Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
QUIET JUDGE LYNCH.
The HOwling Mob Part of q Southern
Necktie Party is All a Myth.
SILENCE is THE WATCHWORD.
LaWless Execution of Negro in Daylight
That Serves as Type.
SCENES THAT WERE TRYING TO NERVES
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1spGTcH.1

lynchlng you are sure to hnd this para
graph, and it is usually under a thrilling
sub-head: can angry mob of masked men
then seized the prisoner, and, dragging him
to the woods nearby, the guilty, covering
wretch was strung up to the nearest limb.
His body was left hanging until morning,
when it was cut down by the COroner, who
will hold an inquest"
In some welLregulated newspaper Offices
these lines are kept on the standing galley"
ready for any emergency. have witnessed
two lynchings and both were conducted
with deceney and in order" In neither.
case could the lynchers be described as an
"angry mob, +" and not one of them wore .
mask, although one of the events occurred
at 10 o'clock in the morning.
In the s. uthern States, when a woman is
assaulted, be her assailant black or white,
he is lynched in seven cases out of ten. The
white men OF the South will not trust the
law to punish this crime. In most cases
these lynchings are done quietly, and as a
matter of business or necessity. They are
not the work of an "angry mob" whose
passionate thirst for vengeance can only be
quenched by blood, but of cool, brave men
who think only of protecting their mothers,
wives and daughters.
A TYPICAL LYNCHING BEE.
Two years ago George Meadows, a negro,
was lynehed at Pratt Mines five miles from
this city. The lynching occurred at 10
o'clock in the morning, and was witnessed
by ], 500 people, many of them women and
children. Meadows had assaulted white
lady and murdered her little son who had
bravely tried to protect his mother. Every
white man and boy in the vicinity quit
work as soon as they heard of the crime,
and, armed with whatever weapons they
possessed or could borrow, they Joined the
searching parties. The negro was soon
caught, but his victim was unconscious. A
thousand armed men gathered about that
negro, but there were no cries of "lyneh
him?' no threats of vengeance, no oaths.
"Wait until Mrs. - is able to see
him; we don't want to make mistake
said the men, who, by reason of their age
or courage, were the acknowledged leaders
of the party. Patiently the crowd-lt was
not a mob-waited. Two days and nights
the negro was guarded in the woods, where
mis- captors could have deied a thousand
sheriffs. Not threat was heard, not an ex.
clamation OF impatience; the crowd did not
want to make mistake.
THE PROOF OF GUILT.
The third morning the doctor said the lady
was strong enough to see the prisoner Out
vi buc HOOuS CdIuc lOuR, SlleUE procession OF
men surrounding trembling black figure.
Down through the principal street Of the
little town they marched with slow and
steady step. Every moment the crowd grew
larger, but still not threat was heard; no
one asked, what are you going to do with
him?" The home OF the woman was reached,
and while the crowd gathered around the
house, every man silent as a statue, four OF
the leaders led the negro inside.
There is q reporter here" said q man,
whose nerves were probably giving way
under the long strain.
Make room for him, we want the papers
to know everything" said one of the leaders.
One, two, three, four minutes the men re-
mained inside the house. When they ap-
peared at the door coming out, the look Of
terror on the face of the negro had deepened,
but his head was erect and he was irving
hard to appear defiant and unconcerned,
"What did she say?''
A thousand men asked the, question ss
once, but their voices were Slow. Every
man held his breath to hear the answer,
Their faces turned shade paler, the CLEAN
of their eyes grew more intense. their guns
were clasped little tighter, but not a man
uttered threat OF lynching. The silence
was perfect as the four men holding the
negro paused at the foot of the doorsteps,
and one Of them said quietly: "He is the
man."
OFF FOR THE GALLows.
A dozen men formed a hollow SQUARE
about the prisoner and led the way back
through the town to the top of wooded hill
beyond. Scarcely j word was spoken by
the white-faced, stern-looking men who fol-
lowed. Women and children had Joined
the crowd, but they were as silent as their
husbands and fathers. No one in all that
throng had said Lynch him." yet no one
asked. what are they going to do with
him?''
Under a large oak tree at the summit Of
the hill the leaders paused with the black
prisoner. An old man stepped forward,
glanced up at strong branch OF the tree,
then turning to the crowd, said quietly:
'This will do" Some one in the crowd
pushed his way to the front and handed a
rope to the man under the tree. No one
knew who had provided the rope, and no
one asked. At sight of the rope the black
prisoner weakened. Hiss of bravado was
gone IN an instant. He trembIed in every
limb, his eyeballs seemed to swell to double
their normal size. and in low voice he be-
gan TO beg for mercy. No one listened to
him. In a moment one end of the rope
was thrown over the limb, and as the throw
was made, another man was tying hang
mans knot at the other end.
EVERYTHING DONE IN ORDER.
''Tie his hands and feet" ordered one of
the leaders when the rope was ready.
A wall of terror broke from the lips of the
trembling negro, but not a muscle relaxed
In the stern white faces around him. "Oh.
Lord, let me pray" ne moaned, and the
men who held the rope said quietly: "Let
him pray"
Down on his knees fell the negro moaning
and praying, and the men around him re-
moved their hats.
Hes prsyingP'
A whisper went through the crowd and
all around the men removed their hats and
bowed their heads. Softer lines came into
the stern white faces for a moment. but there
were no lines of mercy for the doomed negro.
That's enough, George, stand upP' said
the man with the rope, and the negro stag
gered to his feet. Five or six men stepped
forward, and In a moment the negro was
bound hand and foot, and the moose was
around his neck. As the moose was adjusted
he gave one unearthly shrek of terror and
then became silent. The crowd moved back
little to make room abo ut the tree. Every
man held his breath and watched the
dangling rope.
"Pull him upl''
THE LAST SCENE.
The command was given in q low voics
and no one looked to see who gave il. A
dozen strong haLds held the rope. There
was one quick, steady pull, and the negro
vas writhing and struggling ten feet above
ground The crowd backed away a little
further and 500 guns were pointed at the
still writhing body.
Zone, two, three, freP' The report was
al ~ Iaof f. =