The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-30


about four miles from Tyler was enact
cd ono OF those horrible tragedies, the
very recital OF which causes tho hearsr
to shuddor and calls for quick
and certain vengeance. A Mrs.
Boil, who had been visiting her
mother a short distance from home,
was on her return aud was met by
negro called Jim King. What occurred
eau only bo told by the negro himsel!
and the evidence given by the dead
body OF the lady. Tho ground showed
that she had struggled for her honor
aud the condition OF the body told ol
tho cruelty that has only been equalled
by "Jack tho Ripper"
Alter outraging the lady tho negro
deliberately cut her throat aud then,
taking his kuite, ripped up her body.
A posse was quickly organized, led by
Sheriff Smith, OF Tyler, who with Ian.
terms in hand and aided by "a hound
tracked the negro TO within four miles
Of this place.
The negro who so brutally murdered
Mra. Bell was captured three miles from
KlIgore. lie offered no resistance.
Soon after the OliicerA had him hand
cutfed, mob OF some 200 mon, heavily
armed, arrived on the sceue and de-
manded the immediate surrender OF the
prisoner, which was readily given. The
mob then left for tho sceno OF the muir
der, whsre they arrived this afternoon
Mt 8 o'clock, The crowd continued TO
gather at tho scene oil tho horrible
crime until nearly 1000 citizens ol
Tyler and vicinity were there. Wit
nesseS were summonAd and closely In.
terfOgaIod. Tie result was thorough
Identification. The negro, Henry Hill
lard, was brought before the committee
and made a full coniessionr in sub
atauco Rs follows:
~ was coming down the road and
saw Mrs. Bell in tho road. She was
scared OF mo, and know that II /
passed her ahe would sny tried to
assault her, and / concluded that |
would assault and then kill her. l cut
her throat and cut her in another place
and left"
He wrote motto to his wife and gave
II to tho sheriff. It read RI follows:
II am arrested by wig Smith, You
know what they will do with mo. II l
don't SEQ you any more, goodbye.
[Signod1 "HESRY."
After his confession il was unani-
mou,ly agreed to burn him, and it was
agreed that no should suffer his penalty
on the public square. The line Of march
was then taken IN toward Tyler, aud at
o'clock the head Oi the limo entered
the main plaza, whoro no less than
1000 people were assembled. Largo
crowds OF ladies and children wore con.
gregatod on tho awnings surrounding
the public plaza. Wagons, carriages,
treos and buildings were converted into
grand stands and were thronged at 4:SO
o'clock.
A scndold was erected in tho center
Of the square.
Wagons laden with kindling wood,
coal oil and straw worO driven to tho
scono and placed in position. Tho no.
gro was th6n RlyOn an opportunity TO
speak. but his words were inaudiblo,
but when no olorod up his last prayer
ON earth he could DO heard for several
DloCkB. ITO was lNou lhHHbu 70 tho lIOn
rail that Cxtonded through the
platform, MIR. Bell, tho hus.
baud Of the murdered lady, np.
piled tho match and tho flames shot
upward, onyCloping the brute in sheets
Of fro, IIn begged for mercy and 1t
was melted out to him lust rs no was
morciiul In tho pure, innocent woman
whoso soul hc had sent TO heaven Mt
this hour yesterday. 1t was deter
mined to burn him at once, but tho fitu
was frequently quunched and hilcr tho
last pioco Of wood was burned, in Tow
minutes the iirO was started again.
From tho timo tho match was nppliod
until his death was exactly fifty
minutes.
Tho /. & q. N. south.bound train was
crowded with pOoplo from the Downs
north.
Hundreds Of negroes witnessed the
execution, and representative ncgroca
Expressed thoir Endorsement OF tho
punishment Tho oiIlcora worn power.
loss, aud tho sloriiI wirod the governor,
but his message was too late. All bui.
ness houses wore closed, and tho big
4. IA Il. I.a.stal