Evening journal., 1892-05-19
THE coRoNsR,s INVESTIGATION.
Kent Jurors Find That james rayler
was Hanged to = Tree By unknown

was Hanged to = Tree By Uaknown
Men.
CHEsTRKrowN, Nd May 12.-The
excitement over the Nellie Silcex out
rage and the subsequent lynching Of
Jim Taylor, her ravisher, full account
OF which appeared In yesterdays
EVENING JOURNAL, has subsidized. The
groups OF men on the street corners and
about the scene Of the tragedy have dis
perssd The colored people are quiet and
few II any OF them are surprised at the
action of the whites The awful affair,
however, will never be forgotten here
and the form OF the negro swinging from
the little maple tree is forever impressed
on the minds OF those who saw IL. There
was never such . night in the history Of
the town rs Tuesday. Before the lynch
ing hundreds Of men moved about quietly
around the jail.
In the jail all was quiet and secure.
The sheriff's wife compelled him to stay
by her side, and 1t was for a time feared
that her life would be also sacrificed on
the eventful night. la the front corri-
dor John d. Greenwood was stationed
In the back corridor. into which raylor's
cell opened, stood Deputies Frank Plum
mer, Amos B. Kelley, Albert /. pugsn
and william B. Plummer. These men
J said they were wsll prepared and did not
expect any trouble.
Jim Taylor was doing on his cot In
the end cell, No. 9, when he was Rwak-
ened to be apprised Of the situation.
Jim, said the questioner. do you
know what is going on outsider
Yes, sir. They is gwine to kill me,
reckon"
"Are you ready to die97 he was asked.
"Yes, sir; l think | am. have be-
forged to the church for three years aud
feel prepsred to go"
Now, Jim, tell us whether you did
the crime they say you did"
"No, sir | am an innosent man, and
an hot afraid to say 80 even while am
expecting to meet my God In few
minutes"
BE was told how awful IL was to die
with lie on his lips, he replied that he
knew II. These were the last words be
was heard to utter.
In the rear Of the jail several masked
men from this vicinity stood waiting,
armed to the teeth. The double gate
leading from Cross street to the stable
yard was wide open, while the small
yard gate was In charge Of the watch
man. The coni itions we're now all
favorable TO the lynching and toward
the Jail a crowd Of 500 people was seen
advancing closer and closer They drew
near without any noise. The yard gate
was easily passed through, and
the sixty armed men marched 10
the side door Of the jail, which
leads directly to the jail corridor. The
leader called for a sledgehammer, and IL
an instant q heavy built person stepped
forward aud with six good, hard blows,
accompanied by an axe, the heavy door
gave away, and IL required but little force
to set aside the several men who tried ,o
block their way. Officer Kelley was
caught by the throat and bears the
marks OF the mans nails. The negro was
soon located aud in a few moments the
works Of the lock fell jingling to the
brick floor and several Of the men entered
the cell.
The rope was placed over the negroi
head and then be was led through thu
corridor to the steps. In going dowI
the steps he fell but was helped to bil
J feet and led on out TO the stahleyard
where the big crowd was in waiting, and
Immediately the cry Of Don't 60 any
further, do It right here, was raised
J aud It was found impOssibls to e
J further, for in what seemed like an in
slant, the man with the rope had climbed
small maple tree on Cross street
opposite the end of the jail. and thei'
be was hanged until dead His hands wer
not tied, and during the march from tn
Jail to the tree he kept hold Of the rop
around his neck
de was dead in one minute after b.
left the ground and had not made an
movements with hands, feet or mouth
The limb on which he was hung was b
low to the ground that the mans hea'
lust lowered above those OF the crowd
: rhe lynchers seemed to be cool and de
liberate, there was no drinking, and no
a single shot was fred during the whole
! ! evening When cries Of Don't shoot
were heard the crowds Of colored peopl
who we're not far away ran, and so diI
many Of the whites.
The coroner soen came and had tn
body lowered and placed it in the oil
engine house by Undertaken DOdd. Tn
crowd dispersed very orderly withou
any disturbance, and many persons 'liv
!, ing within square Of the jail
although not in bed, did not know Of th
J affair. Coroner Pippin summoDe
the following Jury Of inques
= this morning; Foreman, levin
Fowler, J. W. Lambert, j. K
Aldridge, NJ A. Toulson, w. T. Mat
/ tnews, It. s. Birdley, B. N. S. WilkinI
@ c. Morgan, A l. Dugan, George I
Wsstcott, T. w Ellsson, Dr.. VIII
: brought in verdict that the decease
= came to his death from the hands {
y masked men, unknown to the Jury, wh
. broke open the jail and by rope hun
! James Taylor to a tree near the jail.
% ra-niDsa To- Ann