The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-02-26
SWIFT RBTRIBUTION.

Lynching Of Serea Negroes in Tennessee The
Murder Of Farmer Laprade Imply 1cen,
ged-The Crime, the Arrest, the Irldt ana
the Lynching-A Terrible Sight an the
Springfield Jail lard.
SPRINGFIELD, Tenn, February 19.-The
country is to-day in fever heat ofexcitement
over the wholesale lynching which occurred
last night. The tragedy which eliminated IN
the lynching of the five negroes implicated IN
the murder of Mr.. Laprade makes total OF
ten deaths which have thus far resulted from
the fearful butchery.
The crime for which these negroes were
lynched was the murder of farmer named
Laprade, who lived alone near Sadlersvllle,
Robinson county, about a mile away from any
neighbor. The report was current that he
and his two brothers had fallen heirs to 49,
600 few days before the murder, and
party Of nine negroes went to his house on
the night OF September s, 1880. Going IN
the rear of his dwelling, one of them knocked
at the door, and initiating the voice of Lap
rade's brother, asking admission. Laprade
opened the door without thought OF harm.
The nine negroes rushed in upon him, knock
ed him down and then demanded all his
money. He gave them SIS, saying that was
all he had. Throwing rope around his neck
they dragged him about his grounds, hanged
him to the limb of tree repeatedly until he
was almost unconscious, singed his body with
torches and lacerated and mutilate1 him with
knives in the endeavor to compel him to admit
that he had concealed the money, but always
with the same result With the rope he was
dragged about the yard and nameess out
RACES were committed upon his person. FINAL
ly his legs were cut and hacked and the teHdons
tkas ha
Then his skull was crushed with an AK, after
which the body was hidden under some bushes
in a neighboringthieket. The body was found
two weeks afterwards.
The discovery of the murder caused intense
excitement, and threats OF lynehIng we're free
ly made against the murderers rs soon as they
should be apprehended. Suspicion fell upon
Jim Higgins, and, after being imprisoned
some DAYS, he made confession duplicating
bis associates, who we're arrested Higgins,
who was an old negro, was taken out and his
feet burned until, in his agony, he is said to
have given the details ofihe LaprAde murder.
The prisoners, including Higgins. we're
brought TO the Nashville jail Higgins had oRe
of his feet ampalsIed aud subsequently died
in Jail September Is two Of the murderers,
Bell and Jameson, were taken from the
Springfield Jail aud iynched. On the same
night a white man named Ramsey was shot 20
death in his cell He had been confined for
shooting Miss Holt. whom be began 10 per
secate on account of her engagement sIih an
other person. About 10. 80 O'Clock on the
night Of the 18th OF the present month some
twenty Eve mounted men rode into town and
proceeded TO the jail They inteaded to lyneh
the prisoners, bat iesis,ed on being informed
that the trial would proceed and If guilty the
negroes would be hanged.
The trial Of the prisoners vas IN progress
all day yesterday, and in the evening Il had
reached a termination ia the charge Of Judge
Siory 10 the jury. The FIVE matderrrs, James
Elder. l.och Mallory. Lam S,ell, Rober, fhweat
aud another whose name has not vet been As
certaiaed. were delivered 10 the custody Of
the sherTH and that official prepared TO start
TO the Jail with them. Bill Murphy and An
lhony Duffy, whe testified for the State, we're
set a. liberty. sud it is thought that their re
lease led 10 The terrible tragedy. As the
sheriff departed with his prisoners he uas met
At the coart room door by al lnfdriated mob.
Who. presenting pistols 81 bis head, rushed
upon him aud took the trembling murdsreFs
from hin. Attorney General Bell tired 70
collect posse to resist the mob, bot A4iIed.
and Has compelled 10 make bis exit throuEh
a wiadow
TBg LrNCHixg.
The mob ordered all the lights cut, sred
regular fssiiiade Of shots TO iniimidsss aRy
wOuld be reseaers. dragged the Eve cApsives
10 The east door Of the court. honse, where
Fopes Serr awaiting them The ropes we're
suspended FROM The veranda above. The are
bsAiss ~ an instant we're swinging beaeaih
the veranda. jan Elder Vas the only oae
who made any struggle and be was qsiekis
shrouR down, h1und hand and foot and lhen
hanged With the others. The mob guarded
the bodies ualii they we're saFe that their Eork
w8s completed add lie exiines. The lsz8sr
thea gave the order, "Disprrse, ms men, 70
yoar homes, Aad the execusionrrs-ssnc
z5q in number Immediately departed. gong
on horseback IN three iisfsreus diFvgiioHs-
The crowd attending the trial vas pAraivEsd
with tgFTw 81 hrst, and then janpea from the
uia1oEs Of the eoari. room an1 rushed al IN
every direction, aitertng cries Of alright
There SNa no whsskey IN the CroEd ct lyngh
ers. and taey were under strict discipline
No Outsiders Herc ailoSed % approach Until
all the negroes weru pronounced dead and
thee i vas Aanouneed thAs the man wha
woald cut them dowa w0alj do ~ at bis peril
Tits morning The TAO muFdeSers, DaHy and
MurJshy, wh0 turned States evidence, vers
ioand ksngiag 10 3 tree near the scene Of the
murder. Ibis makes seven hives ihat Ssrc
sacrificed BY the iyneheFs last night. Pgbhc
sentimsng auktainA the action Of the mob.
The people feared sa appeal woald b. made
ard Rev trial grazted the prisoners. The
lesiimoaey sSs regarded a. siroug. proving
the gailt Of the naricrsEs and there vas 40
fear that the iary wosld no, convict them.
SAsHvIlLE, February la.--The State Sea
ate this morning. unanimously adopted > res
olaiiau condsmaing the actioa Of The mob Al
Springfield ia takiag prisosexs from the cas-
tody Of the tourt aud p0tliug lhem 10 deata,
and declaring that MODS muss BE- suppressed
/ II IL takes the whale poser Of she state. The
resolution calls npon the governor 10 use AL
means for Ike arrest and punishment, Of The
perpetrators Of tins crime, sad promising The
active eoaPeFsfIoa Of the legislature.
perry Axn sURrHV xoE LVSCaED.
ClxctNSATI, February "a dispatch TO
the CsRuscrciai from Nashville states that
Duffy add Mnrphy we're not caught By the
lyuchvFs IN Robertson coaniyr TeBa.