The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-02

PARIS, Tex, Feb l,-Heury Smith,
the negro ravisher OF four.year-old Myr'
tlo Vance, has expiated in part his
awful crime by death at the stake. Ever
since the preparation Of his awful
crime this city and the surrounding
country has been in wild frenzy Of
Excitement. When the news came last
night that he had been captured at
Hope, Arkansas, and that he had been
identified by many members Of the
Paris searching party, the city was wild
with Joy over the apprehension Of the
brute.
Hundreds of people poured into tho
city from the adjoining country, and
tic word passed from lip to lip, that
the punishment OF tho tlend should fit
the crime-that death by fire was tho
penalty Smith should pay for tho most
atrocous murder and terrible outrage
in Texas history. Curious and sgmpa-
thizing alike came in on trains and
wagons, horse and on foot, to see II the
frail mind OF man could think Of a way
to sufficiently punish the perpetrator OF
so terrible u crime. Whisky shops
were closed, unruly mobs were dis
persed, schools were dismissed by a.
proclamation from the mayor, and
everything was done in q business-like
manner. Officers saw the utility oil an
effort to Quell the almost riot. 4
So law was laid aside, and the citizens
took into their own hands the inhuman
beast and burned him at the stake.
Never before since the days of the
Spanish inquisition when cruelty was
law has there bsen such terrible pun
ishment meted out to any man; but SO
terrible was the crime in its magnitude,
SO inhuman, so ghastly, that the pun
ishment savage as it was, that was in
hicted upon him is infinitely small in
comparison. The history OF the crime
is us follows: fF.a
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
On Thursday last Henry Smith, big
and burly negro, picked up little.
Myrtle Vance, aged three and one.half
years, near her fathers, policeman
Henry Vance's residence, and giving
her candy to allay her fears carried her
through the central portion Of the city
to Gibbons pasture, just within the
corporate limits. Enr0ute through the
city he was asked by several persons
what he was doing with the child. He
replied that she was Mr.. Williams
little girl and he was carrying
her 10 the doctor. Arriving at the
pasture, he, with inhumanity too!
terrible to relate, first viciously as
saulted the innocent babe, and satisfy
ing his 6endlsh passion took one little
limb in each hand and literally tore her
in twain. Then covering the bodywith'
leaves and brush he lay down and slept
calmly through the night by the side OF
his victim. About 5 o'clock Friday
morning Smith awakened, went to the
house OF his wife and forced her to cook
him some breakfast. She asked him
what had become OF that white child.
He replied: Il amt seen no white
child, and don't have nothing to do with
no d. white folks"
the, HORRIBLE DISCOVERY.
Alter deliberately eating his break
fast, he left and was not seen any more
until his capture. About two o'clock
Friday a mass meeting was called at tho
court house, and captains were appoin-
tod to search for the child. She was
found mangled beyond recognition,
covered with leaves and brush as above
mentioned. Asaoon as 1t was learned
upon recovery Of the body that tho
cTime was 80 atrocious the whole town
turned out in the chase. The railroads
put up bulletins offering FREQ transport
alton to all whowould join inth search.
Posses went out in every direction, and
not stone was left unturned. Smith
was tracked to Detriot on foot whore ho
jumped on q freight train and loft for
his old homo in Hampstead county,
Afkanaas. 10 this county he was track
ed and yesterday captured at Glow, q
flag station on tue Arkansas and LOUISE
ana railway, about twenty miles norrh
Of Hope, Upon being questioned tho
ticnd denied everything, but upon be-
ing stripped for examination his undor.
garments wore seen to be spaLtered
with blood and o part OF his shirt was
torn OF.
THE CRIME ooNFRssBp.
Ho was kept under heavy guard at
Hopo last night, and later on contested
tho crime. This morning he was
brought through Tcxarkaua, whore
5000 people awaited the train anxioua
10 SEQ q man who should rDcoivo tho
late Of Ed Coy. At that place speeches
wore made by prominent Paris citlzunB,
who asked Tint tho priaonOr be not
moloSted by tho Texarkaua people, but
that tho guard be allowed TO deliver
him up 10 tho outraged and indignant
citizens OF Paris Along tho road the
train gathered strength tr0m tho various
towns tho people crowding upon, the
platform and tops ot coaches anxious TO
see tic lyhching and the negro who was
90 soon 10 DO delivered 10 an inlutlated
mob Arriving here at 70 O'clock the
.raln was met by gtifglng mass Of
humanity ton thousand strong,
iioaRittE LEvtrY
The negro was placed upon d carnival
iioat In mockcry Of a king upon bis
throne, aud followed BY the immohso
crowd was escorted through the city 90
Inat all might 500 the most lnhunpn
monster known III curr6nt history. Tie
llne oil march Waa Nh Main dfpadi Ia lho