The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-18
A LYNCHING.
Alleged Negro Murdered Dragged
From Jail and Hanged.
PRAYERS Ar PLACE OF DOOM.
Work of Mob "Not In a Spirit
of Malice"

FREDERICK, Nd, Nov. IS. - James
Goings, who assaulted Miss Lillic Jones at
the nome of Hamilton Gcisbert, near this
city, Saturday night, was taken from the
Jail by a mob Of 300 men yesterday morn
ing and hanged to "a tree in "a field on the
Jefferson turnpike, one mile from the city.
A report reached the city about mid
night that the woman had died from the
cuts and beating inflicted by the negro,
and this infatuated the men who had been
gathering In the streets n discussing
the outrage.
A mob was quickly gathered and
marched to the Jail. They had previously
broke into a machine shop in Tho neigh
borhood Of the Jail, and procured sledges,
crowbars and files. They made at once
for the door on the west wing OF the jail
and began to batter upon it.
Fully 20 shots were fred from tho win
dowsa above by Sheriff A. III. Zimmerman
u his deputies, but the mob paid no at
tention to them, and went on with their
work. The Jail bell was rupg to summons
assistance, but none came In 20 minutes
the large panel doors gave way under the
heavy blows, n the mob rushed into the
corridors. They quickly overcame the
slight resistance the officers on the inside
were able to offer, and found the cell in
which Goings was confined.
The lock was opened, the bolt swung
back and the trembling wretch seized and
dragged out in his night clothes. In the
meantime the friends Of the lynchers on
the outside had lowered an electric lamp
near the Jail and cut the rope from it, ex-
tinguishing the light.
Goings wa led out, amid tho bowls OF
the crowd, the rope placed ron him,
and he was hurried down the road to his
place of doom. He protested his inno-
cencc as they dragged him along, and
begged them not 10 kill him. He was
promptly recognized by a number of men
who knew him, and the mob did not hest
tate in its work.
Prayed with sslvationists.
Arrived at the tree. the negro was asked
to confess. but this he would not do. The
officers Of the Salvation Army asked to be
allowed to pray with him, and their re-
quest was granted. The Lords Prayer
was then repeated, and the negro and most
OF the crowd joined in.
Goings' feet and hands were then tied
and the rope was drawn around his neck.
A man seized the other end of il, climbed
the tree and threw the cord over u limb.
Let him goin was shouted. and quick as n
flash he was jerked from his feet and hung
dangling in the air six feet from the
ground. One shot was fired into his body,
and in a few minutes he was dead. TIN
mob during the process of lynching OBJ
served order; none was allowed to fire at
him except the one.
A member OF the mob made q brief
speech, in which he said that they were
there with the unfortunate wretch not in
a spirit of malice, but to make an example
OF him, and teach his race that they mus.
let the women of Frederick county alone.
The assault for which Goings suffered
death was a cruel and dastardly one.
Miss Jones has IL cuts and stab ounds
ON her body, where he hacked at her with
"A knife and razor. She says he asked her
for something TO eat, and when she gave it
TO him. he said: II will give you a
dollar"
She screamed, and ran 81 feet down the
garden, where he overlook her, knocked
her down and cut her, also crushing her
nose.
The field in which the negro was lynched
Is the same spot the negro Blggus was
lynched in November, 1888. After watch
ing Goings' body swing in the air "a few
minutes, the GROVE left 1t dangling there,
and dispersed.