The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-03-03
NEGRO ROASTED ALIVE.
Horrible Punishment Melted Out to An
Arkansas Criminal.

Arkansas Criminal.
Five thousand people stood on the
public street this afternoon, SAYS dis
patch from Tcxarkana, Ark. and with
suilen faces, unmoyed by anything saw
orins of PITY. watched while Ed Coy, a
negro, was burned to death for crimin-
ally assaultins Mrs. Henry Jewell last
Saturday. Mrs. Jewell is III. young
wife of Il respectable farmer living two
miles south Of town. and since his crime
Cog succeeded in cluding the officers
until this morning, when he was discov-
ereI at the ! ONE OF Ed Gaines, colored,
four miles north ef here. He had Il mis-
tress at thr home of Gaines, and it was
, she who disclosed his hiding place, fear
for the safety of herself and family act
! ing as the Incentive. The posses in
search of Coy suspc, tnd tha, he was be-
ing harhored by Gaines, and two or
/ three times this week {: rope was put
around the lattcr's neck to make him
give information. lie was also assured
that death would certainly be his por-
tien should he fail to notify the posse
u;on the first appearance Of the hunted
man.
This morning early the mistress Of
| Coy went 10 tEc house of A. b. Scott,
white neigh, or, living near by, ard
| toll. him that Coy was at the o use Of
| Gaines. Srrft at once sent a message
with the news ro5t haste t. town, and a
possr imm. d atti- went out to arrest
! the negro. Meantime. however, Coy
! had left Gaines house, hut was appre-
! hendcd and taken in charge by Mr. Scott
! and two sons, who held him until the
! arrival CT the men from town. The
latter Immediately brought their pris-
, oner in. and, placing him in a carriage,
! conveyed him TO the Jewell farm,
/ where Mrs. Jewell, without hcsita-
! ton, identified Kim beyond all doubt as
! the man who assaulted her The trem-
| bling wretch was then returned To town,
| where the leaders, after Il consultation,
/ decided 10 hang the negro 10 a Telegraph
! pole on Broad street, at the State line,
/ the most public place i'll the city. Cay
| was accordingly marched TO this point
| with view to carry out this programme,
! but when the crowd saw the rope and
| dirincd that hanging had, been decided
! upon there were thun.lers Of protests.
| Away with the rope, Hanging is toc
| good for him. Burn him, burn him.
was the shout that went up from 5000
| tho ITS.
| Coy was strapped to the body of a tree
! with iron fastening and coal oil was
| poured over his entire person in liberal
! quantities. There was IL moment OF
silence and then another shout went up:
| Let Mrs. Jewell, apply the match!
! Let Mrs. Jewell set him off,
Walking slowly. very pale but col
! lect'd, the woman emerged from the
! c'owd. Her appearance before them set
| the crowd wild and a mighty cheer went
i up Il a. almost shook the ground on
which they were standing. The crowd
fell back at her approach, making a
/ pathway for the brutal ncyro's victim,
whe. leaning On the i; rn of Il male r-la-
tive Oh either side, walked unhcsitating-
| ly forwarded To where the negro stood
| pinioned, struck parior match, and
with the utmost deliheraticn fired the
ncSro's clothes in two places. In a sec
ond the poor wretch was one mass OF
flames, but even then his wonderful
nerve, exhibited ever since his arrest,
never forsook him. and while suffering
the torturcs CT fire lie actually called
to the men of the assembly and in a
clear voice requested of tdem: Move
back so that the ladies' can see" He re-
ferred to the negro womcr, Il large num-
her of whom Witnessed the execution.
/ Death came in twenty minutes.
The excitement over the horrible
affair having largely subsided, the peo-
pie are coming to their sober senses.
and general regret is expressed. That
| Coy should have been hanged or shot is
generally admitted by everybody, but
| burning the poor wretch at the stake
was shock to civilization. The mol
was mostly composed Of young railroad
men who lost their reason in their thirs
for revenge. There is strong tall
among influential citizens of calling &
mass meeting to denounee the burlin;
of Coy as harharous The citizens fee
that unless some such step is taken The
affair will result in the permanent injur,
Of. the town.