The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-16
HORRIBLE.
They Thirsted for Blood and Got It.
The Assailant OF Mrs. Kellum and
Murderer of Her Son
Hanged to Tree at Pratt Mines
and Riddled With Bullets.
Over 500 Shots Discharged Into
His Dangling Body.
He Protests His Innocence to the
Last and Dies Game.
The Outraged Lady Asked the Mob
to Wait Another Day.
The Understandable Yearning for Re-
venge Would Permit of No Delay,
and After He is Disposed
of Mrs. Kellum Acknowl-
edges That He Is
the Right Man.
The Outraged Lady Asked the Mob
to Wait Another Day.
Special Dlsnntch to The Appenl.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Jan. l5.-There
was lynching at Pratt mines about
o'clock this morning, and George
Meadows, the alleged murderer of Willie
Kellum, and the iiend who criminally
assaulted his mother on Saturday, fur
nished the subject. lie was hung to n
limb and his body riddled with bullets
from 500 guns in the hands of men who
had made up their minds TO avenge one
Of the most brutal and cowardy crimes
ever committed in jefferson County, The
doomed negro died game. His last words
were 81 did not do It," The negro's
protesta,ions Of innocence were not be-
lieved, and some Of the crowd said:
"Iang him, anyway, II he Is innocent of
the crime" For twenty-four hours the
negro had been in the hands Of
ANGRY, DETERMINED MEN,
his life depending on his identification as
the assailnt OF Mrs. Kellum and the muir
dqrer OF her little son. When il was sug-
gestcd by these men that the prisoner be
turned over to the Sheriff and given
trial, the crowd said, "No; we want no
law in this We want Justice" At $50
,'clock the doomed man was brough, from
the woods where he had been KEEP, in hid
ing during the night. There WIS a crowd
Of perhaps 500 standing around the Kol-
lum residence, and the look on the faces
Of the individuals composing II bctokcncd
grim determination. A dozen guards
: with the prisoner in their midst ap.
preached the house in which Mrs. Kellum
lay, and in few minutes
'TuE SUPPOSED MURDERER
stood before the invalid. Every sound
was lmshed and each one waited with
abatcd breath TO hear what she would say.
She looked quietly around and slid: "lle
looks very much like the man. but his
shoulders seem little too round" The
prisoner stood with his handI ticl before
him with stout cord. The command
was given, "Untic him and let him
s,raightcn up" lie was united and told
10 stand erect, but with stoid indifference
he refused 10 change his posture. After
some consideration the lady asked that he
be not executed, but be kept for a day or
two I'LL something more definite could be
learned. She In voiced intense inquiry
asked:
care you the mani"
"No, marml" came tho reply, ~ did
not DO H."
The guards led the prisoner from the
room aud started down the public road
toward the office whcrc the coroner had
been holding the inquest. As the guard
and prisoner walked down the steep hill
from the Kollum residence aud had
reached point about 100 yards from the
house,
CROWD GATHERED
around that impeded further progress.
Fully 1900 people. men, women aud
/, children, white and black, had gathered.
A few hundred blackcd aud smutted
miners pushed aud surgcd around tho
guards, aud the rest oi the crowd was di-
yided into little groups discussing the
Affair." II soon became apparent that the
guard would not be allowed ~ proceed
toward the heart Of town.
"You are going to give the prisoner to
the Sheriff." they shouted; then We will
never get him. lie has committed the
crime and VIC want 10 sec him suffer. y
Gle cannot escape ~" shouted another
"Thc lady said no WIS tho rigll. one, and
was influenced By Preacher Rippcy and
others TO express doubt She knows he'i
the one, and you are going 10 give him az
where he will never get justice" Tn,
crowd was assured by Mr.. Moore aud 9th
en- that there was still doubt, and wa,
asked, In Difference 10 Mrs. Kcllum's wish
to allow a further investigation. "llc'i
got blood on him." shouted the crowd
"Lct Ne examine him II there is q doubt. u
In the meantime women had gathered OF
the outside OF the multitude and raise,
their voices In behalf OF
AsuNNARY EXECUTION OF JUSTICE
To appcasc the crowd the man was closely
examined Ills bat was examined and hi
oyershirt was pulled out and an cNamina
ton was made Of his undorshirt. There
blood omit, shouted one Of The spokesman
as he pointed 10 splotch on the back o
~. undershirt, There Is blood on hi
hat, crici another, ii a1 6l tt:.!!::!!ca, exam
ination the hat showed stains like blood
Finally the cry "Bring a rope" Vas raised
II subsidized, however, and the guard wa
beginning TO move on, when q man up
preached from the rear carrying two rope
on his arm. ono q small cotton rope, th
other nm Zach giass rope. lie made q noos
a. he ADVANCED and threw II like lass
al tho prisoner. The sightoi the rope an,
the act maddened tho crowd, anil nothin
uould stuiu their laua Tho vuarals irie