Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-10
ELECTROCUTION
AS Practised in the Wild
and WOOlly West.
A Negro Rape Fiend Hanged
to a TrOlly Wire.
Two Executions in One Day in the
City of Omaha.
One of Them According to Due Process OF
Law The Other an ImprOmptu
AHair-A MOb's Terrible
Vengeance.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 9.-Public senti-
ment, which was wrought up highly
here today by tie execution of the
murderer Neal, was reused to higher
pitch when the report became current
that little Lizzie Yates, the fve-year-
old victim of the lustful assault by Joe
Coe, disreputable negro, had died.
"We will lynch the Niger" was soon
heard on every side, and it was evident
the people meant what they said.
Tonight there suddenly came the
sound of great crowd of men hurrying
along the paved streets toward the
county jail, and in remarkably
short time that building was sur
rounded. There was no organization
apparent; no leader seemed to control
the crowd. Yells filled the air, hun
dreds shouting at once what to do. The
mob stood irresolute for some time, and
in the meanwhile a few policemen and
force OF deputy sheriffs was concen-
trated. A rush was made for the South
street door of the Jail, but the crowd
was stopped by a glittering revolver in
the hands of Police Captain Cornack,
who asked what they wanted.
THEY WANTED THE "NIGGER."
"We want that damned nigger," was
the reply, "and we will get him. Get
out of the way"
"If you take step this way l will
kill you," said the captain, and his
nerve had due effect. The crowd re-
treated
Then sledges were brought, and the
east door was assailed. This was built of
strong steel lattice, and once inside four
similar doors must be broken through.
Nothing daunted, they attacked the
door with sledges, but it was hopeless
task. The crowd soon rushed down to
the power house of the cable road, and
dragged up heavy steel rails, while 9th
ers cut all the telephone wires.
GOV. BoYD's PLEA UNHEEDED.
Then Ex-Governor Boyd appeared,
pushed his way through the crowd to
the door and shouted: "It will be a
disgrace to Omaha, and implore you to
be quiet and desist from your unlawful
efforts. Let the law take its due course"
His words were cut off by man who
shouted; ''You're not governor here.
Get out. Go attend to your opera
house." and smash went the steel rail
against the steel door. In five minutes
the door was open and the second one
assailed.
THE MOB WOULDN'T MELT.
During this time Omaha's police force
of ninety men gathered, but concentra-
ton was impossible. The officers were
lost in the crowd. Some one suggested
that the fire department be called out
and the hose turned on, but it was not
the kind of mob that melts. The fire.
men came and laid the hose, whereupon
the crowd carried the hose up and drove
the firemen away. They were latter
the n1gger."
1t did not take the crowd long after
the second door was passed, to effect an
entrance to the huge steel cage in which
the cells are located. There, wrapped
in a blanket was the trembling colored
wretch for whom the lynchers sought.
= A howl of wild exuitation was sent up
bv the leaders, who called for tools to
cut into the cage. Yell after yell of
triumph went up from the outside, and
soon sledges and cold chisels were in the
hands of those nearest the cage.
THE POLICE WERE PowERLEss.
In the meantime the police under
Chief Seavy undertook to mass at the
Jail entrance. The crowd surged up,
picked up the police and carried them
to the edge of the yard. There they
stayed. Then the work went on.
Inside the cage the negro begged and
pleaded. He insisted that he was
charged with burglary.
"Damn you. We will burglary you'll"
came the response. He prayed, and
cried and rolled on the floor in terror.
His shrieks for mercy were answered
with blows that brought his execution
ers nearer.
By this time the door was open. Then
with one last yell OF terror, the negro
was seized by the hands OF men eager
for his blood, and thrust through the
corridor. Here men to identity him
were called for. 1t was determined to
make no mistake. So on pressed those
who knew him, and his doom was sealed.
SWUNG FROM A TRoLLY WIRE.
Coe got thousand curses and blow
for every curse. There is driveway
fifty yards long leading from the jail to
the intersection Of Seventeenth and
Harney streets. This is paved with
rough granite, and over it the unfortu-
nate wretch was dragged by his captors.
Since he reached the door he had not
spoken word, and in all probability
was unconscious, if not dead. by the
''time the street was reached. A rope
was thrown over the trolly wire OF tie