New-York tribune., 1894-03-16
LYNCHED IN PENNSYLVANIA.
AN ESCAPED NEGRO MURDERER HANGED
BY MOB.
HE SLIPPED OUT OF JAIL. But WAS SOON
PURSUED BY \ CROWD-ANOTHER NEGRO
PROMINENT IN HIS CAPTt RE-THE

HE SLIPPED OUT OF JAIL. But WAS SOON
PURSUED BY CRowD-ANoTHER NEGRO
PROMINENT IN HIS cAPTrRE-THE
CRIME WHICH HE COMMITTED
Stroudsburg Penn March l5-Richard P"-
year. who murdered Christian c. Eher near IAN
nersv.lic nearly = month ago. escaped from Jail
here this morning between and o'clock. y
large crowd gave chase. and Puryear was caught
in Cherry Hollow woods He fought desperately
but was overpowcle ed ana taken to Palmers 81
and by the mob rope was obtained, and the
murderer was hanged to tree until ne was
dead.
Puryear made his escape by sneaking behind
Sheriff Kresge while that officer was looking
after some details of the prisoners breaK1a'''
Jumping through the corridor door. he quicNF
bolted 1t. securing the Sheriff prisoner the
negro then walked safely through the outer
corridor as if he had received his freedom
The Sherifrs wife recognized him as he went py'
and realizing there had been some trouoie IN
which the negro had perhaps worstei her nus
band she rushed into the hall. She heard the
Sheriff call. and hurrying to the door released
him. but the murd rrer had a good start ana was
out Of sight Purvear was also noticed taking
his leave by the courthouse janitor, NliIian van
Guder. who carnc along the front of the prison
but the negro was too fleet Of foot. ana got
away The ianitor gave chase up Monroe-st
unit, Purvear cane to a vacant let, which he
crossed to Main-st.
Down Main-st. Purycar fed. pursued by up
ward of dozen men. who had Joined Van Guder'
AS the negro reached Palmer's siaughter-house
Benjamin Burns. another negro. saw the coh-
diton of things. and rushed at once to the mill
race to the island belonging to Palmer seeing
that Puryear was heading that way. Burns ran
across the island. reaching the Pocono Greek
Junction almost at the moment the muruere'
did Here Puryear wavered for a moment ana
then plunged into the stream and swan across
It, He was almost exhausted, but reacneu the
opposite side safely and hid in some bushes
Here Burns captured him after some dilicu,y
and being large and powerful man c0mpeleu
Puryear to wade back through the creek 10 the
island A.,
The crowd of pursuers had now reached the
island almost exhausted from their run OF over
a mile Some one cried out: Lynch the ie
ger" and while a wordy warfare was gong on
between Constable Myers VINO aenlahuvu @ nornG rl'I
prisoner. and the crowd, rope was Sc'rlr" @
from the slaughter house and De1ore thc co,i-
stable could realize what was occurflhs tns
rope was around Puryears neck he was i'i rusreu
up against a white oak tree. the rope throw"
over limb about dozen feet from the ground
and score of hands gave willing tug 10 'he illie
The rope made taut 10 another Tree anu ''''
'"T Tba news of the iynching spread rapidly. and
soon the whole town was excited Workihsi'eis
quitting their shops and going TO the scene oi
the tragedy. There was no attempt mace oE an!
one to save the life of the negro ana ms pouS
was permitted to hang until almost ~ O'Clock
before the County Commissioners took acuoh;
Then DR.. Shull pronounced Puryear deau. anu
the body was removed TO the jail me rope Wa wa,
presented to the negro Burns for his part IN 'he
ranture Of the murderer. and 1t was cut in pieces
by him and sold. oo ,, ~,
on the evening of February % Puryear shot
and killed Christian c. Eher merchant VINO
kept a general store at White OAK Kun; ap0ut
ten miles from StrOudsburg. and also shot MS
wife inficting what believed at the nhle
10 be fatal injuries. Mrs. Ehler however. Is
still living The motive for the CRIME was rop-
harv the murderer securing about $50 An at
tempt was made on the evening OF March l 10
ivnch Puryear but the Sheriff. having received
notice. swore in a number OF oepu''eS anu - "'
trated the efforts of the mob.