The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-16
Fiendish Punishment of a Negro
Assaulter Near Memphis.
Ears and Fingers Cut Off Amidst
Screams of Pain.
CRIES OF ''BURN HIM. %
Is Hung and His Head Hacked
Off With Knives.
Fearfully Mutilated and Then
Suspended by the Feet.

MEMPHIS, Oct 16.-Jefferson Ellis; the
Fayette county assaulter, was strung
to telegraph pole at 1:4O this morning
by $50 men within 200 yards of the scene
of the crime.
Before hanging the negro the mob cut
off both his ears and all of his fingers
and mutilated him in horrible and I'M
merciful manner.
The mob, with their prisoners reached
the home of his victim, Miss Prater, soon
after midnight. The young woman iden-
tilted him as her assailant. As soon as
this was done an armed squad of men
took Ellis from Constable Farrow and
started with him for the pike, where the
public road crosses the Louisville & Nash
vile railway.
Here there is also telegraph pole
A big fire had been built at the place and
around it the mob gathered in circle.
The handcuffsd negro was on his knees
before the fire. The leaders of the mob
told Ellis to pray, but he only looked at
them in stupid manner.> Being told
that he was about to die be raised his
voice in negro hymn.
By the time ne finished the mob was
looking ugly. The fiercer element were
in complete control. Cries of "burn
him. were heard on all sides. This fear
full fate would probably have been for
tunate for the negro as subsequent
events proved. Amid the shouts of the
mob man jumped to the negroes side
with dawn knife in his hand.
''Cut of his ears" they cried. Give
me a finger" shouted one man. Il want
u thumb" cried another. The better ele-
ment in the crowd drew off at this time
aud said they were not in favor Of doing
anything but hanging the negro The
protests were unnoticed. Being urged on
by the tiercest in the crowd the man with
the knife cut off the negroes right ear
and held up the bleeding trophy ip full
view of the crowd.
The negr screamed from his torture,
but his other ear was cut off few mo-
ments later. The mob became madder
at the sight of this work and those who
were mutilating the negro found ample
encouragement They cut off all his fiu-
gers, and tearing away part of his
clothes, they mutilated him in horrible
manner. The negro was covered with
blood, his head looked like it had been
scalped. The mob was not even then
willing to end the negro's agony.
They made him stand up so all the
crowd could see him Finally fully
thirty five minutes after the torture of
the negro began, the rope was put
around his neck. The telegraph pole
was seventy five feet away. The rope
was very long one. The free end was
taken by a man who quickly climbed
the telegraph pole and threw it over the
cross arm. The crowd jerked the negro
TO the foot of the pole, and while the
mob shouted the bloody and mutilated
form of the negro was swung to the
cross arm.
The body was lowered to the ground
and the head cut from the body with
pocket knives. The moose was then put
over the feet and the headiess body was
again swung up.
1t is intended to send the head to the
family of the little girl the negro at
tempted to assault last Saturday in Mis-
sissippi
placard was put on the negro's body
bearing these words: death to the man
who cuts him down before $50 this even
ing"
No doubt the injunction OF the mob
will be obeyed to the letter and the pas.
sengers on the Louisville & Nashville
trains today may see the horrible sight
The point where the lynching occurred
is cross road called Clifton Summit.
The mob dispersed after doing its work.
jeff Ellis on the afternoon Of October
3, criminally assaulted Miss Bette Prater
in the presence of the Iattsr's
two little sisters. He escaped from
mob which had gathered to lynch
him that night, but he was pursued un
remittingly until he was captured Mon
day near Mount Pleasant, Miss
Fl a 0nfesaHd tn tho assAu1t ,,po, ATi..
Prater, to the outrage aud murder of
Mrs. Wilcox, of the same neighborhood.
two years ago, and to an attempted as
sauit upon little girl in Mississippi
while he Was trying to escape from the
mob.