The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-08-24
ALMOST A LYNCHtNG.
A Story of Trouble Over a Colored Church
in the South.

a story or trouble over a tOiOred Cnurcn
T in the South.
| The whole state was discussing the
situation in Barnwell. A murder had
been committed near Denmark, in that
county, under most eXasperating cir
cumstances, and its people are wild
with excitement. Men had been rid
ing in groups hither and thither,
securing woods and fields in pursuit of
the perpetrator of hat dastardly
crime. Taken at last, he was tried by
a hastily-empaneled Jury and con-
victed. The Infatuated mob, not await
ing further ceremony, seized the cap
tive. and while he begged %piteously
for his life, dragged him to a tree near
the cen OF his crime and hanged him
high. Then they mounted the railroad
enhancement, conveniently near, and
emptied their revolvers into the dam
CLING body of their victim.
Among the negroes, naturally ex-
cited over the events just narrated,
were the members of Sydney Park
church in the otherwise quiet town of
c.. This organization owed its cX-
istence mainly to the efforts of one
man, to-wit, Lucius James Marcellus
Semptimus NAPLES. who, having been
excluded from the formerly leading
church of the town on the charge of
hog stealing under seemingly mex
cusable circumstances, determined,
with the aid OF friends who withdrew
with himself, to build a new church of
his own. The result was a handsome
frame structure, of which the congre-
cation was justly proud. Being gen.
orally known as loose in its standards
of discipline, and inclined to be sensa-
%tiOnal, Sydney Park soon became the
most popular church in town, and
even many of the leading lights of
high society resorted thither gladly.
But with the new pastor,
Rev. Marcus Balbus Hall, the
membership became divided into two
parties, the one hating and persecut-
ing their preacher with yea equal to
that with which the othcr-including
the great portion of the women-ad-
mired and defended him. The wran-
Cling resulting from this state of af-
fairs was at its height when the news
came from Denmark, and, after a
church meeting had been held to con-
slider the l%ynching, in which all joined
without regard to party, the old hatred
broke out anew. One fine morning,
while Rev. Hall was on the round
Of his pastoral visits. a black and burly
fellow, whose sympathies had been en-
listed by the opposing faction. began
to dog his steps, pursuing him from
house to house with oaths and angry
epithets of abuse. Under these trying
circumstances the preacher retained
his self-possession, and refused &c no.
tice his prosecutor until he reached
the house of his ardent supporter, Mrs.
Lila Hayward Celesce Marcellus Sep
timus NAPLES. When the situation had
been explained to this lady, bidding
her pastor wait a minute, my brud-
der" she rushed from the rear door of
the house, and a minute or two later
returned accompanied by eight other
women as stalwart as herself. These
surrounded the object of their ire and
began to threaten him with the most
terrible vengeance if he did not in
stantly cease his attacks on their pas
tor. When he refused to do this, and
attempted again and again to break
through the wall of Amozons that en-
circled him. their anger was wrought
into frenzy. Suddenly someone cried:
Il tell you what do, get Il rope" No
sooner said than done. The rope was
at hand, and, with wild excavations
and cries of revenge, they adjusted the
moose to their victims neck. A mo-
ment later, and NJ of Sydney Parks
members would have been beyond this
sphere, but the uproar had attracted a
policeman, who promptly releasing the
prisoner, hurried him away to the
lookup. To a reporter who came up
on the scene soon afterward one of the
wOmen engaged exclaimed: Yes. if
dey had JUS give us one more mint,
Denmark wouldn't a ben nowhar."
This was in April. One night in
June following l was startled out of
sleep by the clear and loud alarm
of the fire bells. When my boy Alecll
came in next morning to black my
boots, and | asked where the fire was,
he replied. with subdued, solemn voice:
sydney Park done burn downfall.
timore American.