The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-16
White Brutes Lynched q Ne
gro Brute.
4 Mob MutiIated the Negro Before
Hanging Him.
Specimen Of Tennessee "Justice" at
End Of the Century.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Oct. 16 -Jefferson
Ellis was hanged from telegraph pole
at I:4O this morning by $50 men, within
200 yards of the scene Of his crime. Be-
fore hanging the negro the mob cut of
both his ears and all Of his fingers, and
mutilsted him in horrible manner. The
mob, with their prisoner, reached the
home OF his victim, Miss Prster, soon
after midnight. The young woman
identified 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 scene VI his
crime. 4 fire had been built at the place,
and around it the mob gathered in cir
Gle. The handcuffed negro was on his
knees before the fire. The leaders of the
mob told Ellis to pray, but he only looked
at them in a stupid manner. Being told
that he was about to die he raised his
voice in a negro hymn. BY the time he
finished the mob was looking ugly. The
fiercer element were in complete control.
Cries of "Burn him" were heard on all
sides. Even this fearful fate would
probably have been mercy to the negro,
as su bsequent events proved. Amid the
shouts of the mob man jumped to the
negro's side with drawn knife in his
hand.
"Cut off his ears" they cried.
"Give me q finger" shouted one man.
81 want thumb, cried another.
The better element in the crowd drew
off at this time and said they were not ia
favor OF doing anything but hanging
the negro. The
PROTESTS WERE NOT NOTICED.
Being urged on by the fl ercest in the
crowd, the man with the knife cut off
the negro's right ear and held up the
bleeding trophy in full view of the
| crowd. The negro screamed, but his
other ear was cut off a few moments later.
The mob became wild at.the sight OF this
| work and those who were mutilating the
negro found ample encouragement. They
next cut of all his fingers and tearing
away part of his clothing they mutilated
him in horrible manner.
The negro was covered with blood and
his head looked as If 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 35 minutes after the tor
ture of the negro began, the
ROPE WAS PUT AROUND HIS NECK.
The telegraph pole was 10 feet away. The
rope was a very long one. The free end
was taken by a man who climbed the telo-
graph pole and threw it over the cross
arm. The crowd jerked the negro to the
foot of the pole and while the MOP
shouted the bleeding and mutilated form
Of the negro was swung to the cross arm.
The negro was lowered to the grou nd
and his head cut from his body with
pocket knives. The moose was then put
over the feet and the headless body was
again swung up. 1t is intended to send
the head to the family Of rhe little girl
the negro attempted to assault last Sat-
urday in Mississippi. A rlacard was put
on the negro's body bearing these words:
"Death to the man who cuts him down
before $3.50. this evening""
The mob dispersed after doing Ito
work.
THE CRIME.
JEFF Ellis, on the afternoon OF October O.
criminally assaulted Miss Bette Praters
in the presence OF the lstter's two little
sisters. He escaped from a mob, which
had gathered to lynch him that night,
but was captured Monday, near Mount
Pleasant, Miss. He confessed to the assault
upon Miss Prster, to the outrage and
murder Of Mrs. Wilcox OF the same
neig hborhood, two years ago, and of an at
tempted assault upon a little girl In Miss
issippi while he was trying to escsppe
from the mob.
rENNEssEE Is TOO vIRTUoUs FOR THE
PRIZE FIGHTERS, ANYWAY.
MEMPHIS, Tenn; Oct. Is Governor
Turner has addressed q letter to L. ID.
Cooper OF this city and Sheriff McCarver
Of Shelby county, in which he reitcrates
his determination to prevent the Oorbett-
Ftzsimmops fight being pulled OF on
Tennessee coil. The Governor suggests
that . grand Jury be called in special ses-
, | sion and instructed 90 to the law, IN
order to forestall any preparations thss
8 may be contemplated to bring the eee'
test here