The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-04
LYNCHED HIM.
A Colored Murderer Hanged by a
Pennsylvania Mob:

FeHuSylVduld DlOUs
Richard Puryea. the murderer OF Chris.
tian Ehlers, escaped from tho County Prison
In Stroudsburg, Penn.
He sneaked behind Sheriff Kresge while
that official was looking after some details
of the prisoners breakfast, and, jumping
through the corridor, quickly bolted 1t, Sc
curing the Sheriff prisoner.
The co,ored man then walked safely
through the outer corridor. The Sheriff 8
wife recognized him as he went by, and real"
ing there had been some trouble In which
the colored man had perhaps worsted her
husband, she rushed into the hall.
She heard the Sheriff call, and hurrying to
the door released him, but the murderer
had got good start and was out Of sisnt.
Down Main street Puryea fed. pursued by
upward of dozen men. who had joined JAN
itor Van Guder. As the colored man neared
Palmer's slaughter house, Benjamin Burns,
another colored man, saw the condition OF
things and rushed at once through the mill
race tothe island belonging to Palmer, see
ing that Puryea was heading that way.
Burns ran across the island, reaching the
Pocomo Greek Junction almost at the same
moment as the murderer. Here Puryea
wavered for moment and then plunged
into the stream and swan across it. He
posite side safely and hid In some bushes.
Here Burns captured him after some difl-
Guilty, and the capturer, being large and
powerful man. compelled Puryea to wade
back through the creek to the island.
The crowd Of pursuers had now reached
the island, almost exhausted from their run
of over mile. Some one cried out:
"hynch the colored man" and while a
wordy warfare was on between Constable
Myers, who demanded the prisoner, and the
crowd, rope was secured from the slaugh-
ter house, and before tho constable could
realize events It was around Puryea's neck.
He was rushed up against white oak
tree, the rope thrown over q limb about
dozen feet from the ground, and a score OF
hands gave willing tug to the line, aad the
wretch was quickly jerked of his feet,
clutching at the tightening rope, but un-
availingly.
The rope was made taut to another tree
and the murderer left hanging dead.
The crowds which visited the scene ofthe
Iynching carried away bits Of the tree as
Eeepsakes. The limb on which the eolored
man swung was sawed up Into bits. Ben
Burns was the hero OF the town.
He took up a collection after the hanging,
and got S15. He said he then got the rope
and peddIed bits OF that uD and down the
street all day at twenty-five cents bit. He
had very little left toward nightfall.
The crime for which Puryea was awaiting
trial was particularly atrocious. He visited
storekeeper Ehlers, and after chatting with
him and his wife and stepson for some time
suddenly drew a.revolver and began firing at
those in tho store. Ehlers was killed and
Mrs Ehlers was supposed to be at the point
OF death for some time. The colored man
was positively identified by the stepson. BE
made confession few days ago.
The character Of the crime made Puryea's
conviction certain and popular feeling was
much excited against him. One cause OF
this indignation was the sense of insecurity
which had long prevailed because of a gang
OF Southern co!ored men who have been en-
ployed on q new railroad-the Wilkesbarre
& Eastern. Deeds OF violence have been
common and many robberies have been COM
mitted,
Stroudsburg is only four miles from the
Delaware Water Gap, and is one OF the most
picturesque spots in the Delaware River val
ley. 1t is only about thirty-f1ve miles in a
straight line from Port Jervis, in the same
valley, where about two years ago colored
man was lynched by the citizens ofthat place.