The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-21
HANGING WAS TOO GOOD.
So He Was Tied TO Stump. Satu-
rated With Kerosene, and
Burned Alive.
Most Horribly Did Ed Coy Expi
ate His Not Less Horri-
BILE Crime.
His Victim Lit the Flame That Tor.
tnred the Fiend-Desperate Remedy,
Desperate Disease.

-
DIAL from Texarkana says I'D Coy, a
negro fiend. who last Saturday fendishly
assaulted Mira. Henry lowell wife of re.
spectacle farmer living few miles outside
of the city, this afternoon answered for
his awful crime, being burned ut the stake
in the presence Of 600 people. Jewell left
his wife and babe alone last Saturday while
he came to town ON business. During ths
afternoon the negro came to the house and
assaulted Mrs. lowell. He!then dragged
her into the barn. where he kept her about
an hour, assaulhng her repeatedly. When
Jewell returned home no time was lost in
giving the alarm, and soon scores OF mon
were securing the country in all directions.
During the night two negroes were ar
rested, but Mrs. Jewell declared them in
necent and they were discharged. Finally
it was learned that the guilty negro was
Ed Coy. and that he had gone north
toward Little River county. Search was
vigorously prosecuted, but without avail
until early this morning. when q message
came from a farmer named Scott, saying
Coy was at the house of Ed Giyens, q
negro living near him. and asking for men
to come out and arrest him. Before the
posse reached the place Coy had started
away, but .was Intercepted by Sotot and his
sons and held until the posse arrived.
Mrs. Jewell identified him without hesita-
ton.
Coy was placed in room and heavily
guarded until the last of the searching
parties returned to'town. When ell were
in the leaders held consultation and de-
cided to hang Coy. He was accordingly
led out and started for Broad street. where
it was intended to hang him, Arrived
there some one threw up a rope, but the
mass of the people set up a shout, Burn
him! Burn himr' Finally the crowd
forced the men who held the negro to move
north on State Line avenue. When near
the post-office, some one who had hold of
the rope, the moose of which was about the
prisoners neck, attempted to climb teIe-
graph pole. Hewas asunceremoniously dragged
to the ground. Burn himu' Burn hlmr'
wsnt up the cry again, and it was clearly
to be seen that death by fire alone would
appease the wrath of the people, At this
juncture Chas. M. Reeves, leading citizen,
mounted an elevation and besought the
crowd for the sake of their wives and
children. if they were determined to burn
the wretch. to take him outside the CITY.
The appeal had the desired effect, and
rush was made to the suburbs. Near the
Iron Mountain tracks a single stump.
about ten feet high, stood alone in clear
ing and thither the wretched negro WAS
dragged. Another man, who favored
hanging, began climbing the stump, but
twenty leveled shotRuns impelled him to
descsnd hurriedly. The negro was then
made secure to the stump with wire fasten-
ings and liberal supply of kerosene
poured over him.
A shout wen up "Let the victim apply the
match! Let Mrs. Jewell set the firer' In
response to the call Mrs. Jewell emerged
from the crowd, supported by relatives, and
walked to the place of execution. With
out q word tho spokesman placed in her
hand a match. She looked at the negro
and falteringly turned to the crowd. mo;
you apply it, was the cry as the woman
was seen to falter. She struck the match,
applied it to the clothing of the wretch in
two places. and stepped away. In few
moments the doomed negro was sheet of
flame, writhing and grooming in horrible
agony. Death resulted in about ten min
utes.
Only about twenty minutes before he was
ed out Republic co respondent had an
interview with him. He asserted innocence
IF the crime. but in such q manner as car
ried conviction of guilt with it. While the
,vent is confessedly 3 horrible affair, it is
justified blythe large majority of people of
his section on the ground that n desperate
disease requires desperate remedy, and
that hanging has not as great r horror for
The average negro as death by fire.