The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-05
SAVED FROM AN ANGRY MOB.
An ATTEMPT TO LYNCH NEGRO IN
iNSONId, IN CONNECTICUT.
Taken from JAN aud Dragged through the
streets wIth "a HOpe Around his Ncck-Thc
Shocking Outrage that 4 reused the People.


Warden lIawcs Of the Connecticut State prison.
as he escorted Edgar Freeman out Of the door
FREQ man. he good boy. lot liauoralonc. and
try and bc somebody. BE honest and indus.
trious. and don't get back here again" Such
was the parting advice to Edgar Freeman. n
colorcd man Of about % years. who was dis
charged from the prison after serving short
term for an attempt to commit rape. Freeman
promised TO heed the kindly advice and
started out to begin anew tho battle OF life
For atime he was tossed about without seeming
to find anything to do. but ut length he obtained
situation at the Flying Point House stoney
Crock. Among the visitors ut this shore resort
WAS Richard Il. Colburn Of Ansonia who took a
fancy to Freeman. and when the season was
ended some three weeks ago, took him homo
with him 10 this. one II the busiest and prettiest
towns in the picturesque Naugatuck Valley
Freeman, who Is short. thick set negro. willing
to work. and. witha able to do his work well
made himself favorito about tho place and up
to last evening nothing has been seen wrong in
him.
Yesterday afternoon while walking down
Colburn Hin he met Jennie McCrindle and
Evclina Childs. two girls about years old
returning home from school Tho former ask
ed Freeman for n bite u tho apple that he was
eating, and WIS told to come with him to Col
burn where she should have all she wished.
Cnlldlikc she followed INN.
Whom II was dusk he harnesscd
horse. and putting the child in the car.
ut Derby Narrows. thrcc miles distant.
lett her beside the road. Darkness coming
on. aud the little ono being afraid shn dragged
herself painiully along until snc reached the
house Of merritt Hotchkiss whore she told her
story and was taken home To her fathers. Ply
been proved true steps wore nt onc,, ken 10
ma ne almost murderer. Hcr only dcscrip-
ton ot her assailant was that he wa n negro.
Jim Drake. who lived with one of the Colhurns
llui Jim cleared himself ana told about sering
Freeman take the child into q barn. This. il
WAS considrred fixed tho cuhrit beyond n
doubt. A'corlinslyG Grand Juror stephen Crane
ma'le out u warrant for the arrest oi Freeman.
intrusting il T. Constable Ferris A. castle Tor
service. Soon after o'clock this morning cas-
IT, traced Freeman To % room IN Colhurn's barn.
ey" lantern and revolver before the eyes Of tine
frightened negro.
Is your namc Edgar Freeman p asked Cas-
Ills" mcekly responded Freeman.
Then you are the man want. Come along
TIN, was sufficient The negro rose and.
max ng hasty toilet. was ukcn TO the lookup.
q damp. dngy room. underneath a nnc-story
brick stru turc. near the Naugntuck railroad
Castle returned 10 his home and tlfi- noruing
az : O'Clock went back Ia tho lo.kup t. look
after his prisoner. Whoa he reached ihcrc NJ,
saw crowd gathering. and from the various
knots Zee could hear mu'tcrings and cursiugs
ti're 'anl" a crowd of w1rkwnn from tho Far
rel Foundry and Ma'hin" Company, wnrre the
iniiWr of a." G'rl WIS rml Logged. headed hy one
Dave Sweden. a hurly fellow. who demanded
that freeman should ho taken from las. cell and
BANGED This demand met with favor from the
crowi. and in chorus they cried out. Hang
him. Hang him"
Grand Juror sullivan ono Of the custodinna
OF the keys oi the lookup. was ia the crowd.
His presence was discovered. and In the twink
ling ~ an eye he was knocked down hyatcrrinr
slaf nh
dered him iusensiule. His pockets were riicd
the keys taken. and lei by Dave Sweden the
mob made charge on the prison. The door
was thrown open. and Just ns three u the party
were pulling the negro from his cell CON
stable Castle. Judge Robert Peck. and VII
liam }. Clark civilian. arrived. They
rushed into the prison and ATTEMPTED to
rescue the negro who was 30 frghtencd
that his raven cheeks became pallid. Castle
was knocked down with a club, and Judge
Peek. who demanded that the laws bo respected.
and who threat nod To call out tho militia un-
less TIE mob dcslsied WIS foled 10y stone
thrown hy one II tho party Nj. Clark was
trlmplrl under foot, and the negro dragged
the party had Wac thrown about the neck ~ til"
poor devil. and ON" end Of Oh" loop WIS held hy
negro yelled at inc, top 90 MS voice ior
un instant, tut "a blow across the mouth
Win a CLUB stopped that noise. Then,
started, some Aty mon or more having
hold If the roy, and dragged the negro. who
knees through the muddy and. for short dis
lance als lutry nthy streets. The men and q
few women who followed this singular process
sion cried ai the top ~ their voices. Hang
himl Ham,; r.m!' The prostrnte but perfectly
auist n"sr" VA sub" t"d 10 hioTe lrom, sticks
and stnucs and to kicks until hc wac bcnten
almost to a RELY. aud the blood ran Of his face
In streams from the decorations about his neck
A. he crow started 70 draw him across tho
bridge To- { lhuru'- hui. ruugh-louklnE ftl-
low shouted, Hang him hang hun. and the
crowd halted. The long end OF the rope was
thrown over the rail. and the mob were nhou.
To- swing the negro over the side OF the bridge
when Dave Sweden cried out. " Don't do II here.
Take him IN on the hill. whore he lives and
hang the DID whelp there So Freeman was
started again on his journey across the bridge
and that Try 0t Swcden's probably saved the
nngro's life. Tho crowd. hooting and Yelling
ike madmen. drew the apparently doomed
I'm 1ng' W. Hu,H I'm "s,"hnv "y
Colburn's was reached; While going up the
hin the moose. which Freeman had Kept over
his chin, slippot down, ana ~ Il began -
" 'hotr III his wind he Tor the first time since
his horrible ride hegan, cried out and fell over.
nrpii,y shcrn WhippIe and William Clark
came OH the ground. The former got in front
Of the crowd and ordered them 60 stop their at
tempt To- lynch u man who md not been found
guilty of any crime The mob laughed. Jecrcd.
aud hootcd The sheriff thcn demanded in
rendcr Of tho prisoner. At this moment Mr..
Clark drew n revolver from his pocket, stood
acrqss the form, Of the prosirai" man. and s4id:
II any one 81 You lays hand on him I'll ley
daylight through You, and his looks showed
that ho meant H. The crowd fell back. and
Clark. turning 10 Onlcar Daniel j. Hayes. said.
Hayes, cut that rope
Hayes. thinking 10 please the crowd refused
10 do II. and pulled Clark to one side but not
until the mob had decided to let the prisoner 20
into the hands of the Sheriff. A wagon that
WAS passing was pressed into the service, and
the bleeding. fitny-luoklug object WIS picked
ny. wrapped in blankets, and taken to the Bir-
minghHm station house. There he remained
until the excitement had somewhat ahat, 4. and
then he was taken to the New Haven lal for
safe keeping, As the team which took him
away lett the Jail. Col. W b. Wooster
asked for a handkerchief 10 biud III the ncgrO's
lacerated forehead, Then the crowd began
again crying Hang him. " Don't give him
ANYTHING but rope and with these and SINH
lar cries ringing In the prisoner ears, tho
wagon started On arriving at New Hayen it
was found that the negro WAS badly cut all over
his body. had h is right shoulder dislocnted. and
received other Internal injuries which, in con-
junction with the fact that he WAS frightened
almost 10 death, may aud probably viii result
fatally.
The McCrindlo girl was 40 badly injured by
the assault on hor that the doctors tear she
cannot recover.
Eloplng Twice.
Joseph Eller sued his wife. Teresa for an abb
soute divorce on the ground conusal nniehty aud
Ia. & u.. Af,