The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-30

TvIer. Tex. Oct. as.-The negro who so
yrtltally murdered Mrs. Leonard Bell was
captured this morning about ocioek'
three miles from Kilgore. Soon after the
officers had him handcuffed a MOB OF some
300 men. heavily armed, arrived on ths
scene and demanded the immediate sur
render of the prisoner. which was reluc-
tantlv given. The mob started for the
scene az the murder. where they arrived
This afternoon al 2 O'Clock. The crowd
continued 10 gather at the scene OF the
horrible crime. until nearly -s"o cSli1ehS
OF Tyler and vicinity were there. a Few
Moments before the iiend was brougnt 10
the place a meeting was held and com
rnlftee appointed to investigate haA ideh-
tltv. witnesses were summoned and
closely questioned The result vas thor
ollRh Identification. In few minutes an
officer approached from over the hAi, fol-
lowed b. 30 determined and weH-affned
men. When near the scene iHe otiie.Es
were overpowered and disarmed, ana the
negro. Henry HiIiiard, brought before the
committee He made a fun confession, IN
substance as follows:
II waa coming down the road and saw
Mrs Bell IN the road. She was scared of
me, and ! knew that IL passed her she
would say / tried 70 outrage her. ana
concluded that / would outrage her and
then XII her I cut her throat and cut
her IN another place. and then left.
He wrote a note 20 his wife, and gave u
70 the sheriff II reads as follows: i am
arrested By Wig smith. You know what
they viii do with me. If / don't see you
any more. g0od-hy. Henry.
After ~. confession and Identification =
vote was taken as to the mode OF punish
:nent X was unanimously agreed TO burn
hsfa alive and that he should suffer the
penalty on the public square. The lire OF
march was taken up toward Tyler. and az
s.Ff 81 1frta % r.
street. where no less than 1900 people were
assembled
Large crowds Of women and children
were eongregafed on the awnings sur
rounding the public place. Wagons, car
rlages. trees aud public buildings were
converted into grand stands, and were
thronged IL 4.s1 scanold was erected
r. the center of the square. Wagons laden
with kindlin9 wood. coal oil and straw
were driven 10 the scene and placed I'm
position. The negro was then given an OPP
portnnlty To speak. His words were In
audible, but when he offered up his last
prayer hia words could be heard for Gov
eral blocks. Hc was then iashed TO the
iron rail- that extended through the plat
form. and the pyre lighted. The flames
shot upward. enveloping the negro In
sheets OF fire lie begged for mercy, and
IL was melted out to him just as he was
mercifui TO the woman whose soul he had
SHnI TO neT MAhef- 1t WIS uCttI1u 10
him at once. and as fast as the wood
thrown acound him was consumed II was
quickly replenished. From the time the
match was applied until he was incin-
Grated Il was exactly fifty minutes.
The International & Great Northern
train was crowded from towns north.
Hundreds OF negroes witnessed the exc
cution, and representative negroes ex-
pressed their Enforcement OF the punish
mcnt The officers were powerless, and the
sheriff wired the governor, but his mess
age was too late. All the business houses
were closed and the bis Cotton Belt shops
were deserted.
Mrs Leonard Bell, the 1s-year-old wife
OF farmer, was murdered. outraged and
dlsemhcwe'ed near Tyler. Tex. Monday
night. Her body was found almost nude.
the throat cut from ear 70 ear.