Morris tribune., 1882-10-26
BLACK RAVIsHER LYNCHED.
Terrible Crime OF Negro Near Grand Forks
His kate-A Triple Tragedy-Whole-
sale HaIging-0ther Crimes.
The Grand Forks Raplst.

The Grand Forks Rapist,
AGrand Forks special to the PIONEER Press
says Monday :.fternoon at ) O'Clock a
negro, who used to work in barber
shopin,this city, who is only known by the
name of Aleck, rode up on horse
back to party Of thirteen men
threshing on q farm five miles the
other side of Norton. He made some inquiries
about land and rode on. About half mile
away he met young Norwegian girl bringing
water to the men and was seen to dismount
knock her down and outrage her. Some OF
the men tooka q team from the threshing ma
chine and started in pursuit, but before they
reached him he mounted his horse
and rode away They kept him
in sight for smother mile, when he was again
seen to dismouut, hitch his horse and enter
the house of Conductor Sam Burbank OF the
Manitoba road. As the men approached the
house they heard women screaming, and, being
armed, shot the negro's horse hitched out
side While in the house, the brute
outraged Mrs. Burbank, and appeared outside
just as the pursuers were approaching. He
drew knife and brandished it, and making
threats started on q run toward this city. For
some unaccountable reason the pursuers did
not dare fire on him, but followed him three
after following him total of eight miles. Re-
turning the men found his horse dead where
shot and that Mrs Burbank had been terribly
outraged DIR. Collins of this city happened
along soon afterward, and treated the patients
and teleSraphed the facts to the chief of po-
lice of this city. Capt Griggs, Col
Smith and large number of citizens have
formeda vigilance committee and are now scour-
ing. the town for the cuIprit All the bridges
are guarded 10 prevent his escape to the Min
nesota side. When last seen the fend was
three miles west of the city coming this way.
1t is rumored that he has twice been seen in the
outskirts of the town since o'clock, but there
is so much excitement that it Is difficult
to trace the rumor to an authentic source.
He is described as tall and thickset with
SLOUGH hat, hole in his pants, and with side
whiskers and small goatee. He can be cas-
ily identified by three women and the thirteen
men if found. He is quite we'll known
in the city, but no one knows any
other name for him than that of Aleck If
caught and identified there is talk of burning
him, alive. No news from the women since the
outrage. Capt. Griggs and party armed with
rifles, have just started for the country and
another party has gone to half-breed camp,
3 mile from the city where negro prostitutes
congreSate. An employ5. of A. Abraham's
store announced that he saw him at $50 this
afternoon near the railroad freight house in
auiring for the American hotel
a special dispatch to the Daily Herald from
Thurbane, and says he has claim at DEVILS
lake, toward which he started. It is still be-
lieved, however, that he is not far from this
city. Policeman Fadden intimates that he
can and will produce him within six
hours. and purse OF: 500 has been given
him TO encourage him to fulfil his prediction.
The committee of citizens are now more quiet
and are waiting for FaGden to flush the game.
His arrest is only q matter of time, but will
probably not be before morning. Sheriff
l-S hoaS Sfar tod foy NNrtop harl
About IL O'Clock Officers Todden and Chief
of Police Hennessy found the black fend in
bed at hotel at East Grand Forks, and had
but little difficulty in capturing him. He con-
fessed to the crime and said he had been
drinking. When the vigilance committte heard
of the arrest it was only with
difficulty that they were restrained from storm
ing the city Jail and lynching the prisoner.
The officers, however, had him under lock
and key before the arrest was known, and will
protect him. Capt. Griggs and Citizens are at
the new depot trying to charter special train
TO go to Norton for Witnesses and the lynch
ing or burning alive of the prisoner is only o
ques ton of time, After he is identified and
tried,a mob will make short work of him. The
name of the negro is Charles Thurbur. He is
about thirty years of age.
GRAND FORKS, .Dak,, Oct 24-After wiring
you last night the particulars of the capture
and interview with Charles Thurber the negro
rapist, the committee of citizens who had gone
Il q.
m. Them proceeded at once to the city hall
where they found they jail strongly guarded.
Speeches were made by City Clerk Colling
Col Smith and others advocating postpone
ment of hostilities until the prisoner conld be
given a,hearing and proof of guilt established
by witnesses. The crowd was about to dis
perse, when some one called out: 'sHang the
nigserw 'sLets hang the s. of b.
tonight" etc. raid was at once
made and the outer doors quickly battered
& liya1u tusSla hon for o1f
hour. when the-citiZens again finally resolved
to desist for. the time being. Early this morn
ing as, ,thepews was read in the papers, knots
of excited men began to assemble about the
city hall and discuss the situation, the prisoner
having had time to reflect upon the enormlty
of his crime, and having had intimation of the
fate in store for him. A PIONEER PRESS rep
resentatiye again called upon him just before
the hour of noon, and found him sitting
moodily ina corner of his cell, the remnance
of an almost
vHoIGY.UNToUcHED BREAKFAST
were by his side, and the anxiety of the day
and night had told upon his appearance He
was evidently suffering considerably mentally.
but responded quite briskly to the questions
asked. He stated that he now fully realized
the enormlty of his crime and was still at
loss to account tor the motive that
prompted him. He still insisted that he did
not succeed in his lecherous attempt upon
Mrs. Burbank, but that the failure was due to
his physical inability. In reply as to what he
thought was in store for him he said he be-
ieved the people meant to take his life, and
that if he must die he supposed he must, but
he would greatly prefer imprisonment
for life He believed such q
sentence would be more than
Justice, and said that he sheuld plead guilty
and appeal to the court and to the people to
spare his life 1t was generally understood
that the prisoner would have preliminary ex-
animation at the court house at 2 p. m. AT
1880, 200 people had congregated IN front
OF the Jail to see him removed AR 2 o'clock
the crowd had increased to 800 aud at 9 80 to
1000.
THE cEowD WAS QUIET,
but moved about nneasIIy. A rope was pro-
duced and deposited at the foot of telegraph
pole At 2:50 Sheriff .Jenks appeared with a
warrant and with the aid of numerous depu-
ties conducted the prisoner to the county jail,
where, by strategy in avoiding the mob he
was finally locked up. The crowd had filed
into the court room, and being disappointed,
went to the Jail and demanded ihe prisoner
The officers beat them back and rendered pow
erless the battering-rams. Conductor Bur-
bank, husband of the rayisbed woman, having
arrived on the noon train. cries of, ':Where is
Burbafk' we're heard. ave will do as he saws
with the prisoner" Mr.. Burbank with tears
in his eyes said,
TAKE HIM OUT AND HANG HIM.
This caused renewal OF the attempt to So
cure the prisoner and threats were made e4
burning the Jail and attempts to pull it down
with ropes and batter it in with
axes. After gallant Struggle by
officers. The doors were burst at As and a
ope was placed around the prisoners neck
who made desperate resistance Three
thousand people by this time assembled and
hnr A.zz o