
BY any possible ms.ake to fasten tho crime upon
wrong person. In the scufhc with MISS Templeton
Ropcr dropped his pipe lost several buttons from
his coat, ali OF which had been secured to assist in
Identifying him. Wnen Roper was arrested he did
not have ON tho clothes wnich .ne young iaoy naa
that he had blue blouse coat under his shirt and
had on an extra pair o. panss,oons' oo'n ,a OIL
Tho buttons picked up tho scene
sponded with those tho coat concealed under his
shirt pipe was identified BY several negroes as
being one Roper was seen TO have the evening be-
fore The assault. Al the request o MISS Tempieton
and her family Roper was taken 10 jail
Soon alter nghtiail large crowd assembled before
tho jail and denlsndei tho KEYS from the jailer The
number OF prominent citizens rushed In ana entreatcd
the crowd 10 await the coming investigation, and
partly By cntrcaiies partly by threats and partly by
force, succseoed IN carrying McGhee back
, to bis cell Speeches were made and the people
A,0t.n vyntla I'm unUVS
crowd were dragging MIN from his cell, slouily denied
bis guilt, but SAID know who had perpetratcd the
arrest OF the right Al nine O'Clock this morn
Ing Roper taken from the jail BY the sheriff and
posse OF armed men and taken to the homo OF Miss
Templcton to be identified,
PREPARING HANG HIM
largo concourse OF people had assembled upon the
ihird story Of the Court House and projected
a large beam from one OF the windows To
this beam WAS attached block and tackle
Everything was done quietly and orderly. No ono
was disguised. Under the beam was written In largo
letters rhe WIN OF the People" The guard conveyed
Roper TO Miss 1empleton, who exclaimed
.You are the wretch! Why oid you treat mo 50 ?
You must dio for i'll"
Roper said not a word; In fact, ho had been dog
gedly silent since he aiken from jail last time.
HANGED FROM A COURT HOUSE WINDOW
the guards were returning to jail with their
oner = crowd rushed upon them, seized Roper
and carried HIM to the spot selected TOR
mis- execution. The Mayor, The Criminal Court Clerk
and some negroes then addressed tho crowd and
asked them not to musiIa,e tho body OF Roper. A
dry goOds Dox WAS pluCcu unuer tho Ocam ana tno
negro msdeto stand upon IT, Mr.. Chlnch Truet,,
policeman, then asked him II he had anything 10
say, which he replied, "Nothing at alLn Truct:
then placed Tho ropo around his mock and drew him
up. Tho 1end exhibited emotion and his late
without protest or even q word ol denial
THE srEREoryPED KxcUsE.
There was not u link missing IN tho cham OF evi
dence and the universal sentiment Is that his
tion was just. Miss Tcmplcton Is a handsome young
lady, anu belongs TO oi tho best families IN tho
community Her father, Rev. A. Templeton, came
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church mere year aco
q
for several years Ho was originally from East Ten
nessce.