Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-09
RELIC OF BAR6ARI5M.


Negro Murderer.
PARIS, Tex, Feb. ALL yesterday
morning trains brought hundreds of peo-
pie to this city to await the arrival OF the
guard having in custody Henry Smith,
the negro who on Thursday last MUIR
dered 4-year-old Myrtle Vance (white).
The country roads were alive with people
coming in in wagons and on horseback.
The whisky shops were closed and the
schools were dismissed by proclamation
from the mayor.
At noon, when the train bringing the
prisoner arrived, there were 10000 people
at the depot. AS the train stopped, a rush
was made Tor the coach in which the
negro was confined.
The deputy sheriffs and the guard of
Paris citizens, who accompanied the
negro from Texarkana, drew revolvers
and attempted to prevent the mob from
taking their prisoner. The guard
Was Quickly Overpowered.
however, and Smith was dragged from
the train. placed upon a carnival float, in
mockery of king upon his throne, and,
followed by the immense crowd, was es-
corted through the city to the open
prairie. On the way be was pelted with
missiles, struck by fists and otherwise
maltreated
On reaching Che prairie Smith was
placed upon scaffold, six feet square
and ten feet high, securely bound. within
the view of all beholders.
Here the victim was tortured for fifty
minutes by red hot iron brands, thrust
against his body. Commencing at the
feet, the brands We're placed against him
inch by inch, until they were thrust
against the face. Then, being apparently
dead,
Kerosene Was Poured Upon Him,
and cotton seed bulls were placed beneath
him and set on fire, and the wretch was
quickly cremated amid the bowling of
the crowd.
Curiosity seekers carried away every OBJ
tain&ble rnemepto of the event, even to
pieces Of charcoal
All citizans of the town and surround
country, irrespective Of class or color, took
part in the lynching.
Smith committed his crime in order to
revenge himself on little Myrtle's father,
who, when deputy policeman, arrested
and dubbed Smith for being disorderly.
Smith, after viciously assaulting the
child, took one limb in each hand and lit
orally tore her in twain.
Smiths Horrid Crime Justified tho
the FrIghtful Punishment Inf cted.
PARIS, Tex, Feb. 8.-Only the ashes Of
the pyre where the negro murderer, Henry
Smith, was burned to death give evidence
OF the frightful punishment inflicted on him.
All who participated in the horrible tor
ture are engaged in their usual callings.
They do not make any attempt at conceal
ing their participation in it, but boldly pro-
claim it and declare they have no fear Of
arrest.
Hundreds have visited the scene and raked
over the ashes. They carried away bones,
buttons and other relics of the horrible af-
fair.
The colored people In common with all
others approve the act. Many Of them ex-
press a regret that Smith was not turned
over to them. Fearful as was the torture
inflicted upon Smith, there is general
sentiment that it was only commemorate
with the infamous, unnatural and awful
crime. Men who rebel at the very Idea Of
mob law, and whose nature and education
leads them to condemn, stand silent when
they think of the offence committed and have
no word of condemnation or censure to OFFER
II there should be one who would rise up
to protest against the horrible act OF ysster-
day he would be promptly reminded Of the
awful treatment that tho little baby, Myrtle
Vance, received at Smiths hands.
He Is regarded as something outside the
pals'of human sympathy, who sheuld have