Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-02
A QUIET LYNCHING
At Noontide in Florence, Ala.-George
Ware Hanged by the Citizens
for the Murder
or q Boy, After Making n Full C0nfes.
sion-A Remarkable Exc.
cHtion.


Assistant Attorney-General Weakley, who |
from Florence, Ala, yesterday, said |
TO an APPEAL reporter:
1.-THE published sccounts Of the lynching |
of the negro Geo ge Ware, at Florence, last |
Saturday, are incorrect, j Witnessed the af- |
fair and know whereof speak"
At the solicitation of the reporter he then |
gave the following account OF the
MURDER AND LYNcHING.
On Friday, the 9th of April, as a young
msn named Scutt was plowi0g in his Geld |
about eighteen yards from the bank of the
Tennessee river, be heard cries for help un
der the bluff. He ran TO the top OF the bluff,
aud looking down saw terrible sight. The
negro George Ware was standing at the
waters edge throwing stones at the form Of a
boy that was tioaing of down the stream,
and crying out, 'I'll fix you" He could see
the
BLOOD STAINS ON THE WATER,
following in the track of the body. A mo-
ment later the boy grssped willow limb
that reached the surface of the stream, aud
held on to it with the grip Of despair. One
OF the stones which Ware kept throwing
struck him, aud loosing his hold he sank 10
rise no more. Fearing that he might not be
able to cope with Ware, who was a man Of
herculeau sig. and strength, Scott stole away
and reported what he had seen. Ware was
captured not far from the scene OF the MUIR
der aud lodged in Jail at Florence.
THE MURDERED Roy
was found TO be Robert Bethune, who had
been employed at the government works on
the Muscle Shoals, near by. He had been
paid off that day, and il was thought las
afterward proved to be the case) that the OBJ
Jet OF the terrible deed was robbery. As
soon as the news reached the Shoals, the
men employed there quit work and came
into town, intent upon tskipg
A SUMMARY VENGEANCE
upon the murderer. They were induced to
give up their design for the time, on being
tcld that Ware would have preliminary
examination before a magistrate on Satur-
day, the 28'h. The people of Florence, who
were greatly excited, slso agreed TO give him
q chance TO prove hie innocence. When Sat-
urday came Wares counsel waived the ex-
animation. II was the death warrant OF his.
client, though intended to save him. The
people knew that to try Ware would require
an extra term Of the Circuit Court, which
must cost $1,000 or $1,000, and that be could
besides get 4 change of venue, which might
defeat his punishment. -----,---
THEIR RESOLUTION WAS TAKEN
in short order. By common consent Of both
white and colored people it was decided thst
Ware must die. A leader wss found in the
person Of John w. Blair, a prominent and
respected ssioon-keeper of the place. Sheriff
Ives was called upon by a committee who
demanded the prisoner. Tue sheriff replied
r.,
statement for himself, IL the crowd would
guarantee his safe return to jill. The guar
sntee was given, and
WARE WAS BROUGHT OUT
and placed upon the steps Of the courthouse
Al FIRST be claimed that another man had
done the murder, ard that he only got part
of the money. Then some one in the crowd
called out:
"Where'. Mr.. Scott2 Let him tell what
he knows"
Scot! came out of the crowd, and taking
positiLn by Wares side, told his story in
such a manly, straightforward way as 10
leave no doubt of its truth. 1t ia given in
the beginning Of this account. When it was
finished Ware
MADE A FULL CONFESSION.
He had waylaid the boy, he said, to rob
aud then murder him. He first struck him
on the head with a rock, I'd his pockets,
which contained SIS 05 ana two plugs of to.
bscco, and then threw him into The river.
To make sure of murders work he afterward
pelted him with rocks, as Scott had seen.
The crowd. which was composed of The best
citiz.ps of the place, listened quietly, and
suffered The sheriff to take Ware back TO Jail.
Then
COMMITTEE OF TWENTY
wa. appointed TO do the work Of Justice.
The stores and Offices were closed, and all
Florence turned out to witness the execution
of Judge Lynch's" sentences. There was no
noise, no drinking, no disorder OF shy kind
A stranger coming into the town would have
thought the people had turned out TO do
honor to some distinguished parsonage, had
he not noticed the look of relentless deter
mination on every face. A few, among
them Gov. O'Neal who was on visit TO his
home, tried 10 intervene in behalf OF the
regular cotirss OF law, but their words were
as the idle wind, which none needed.
THE SHERIFF WAS FORCED
10 yield up the prisoner, who presently ap.
pearsd in charge of the committee and was
led down 10 the yard of the railroad depot
the whole population following. This was a
little after noon, and surely the bright April
sun never looked down upon a stranger or
more drsmatic spectacle that day. A rope
was ii rown over the limb of tree in The
yard and The regulation moose quickly adj
iusted. Ware aeked and was given the SER
vices of a minister, and also offered up a
prayer on his own account. His deyolions
over, he was
MOUNTED ON A BARREL,
and the moose adjusted on his neck. Again
he confessed the murder, conc dng with
Yes, killed him fur IS 05 and two plugs o.
terbaccer; wasn't it dirty TRICKY" Al this
moment the moose was drawn. No sooner
did Ware feel the fatal pressure than his
courage failed him and he faiued. The
watchful Blair caught him and held him up.
THE SIGNAL WAS GIVEN,
the barrel was kicked from under the
murderer by a brother OF his victim, and he
dropped with dull, sickeniDg lhud. He
died of srangulstiou In about twelve miuu', 8.
The body was allowed to hang for three
hours, when it was taken down aud buried in
a nice Sl2 flo, which was paid for out of
contributions taken up in the crowd. Ware
was an exconvict ADD bore bad character
in The Deighborhood. His loss is regarded
SIS the eternal gain of the community.