Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-06-10
LYNCHED A NEGRO FlEND.
Decatur Citizens String Rapist to 1e
epyaph Pole,


DECATUR, ILL.,, June 5.--The WORD
was passed around to score of trusty
and determined citizens Frida night that
their services were to be required as
jurors at Judge Lynch's court and thai
they were requested to meet at an app
pointed rendezvous at o'clock this
morning, prepared to mete out justice
TO Samuel Bush, the negro who out
ragged Mrs. William IL. Vest, at Mount
Zion township last Tuesday.
Promptly at 9 o'clock the men as
sembled and after selecting
header marched up TO the Jail building
where the negro was confined. Rap
ping on the door they demanded adj
mission from Jailer MedlSIff. Their
demands were refused by Mcdxiff, who
told them he would defend the jail
with his life. One Of the posse seized q
large sledgc hammer and with a blow
the door was smashed. The men then
rushed into the Jail and overpowerinS.
Deputy Sheriff Medlsiff and Special
Officer Foster secured the keys
to the cell doors. Unlocking
the heavily barred door leading To the
corridor they rushed To the cell of the
negro rapist. Bush erouched in cor
ner of his cell and screamed piteously
for mercy. The door was soon un.
locked and q rope thrown around the
negro's neck. lie was dragged out half
dressed and yelling at the top OF his
voice. The noise of the attack on the
Jail aroused the people of the viii
lagc. When the self constituted
jury reached the open air with
their prisoner the crowd had in
creased to mob of over 900 persons.
Down Woods street the party hurried
and finally halted under "a tall tele-
graph pole. On the way the negro was
roughly handled by the angry mob and
was denuded of every vestige of cloth
ing. All along the journey TO the scaf.
fold the negro protested his innocence
and begged his executioners to have
mercy on him. The crowd knowing
that he had been fully identified by
his victim beyond all question OF
doubt, paid no attention 10 mis-
appeals, "a man quickly climbed up the
pole and the end of the rope was
thrown TO him. He passed IL across the
arm and let the end danglc over the
heads of the crowd below The leader
of the mob then told Bush that he
would be allowed ten minutes in which
to make his peace with God.
The condemned man prayed in
rambling and incoherent man.
ner for nearly the allotted time.
alternating his appeals for mercy with
declarations of his innocence. Finally
the mob began 10 murluur at the delay.
and fearing that the sheriff would
organize relief party and rescue theif
victim, the cry went forth: Haul hiE
up; he has prayed too long already; he
is a liar in the face of death" The
mob then ordered the maB
on the pole To lower the rope
This was done and score OF
willing hands hauled away with "A viii
The negro was raised four feet In the
air, held there half minute and then
lowered to the ground. The i.oose was
loosened and he was asked TO acknowt
edge hi. guilt. Whoa he could sum.
mon enough breath TO reply he reite
rated his declaration of innocence
This only angered the mob all the
more and they again swung him up
This time was final, and tying the enc
of the rope TO the pole, the mob
drew back to watch the negro strangls
To death. A doctor rushed forward anG
mounting chair clasped the pulse Oh
the expiring victim in his left hand
lie retained his grasp until the pulsa.
tions OF the wrist ceased and he tolc
the crowd that justice had been meted
out TO the wretch and he was beyond
all earthly hope. The mob slowly dis
persed and the sheriff and deputies
pressed through .he receding crowd and
cut down the negro. The mob was
composed of all classes OF citizens and
they made no attempt at disguise.
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