Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-03-30
LYNCHED HIM.
\ ColOred Murderer Hanged by n
Pennsylvania Mob.

Richard Puryea. the murderer Of Chris
tian Ehlers, escaped from the County Prison
in Stroudsburg, Penn.
He sneaked behind Sheriff Kresgo whle
that official was looking after some details
Of the prisoners breakfast. and, jumping
through the OriidOr, quickly hOlted II, So
curing tho Sheriff "A prisoner.
The cOlOred man then walked SnfeIy
through the outer corridor. The Sheriff a
wife recognized him as he went 10y, and real
ing there had been some trouble, In which
the coIored man had perhaps worstcd her
husband. she rushed into tho hall.
She heard the Sherin call. and hurryng 10
the door roloHscd him. tut the murderer
had got "A good start and wa out Of sight.
Down Main street Puryoa tini. pursuoh hy
upward of n dozen men. who had Joined jan
itor Van Gui"r Az the rolorri man nenrei
Pnlmer's slaughter house, Benjamin Burns,
another colOred man, saw the condition ~
things and rushed at once through the mill
race tuthe island belonging TO Palmer. sos
ing that Puryea was heading that way.
Burns ran across TIA" island. reaching tho
POcOmO Creek Junction almost at tn" samo
moment the murderer Here Puryoa
wave-ei for n moment and tnru plunged
into the stream and swan H"rps, II. II"
was almost exhausted but REACHED tho Op-
postte side safely and hid in som" bushes.
Here Burns captured him after some aim
y,
powerful man compelled Puryra 10 wad"
back through the creek to tho island
The crowd Of pur7u"rs had NOW r"a"h"d
the island almost exhausted from their run
of over IA mile. Some on" cried out
Lynch the colorcl man " Hni while u
wOrdy warfare was on between Constable
Myers who demanded the prisoner. and ia"
crowd. "A rope was secured from tn" slhugh-
ter house, and beior, the constahl" could
realize events 1t was around Pury"a.s neck.
He was rushed mp against "A whit" OAK
tree. tho rope thrown over Il limb about -
dozen feet from tn" ground, AMI "A s"pr" Dt
hands gave willing tug to IN" line. and tho
wretch was quickly I"rkei or his iH"t,
clutchlng At the tightening rop', bat m
avaIngly.
The rope WAS made tauD 30 another 'r"H
and the murderer left hauglny dead
The crowds which visited the Eceno otth"
lvnching carried nway bit4 of the trce ~
keepsakes Tn" limb on which tn" "Olpr"i
man swung was saw"I up into bits. Ben
Burns was the hero Df Tn" town.
He took no "A collection after the hanging.
and got sI5. He said he then got III" r"P"
and pedded bits Of that w and down tn"
street ali dav at twenty-Ev" CENTS bI. III"
had very little left toward nightidI
The crime for which PurYet wa awaiting
trial was particularly atrDrtpus. II" Visited
St1rekceper EhleTs, and alter chatting WIN
him and his wife and stcpspn for som" tim"
suddenly drew a revolver AMI began firing nj
those in the store Ehers was killed and
Mrs EhIers was supposed 10 be at ~" point
of death for some time The cOlored man
was positively identified by th" -t"P-pn. IL"
made q confession few days ayO.
The characte! Of tn" Grim" mad" Puryea
conviction certain and popular feeling was
much excited against hin. on" "aus" 0t
tbia indignatiDn was tn" sens" q Insecurity
which had long prevailed h""aus" u a gang
Of Southern c0.Orci men who huY" b""n sJp
pIoyed on "A new railroad tn" Wiikesbarf"
h Eastern Deeds 81 YIoi"nc" hay" been
common and many ro1o"r"7 haV" been com
mitted
Stroudsuurg ~ only four mdles from IN"
Delaware Water Gap. and Is on" - tho most
picturesque spots in the Dclawlr" River val
Iev II is only about thirty FIVE miles IN q
straight line from Port Jeryls, N the sam"
valley where about two yrir- ago col"rrl
man was lynchcd by the citizen ofthat place"