Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-21
Awful Vengeance Visited On
"a Negro Rape Fiend.
A Culprit Given a Foretaste
of the Orthodox SheOl.
Burned at the Stake in the Presence
of Six Thousand People.
A Match Applied by the Victim O His
Lust-Enveloped in Flame, the
Writhing Wretch Died in
Awful Agony.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches
ST. LOUIS, Feb. pa Republic spe-
cial from Texarkana, Ark, says: Ed Coy,
a negro, who last Saturday fendishly as
saulted Mrs. Henry Jewell, wife OF
respectable farmer living a few miles
outside the city, this afternoon answer
ed for his awful crime, being burned at
the stake in the presence of 5000 people.
Jewell left his wife and babe alone last
Saturday while he came to town on
business. During the afternoon the ne
gro came to the house and assaulted
Mrs. Jewell. He then dragged her into
the barn, where he kept her
about an hour, assaulting her
repeatedly. When Jewell returned
home, no time was lost in giving
the alarm, and soon scores of men
were securing the country in all di-
rections. During the night two negroes
were arrested, but Mrs. Jewell declared
them innocent, and they were dis
charged.
Finally it was learned the guilty
negro was Ed Coy, and that he had
gone north toward the Little River
country. The search was vigorously
prosecuted, but without avail, until
early this smorning, when a message
came from farmer named Scott, say
ing Coy was at the house of Ed Civ
ems, a negro living near him, and ask
ing for men to come and arrest him.
Before the posse reached the place,
Coy had started away, but was inter
rupted by Scott and sons, and held
until the posse arrived. Mrs. Jewell
identified him without hesitation.
Coy was placed in room and heavily
guarded until the last OF. the searching
parties returned to town. When all
were in, the leaders held a consultation
and decided 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 rope, but the mass of people
set up the shout: "Burn him! Burn
himl"
Finally the crowd forced the men who
held the negro to move north on State
Line avenue. When nearSthe postoffice,
some one who had hold of the rope, the
moose of which was about the prisoners
neck, attempted to climb q telegraph
pole. He was unceremoniously dragged
to the ground.
'sBurn him! Burn him'' went up
the cry again and again, and it was
clearly to be seen that death by fire
alone would appease the, wrathvof the
people.
At this juncture Charles M. Reeves, a
leading citizen, mounted an elevation
and beseeched the crowd for the sake of
their wives and childen, 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 railroad
tracks single stump about ten feet
high stood in the clearing, and thither
the wretch was dragged. Another man,
who favored hanging, began climbing the
stump, but twenty leveled shotguns
impelled him to descend hurriedly.
The negro was then made secure to
the stump.with wire fastenings, and lib
eral supply OF kerosene was poured over
him.
The shout went up: "Let his victim
apply the match Let Mrs. Jewell set
the fire'
In response to the call Mrs. Jewell
emerged from the crowd, supported by
relatives, and walked to the place of
execution. Without a word the spokes-
man placed in her hand match. She
looked at the negro and falteringly
turned to the crowd.
''No 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 minutes the doomed negro
was sheet OF flame, writhing and
groaning in horrible agony. Death re-
suited in about ten minutes.
Only about twenty minutes before he
was led out, Republic correspondent
had an interview with him. He asserted
his innocence of the crime, but in such
manner as carried the conviction Of
guilt with it. ss' S.
While the event is confessedly . hor-