Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-02

PARIS, TEXAS, February Henry
Smith, the negro ravisher Of four-year-
Old Myrtle Vance, has expiated In part
his awful crime by death at the stake
Ever since the perpetrstion OF his a"-
fui crime this city and the entire sur
rounding country have been in wild
frenzy Of excitement.
When the news came last night tnat
he had been captured at Hope, Ark,
that he had been Identified by many
members Of the Paris searching party
the city was wild with JOY over the ap-
prehension Of the brute.
Hundreds OF people poured into the
city from the adjoining country, ana
the word passed from lip 10 lip that the
punishment OF the fiend should MT the
crime-that death by fire was the pen
atty Smith should pay for the most al
rociOus murder and terrible outrage IN
Texas history.
Curious and sympathizing alike came
! on train and wagons, horse and loot, 70
see II the frail mind Of man could think
OF a way 20 sufficiently punish the per-
petrator OF so terrible a crime.
Whisky shops were closed until moos
were dispersed, schools were dismissed
by a proclamation from the Mayor, and
everything was done IN a busineSs-hke
manner. Officers saw the futility Of an
effort to quell the almost riot,
soLAw WAS LAID ASIDE,
and the citizens took into their own
hands the inhuman beast and burned
hin at the stake.
Never before since the days Of the
Spanish inQuiSition, when cruelty was
law. has there been such terrible pun
-bishmept meted out 70 any man,
but so horrible was the crime in its
MAGNITUDE, so inhuman, so CHASTITY, that
the punishment, savage as 10 was, Is in
fnitely small in comparison.
The history OF the crime Is as follows:
On Thursday last Henry Smith, big
and burly negro, picked up little Myr-
tie Vance, aged three and One-haf
years, near the residence Of her father,
Policeman Henry Vance, and giving
her candy 20 allay her fears, carried
her through the central portion OF the
city TO Gibbons's pasture, just within
the corporate limits.
En- route through the city he was
asked by several persons what be was
doing with the child. He replied that
she was Mr.. Williams little girl and
he was carrying her to the doctor.
Arriving az the pasture be, with in
humanity too terrible TO relate, first
viciously assaulted the innocent babe
and satisfying his iiendiSh passion took
one little limb in each hand and
LITERALLY TORE HER N TWAIN.
Then covering the body with leaves
and brush he lay down and slept calmly
through the night by the side OF his
victim.
About O'Clock Friday morning Smith
awakened, went 10 the house OF his wife
and forced her to cook him some break
fast. She asked him what had become
of that white child. He replied: II
Amt seen no white child, and don't have
nothing to do with no damn white
folks"
Afer deliberately eating his breakfast.
he left and was not seen any more until
his capture.
} About two o'clock Friday a mass
meeting was called at the court house
and captains were appointed TO search
for the child. She was found, mangled
and brush as above mentioned.
As soon as it was learned upon recov-
erv Of the body that the crime was so
atrocious the whole town turned out in
the chase.
The railroads put up bulletins offer
ing free transportation to all who would
Join in the search.
Posses went out in every direction
and not a stone was left unturned.
Smith was tracked 70 Detroit, Tex,
on foot where ne jumped on a freight
-ttrain and left for his Old home in Hemp
stead county, Ark.
To this county he was tracked and
Yesterday captured at Glow, 4 flag sta
tion on the Arkansas and LOuisians
Railway, about twenty miles north Of
Hope.
Upon being questioned the fend de-
MED everything, but upon being stripped
for examination his Undergarments
were seen 70 be
sPATTERED WITH BLOOD
land a part of his shirt was torn of.
He was kept under heavy guard at
Hone last night and later on confessed
She crime.
This morning he was orought through
Texarkana, where 5000 people awaited
the train anxious 70 see man who
should receive the fate of Ed. Coy.
AT that place, speeches were made by
prominent Paris citizens who asked THAI
the prisoner be not mOleSted oy the
Texarkana people, but that the guard
be allowed to deliver him up to the out
RACED and indignant citizens Of Paris.
Along the road the train gathered
strength from the various towns, the
neoDle crowdiDg upon the platforms and
fops of coaches, anxious 70 see the
lvnching aud the negro who was so soon
IN be delivered to an infGristed mob.
Arriving here at j. o'clock the train
was met by q surging mass Of humanity
ten thousand strong.
The negro was placed upon carnival
4 float in mockery OF king upon his
throne. and followed by the immense
! crowd was escorted through the city so
htbat all might see the most inhuman
monster known in current history.
The line Of march was up Main street
70 the square. around the square, down
Clarksvllle street to Church street,