The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-30
BURNED ALIVE.
A Kentucky Woman Burned at
the Stake by a Mob.
Her Aged Paramour Murdered
in Trying to Escape.
BOTH WERE WHITE.
Old Story of Faithless Wife and
Vengeful Husband.
All Prayers for Mercy were I'm
availing with the Mob.

availing with the Mob.
LEBANON, Ky, Dec. 30.-Within two
miles of this city Saturday night a re-
lentless mob burned to death a woman
who was in a delicate condition and
riddled with bullets her gray-halred
paramour. The blackened and dis
figured corpses of the victims-Mrs.
Thomas West and William Deveres-
were found in the ruins of the
woman's home by the 14-year-old
daughter of the murdered man.
The tragedy was one of the most
brutal ever enacted under the grue-
some sway of dread Judge Lynch.
Despite the pleadings for her fathers
life of d half-clad frightened child
ard the prayers and tears of the i'll
and helpless woman, The mob went
through with it's work with cold
blooded. cruel deliberation, and only
left when certain that both the man
and woman were dead.
The affair was the outgrowth of
the old story of faithless wife and
vengeful husband. Several months
ago Deveres, a middle-aged widower,
was dCCuSCo ny NSSCs d PIOS-
porous farmer, of intimacy with Mrs.
West. Quarrel followed quarrel
throughout the fall, until West insti-
tuted divorce proceedings and de-
clared Deveres must die. The men
met at Lebanon and West snapped his
revolver, which missed fire, and De-
veres killed him on the spot. On the
plea of self-defense the murderer Sc
cured bail and scandalized the neigh
borhood by Immediately taking his
two daughters and moving into Vests
house. The relatives of the murdered
husband swore vengeance, and Satur-
day night it came.
Close to 10 o'clock a band of men
rode up to the West homestead and
demanded admittance. Tom West is
dead. Now it's your turn" the spokes-
man called, and Deveres and the
woman awoke to find their house sur
rounded. Mrs. West rushed to dark
ened window and began a wild,
hysterical plea for mercy. A dozen
bullets answered her cries and the de-
mand for immediate surrender was
repeated. Deveres, too, asked for
hearing, but his request was greeted
with shower of shots.
"Well give you ten minutes to open
up, then you burn" said the mob's
leader, and his men quietly retired
from the door. A hurried consultation
was held outside the house, and then,
white and terror stricken, the little
girl of Deverers was thrust out to
plead with the mob Clad in her night
robe, barefooted and unprotected, she
bravely walked out into the moon
light and sobbed out a prayer for her
white-haired fathers life.
'Get out. You're liable to be shot
yourself" a ruffian said, and thorough
~ panic-stricken, the child fed to the
cabin of negro neigh Dor.
Mrs. West then appeared at the door,
and referring to her condition, made
last appeal for mercy. 1t was I'M
availing, and in another moment the
house was fired. The shrieks of the
imprisoned wretches failed to move
| their torturers, who after the flames
reached the living room, could see the
man and woman in the agony of death
bv fire. just before the roof fell the
woman was seen to reel across the
room and plunge headlong into the
| fireplace among the burning Goals,
and there she died Wild with pain,
Deveres at the last moment made =
dash for liberty, but score of bullets
stopped him half dozen steps from
the door.
Yesterday morning the little girl
led her negro protector to the scene
and there the bodies, ScOrcheu beyond
recognition, were found, untouched
by the lynchers. There is but little
| doubt that the members of the mob
will be captured, as they were with
| out masks and made no attempt at
secrecy.
The child of Deveres, who was
witness to the tragedy, is dangerously
| i'll as result of the fright and expos
ure, but upon her recovery she may
be able, it is hoped, to identify some
of the lynchers. The night was bril-
liant with moonlight and the I'M
masked faces of the members of the
mob could be easily identified as soon
as the child is able to appear in court
! No arrests have SO far been made, but
developments are expected to-day
Justice Nave held an inquest upon
the bodies of the victims. Several
witnesses were examined, but nothing
tending to incriminate anyone was de-
veloped- The investigation will be
continued to-day.