The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-17

CRUEL WORK OF A MOB
DETAILS OF THE FIENDIsH TORTURE
OF A TENNESSEE CoLoRED MAN.
Jefferson Ellis Mutilated in a Horri-
bic Way, Hanged, Beheaded and
the Body Suspended by the Feet.

orEslPHIS, Tenn, Oct 16-The ;ynch;ng
of Jefferson Ellis, the Fayette county rap
list. briefly announced this morning. was
attended with brutal cruelty seldom
equaled by Southern mobs. Details Of the
crime show that Ellis was strung to
telegraph pole at 1:40 o'clock this morn
ing by $50 men within two hundred yards
of the scene Of his crime. Before hanging
the negro the mob cut off both his ears
and all Of his fingers and mutilated him
in a horrible and unmerciful manner. The
mob. with their prisoner, reached the home
OF his victim, Miss Pratter. soon after
midnight The young woman identified
him as her assailant AS soon as this was
done armed squad OF men took Ellis
from Constable Farrow and started with
him for the pike where the public road
crosses the Louisville & Nashville railroad.
Here there is also a telegraph pole. A
big fire had been built at the place, End
around 1t the mob gathered in a circle
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 stupid manner. Being told that
he was about to die he raised his voice in
a negro hymn. BY the time he had fin
the fiercer element was in control Cries
of Burn him. were heard on all Sides
This fearful fate would probably have been
events proved, Amid the shouts of the
mob man Jumped to the negro's side
with a drawn knife in his hand.
cut off his earsI' somebody cried.
Give me a finger" shouted one man.
Il want a thumb" cried another.
The better element I'm the crowd drew or
at this time. and said they were not in
hanging
Ing urged on y posss the efeef eYemens in fe
crowd the man with the knife cut or the
negro's right ear and held UP the bleeding
trophy In full view of the crowd. The ne
gro screamed. but his other ear was cut
OF a few moments later. The mob be-
came madder at the sight of this work.
and those who were mutilating the negro
found ample announcement. They next
cut of all his fingers, and, tearing away
part OF his clothes, they mutiliated him in
horrible manner. The negro was COW
1T had been scalped. The mob was not
even then willing to end the negro's ag-
ony They made him stand up so all the
crowd could see him. Finally fully thirty
five minutes after the torture of the negro
began, the rope was put around his neck
The telegraph pole was seventy-fye feet
Away: The rope was very lcng one.
me free end was taken by man. who
quickly climbed the telegraph pole and
threw 1t over the cross arm. The crowd
Jerked the negro to the foot of the pole,
and mutilated form of the me negro eVr1s was
swung TO the cross arm. The negro was
lowered to the ground and his head was
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
the little girl the negro attempted to as
sault last Saturday in Mississippi A pla-
card was put on the negro's body bearing
these words: