The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-10-30
BURNED At ThE STAKE
Terrible Punishment Of o Negro
Murderer in Texas.
WITNESSED BY SEVEN THOUSAND.

A Most Brutal Crime Speedily Avenged
In . lfost Brutal Manner-Ths Husband
Of tho Bruts's Victim Started the Fire
which Consumed MS BODY.
TYLER, Tex, Oct. 9o.--At point about
-four miles from Tyler Mrs. Bell, who
had been visiting her mother q short dis
tanoe from home. was on her return met
by negro named Jim Hilllard. What oc-
curred could only be told by the negro
himself, and the evidence given by the
dead body Of the lady. The ground shows
that she had struggled for her honor, and
ehe condition OF tho body told Of cruelty
chat has only been equalled by "Jack the
Ripper" After outrnging the body the
negro deliberately cut her throat and,
then taking his knife, ripped up her body.
A posse was quickly organized, led by
Deputy Smith, Of Tyler, who, with lant-
erns In hand, and aided by hound
tracked the negro to within four miles of
Kilgore, where they found him fast asleep
In cotton pen. The negro was covered
with blood, which he had attempted to
wash Off. The posse started back to
Tyler with the negro, who offered no
resistance.
Soon after the officers had him hand
ouffed mob of some 200 men, heavily
armed, arrived on the scene and demanded
the immediate surrender of the prisoner
which was readily given. The mob then
left for the scene of the murder, where
they arrived In the afternoon at 8 o'clock.
The crowd continued to gather at the
scene Of the horrible orimo until nearly
1000 citizens of Tyler and vicinity were
there. A few moments before the fiend
was brought to tho place o meeting was
held and committee was appointed to in
vestigate his identity. Witnesses were
summoned and closely interrognted. Tho
resultwas thorough Identification. When
Hilliard arrived he was also brought be-
fore tho committee. He made q full con-
fession, in substance as follows:
81 was coming down the road and saw
Mrs. Bell in the road. She was scared Of
me, and knew that II passed her she
would say tried TO rape her, and con-
cluded that would rape her and then kill
her. I cut her throat and cut her in an
other place and left"
After his confession and thorough iden.
tty vote was taken as to the mode of
punishment. IL WAS unanimously agreed
to burn him, and 1t was agreed that he
should suffer the penalty on the public
square. The line Of march was taken up
soward Tyler, and at clock the head OF
the line entered the main plaza, whore no
Less than 1000 people wero assembled.
Large crowds of ladies' and children were
congregated on the awnings surrounding
the public plaza. Wagons, carriages, trees
and buildings were converted iHto grand
stands, and were thronged.
A scaffold was erected In the center of
Che square. Wagons laden with kindling
wood, coal oil and straw were driven to the
scene and placed in position. The negro
was then given an opportunity to speak,
but his words were inaudible, but when he
offered up his last prayer his words could
be heard for several blocks. He was then
1ashed to tho iron rail that extended
through the platform.
Mr.. Bell, the husband of the murdered
Indy, applied the match, and the flames
shot upward, enveloping Hilliard in
sheets of fire, while he frdnticaiiy begged
for mercy. 1t was decided to burn him at
once, and as fast as the wood was thrown
krou6u him was consumed 1t was quickly
replenlshed. From the time the match
was applied until he was incinerated WAS
exactly fifty minutes.
I The 1. and G. N, south bound train was
rrowded with people from the towns
north. Hundreds of negroes witnessed
tho execution, and representative negroes
Expressed their Endorsement Of the pun.
tshment. The officers were powerless, and
Tho sheriff wired the governor, but his
message WAS too late. All business houses
and factories closed, and tho big cotton
belt shops were deserted.