The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-02
NEGRO BRUTE BURNED ALIyE.
An Angry Mob InduIges in the Most Fright
full Vengeance Of Lynch Law.


full Vengeance Of Lynch Law.
PARIS, TEX. Feb. IA mob of angry
men and women. numbering thousands,
wreaked the most frlghtful vengeance Of
lynch law to-day upon Henry Smith,
hIriy negro, who with the hendshness
of a depraVed brute. outraged and cruelty
murdered little four-year-old Myrtle
Vance on Thursday Too powerful TO re-
sist. they took the prisoner from the
guards bringing him here, dragged him
by a rope about his neck 10 the scene
of his crime subjected him TO every con-
ceivable torture, and there burned the
pitiable wretch at the stake
All the morning trains had brought peo-
Ile by the hundreds TO this city, white
and black alike. 10 await the arrival of
the guards, who were bringing the pris-
oner back from Texarkana, where he had
been captured The country for miles
around had become wildly excited over
the atrOcious crime. and the hunt for the
brute murderer. When the news came
last night that he had been caught and
Identified by members Of the Paris search
ing party. the people seemed crazy with
Joy. and thirsted for his life. by trains
and wagons. on horse and foot, people
piled into the city. The mayor ordered
the liquor stores closed. unruy mobs dis
the lynching bee were systematic and
business-iike.
Henry Smith, big. burly negro, had, on
Thursday, picked up little four-year-old
Myrtle Vance near her fathers Police
man Henry Vance house. and. quieting
her with candy. carried her through the
central portion Of the city TO Gibbons
Iasture. Several people questioned him.
igt 10 each he said he was carrying her
"a Oft
Hulting the poor child. he took one little
l"s IN each hand and literally tore her
i1 twain. Then covering the body with
leaves and brush, he laid down and slept
oaimly beside his victim throughout the
r.ght He went home. got breakfast and
iie npeared.
That daY mass-meeting was called at
Tie courthouse and search parties sent
ont 10 find the child. Her mangled body
was found. and the whole town Joined in
the pursuit Of the fiend who had muir
ctred her. He was caught yesterday at
Glow, on the Arkansas and Louisiana
iurOad. twenty miles north Of Hope.
lir denied the crime, but blOodstains were
on his clothing. and later he confessed
This morning he was brought to Texar-
kama. whore 5000 people had gathered
eager TO get at him. The Paris searching
party begged that he be not molested.
Tie news Travelled fast. Everywhere along
ite line the train bore the wretch TO
Paris morbid crowds gathered TO gaze
upon him. At the depot at Paris were
20 people. The deputy sheriffs put up
e. show OF pistols, but were brushed aside
and rush made for the car. A rope
VAS thrown about Smiths neck and he
'as dragged from the car He was taken
20 rude float and borne through the
streets that the people might gaze on
iae monster At the open prairie, 300
lafis from the Texas and Pacific depot.
TIE scaffold waited him. II was six feet
square and ten feet high. well within the
sght Of all. There for fifty minutes the
'aa11ened mob tortured him with dia- |
5i al cunning that saVages oI.y are |
opposed 10 show. Red hot irons were |
thrust from every side into his body. His |
HrIeks added vigor 10 his prosecutors. |
lrs. the hot irons branded his feet, and |
lien hy inch they crept up to his face. |
Itr man was unconscious when at last |
hsrogae was poured over on him and |
cotton seed .hulls placed beneath him. |
a torch set the pyre on fire, and all was |
QAcsly consumed. Curiosity seekers have /
carried away all that was left even TO
tte ashes.
smith. some say. committed the crime
70 revenge himself on Vance, who had
arrested him once when drunk and club
bed ann. Vance is Frustrated with grief,
ara hs wife is dangerously III with the
tAOoF