Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-13
M0B'S AWFUL MISTAKE.
BARDWELL NEGRO MILLER DIED AN
INNOCENT MAN.
Before Being Lynched ho Explained an
abb, Which Has Since Proved True-A
Howling Rabble Dragged him Through
the Streets, Hanged Hin, and Fiendish-
ly burned His Body.

/
| CAIRO ILL.,, July 1.-THE negro who as
sauted and murdered the two Ray girls
near Wickliffe KY. Wednesday, was cap
tured yesterday at Libestown, Mo-, % miles
| from here. A special train was sent to con-
vey him to the scene of his crime, there to
be lynched or burned at the stake as the
mob shall decide.
The man gives his name as Charles Miller.
He will DO brought ut once to Bardwell.
An immense crowd is gathered about tho
depot at that place. Mr.. Ray, the father Of
the murdered girls, requested that he be al
lowed to light the pile of wood which will
burn the fiend to death This, it is now
thought, will be tho fate of the wretch.
Hundreds of men have gone to Bnrdwell
from Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois, all Of
whom say the nogros crime is too horrible
for ordinary lynching.
| Hanged Before tho Burning.
BARDwELL, Ky, July 7.-Seay j. Miller,
the negro charged with tho outrage and
murder of Mary and Ruby Ray, was hang
ed this afternoon and the body burned after
| being horribly mutiliated. The negro made
a speech procluiming his innocence, but It
is said he afterward made partial confess
sion. The door OF the Jail was battered a
few minutes before 3 O'Clock and the prs-
oner dragged out. Fully 1000 people, men,
women and children witnessed the execu-
ton.
Later MILLER Innocent.
CAIRO Ill.,, July 9.-Charlcs +. Miller a
muiatto, who it was thought murdered the
two Ray sisters near Bardwell KY, on
| Wedn esday, and who was hanged Friday
afternoon and bis body burned, turns out
to have been innocent OF the crime charged
| against him. The only evidence against
| Miller was circumstantial, and a strong
plea made by him WHEN it was decided to
| burn him at the stake convinced many that
they might no. have the right man, after
| all.
The mob hanged the wrong man.
He made & statement to show an abb,
which was proved to bo true after he vas
hanged. The people say they think it WAS
better TO hanged him than TO have burned
him. uudor the circumstances
When the sheriff and the prisoner step
ped from the cars they started for the jail,
but were met by a mob and headed OF.
Tho sheriff saw that it was useless
to resist any longer, SO he agreed to take
the negro to tie place were the platform
had been erected
The prisoner was made to climb upon the
platform, followed by the sheriff and guard.
immediately the great mob surrounded the
platform until there fully 1000 people
in tue vicinity shouting and yelling for tho
negroes death.
When he reached the top he raised his
shackled hands hisa above his head, AS if
to imp!ore mercy. The MOI yelled but
after u time order WAS restored ana cries for
the negro to speak prevailed
He came with firm step and confident
air to the end OF the platform and said:
please be quiet everybody. My name
is c. j. Miller. l am from Springfield, III. g,
and my wife lives at No. 716 North Second
street. l am here among you to-day looked
upon as one of the most brutal men bsfore
the ueople.
al stand here surrounded by man who
are excited, men who are not willing TO Let
the law take its course, and rs Star az the
crime is concerned, | have committed nc
crime and certainly crime gross enough
TO deprive me Of my life and liberty.
, 81 had some ringi which bought in Bis
/ marck of peddler. paid him 81. 50 for
them. left Springfield July and came
to Alton. From Alton | went to East St.
Louis, from there to Jefferson Barracks,
thence to De Soto thence to Bismarck and
, to Piedmont, thence to Poplar Bluff, themes
: |
, local fire ght to Walden, from there t.
Sikeston July D.
1.-THE day | was supposed to bave com
t mitted the offence | was at Bismarck
The sheriff then stepped to the front ant
said:
"For Gods sake, gentlemen, | must take
| this man to Jail. ! am bound by my oati
TO deliver him at the jail
The mob had become somewhat quiet by
this time, and one man shouted:
"Ye,, take him to jail until 3 o'clock
I Then we want him ~
D The prisoner was helped or the pile OF in
1 flammable material and taken to jail. The
crowd dispersed soon after, and all tina
could find dinners did 80, but Thousands
o could not be accommodated.
e Farm wagons and vehicles of every de-
= , scription could be numbered by the hun
bred The people for 80 miles about wsr
. on hand to witness the execution.
a As the hour o; 3 arrived the people flock
Y ed to the jail yard. The jail was entirely
}. surrounded by the impatient mob Th
r hour set for the fual act had arrived, anC
r those who were to De the executioners wer
at hand.
@ Before Miller had been brought from tn
S Jail Mr.. Ray, the father of the girls, ha
l. changed his mind about the burning. II
Q had lingering doubt as to the man bein
the murderer, and felt that while it woul
It be an awful crime to hang an innocen
a. man, it would be worse to burn him. h
,. said he wanted Miller to be banged instee
" of burned. This was agreed to and rus
10 was made for the jail.
Chief Of Police Mehoney of Cairo wa
10 just leaving tho jail, and they shouted 10
u him not to close the door. Before he ooul
Q. have done so the mob rushed in and seize
the prisoner.
A chain was placed along his neck an
" body and he was led through the street.
Al followed by Thousands of people to IL
as depot near which the platform had bee
Or erected He was lifted on the platform an
in shouts Of "Set it on ireW burn him
I'd were heard.
I'd Tho chain was taken from his body an
A. placed around his mock.
40 man climbed telegraph pole and II
IL | long end of the chain WAS handed up to hi