Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-05-20
ALLEGED FLAYING AND BURN
INC

A dispatch from Ellaville, Fla, says
three negroes were lynched Friday
night in swamp on the Suwanee river
by white men for assauiting white
girl.
1t is reported that they were fiayed
alive and then burned, after being SUBJ
jected TO frightful tortures.
The crime for which the negroes
were so horribly put to death was one
of the most terrible in the history OF
that section of Florida. The scene of
the crime and retribution was in La
fayette county.
Miss Mamie Armstrong, the beauti-
full daughter of a prominent farmer,
left her home five days ago to spend
the night with neighbor, who lived
about two miles distant. The next day
Miss Armstrong; father went TO the
house of the neighbor to bring his
daughter home and was surprised and
alarmed to find that nothing had been
seen OF her. Mr.. Armstrong alarmed
the neishbors and posses were im-
mediately organized to search for the
missing girl. The woods were secured
and the Suwanee river dragged, but for
thirty-six hours the search was unsuc-
cessiul. Finally, however, about mid
way between the home Of Mr.. Arm
strong and the neighbor's house, the
handkerchief OF the girl was found
clinging to bush, and all around was
evidences of desperate struggle.
The searchers followed the trail thus
Indicated, iindirg all along evidences
that the girl had been dragged into the
woods. After proceeding for about
mile, the corpse Of Miss Armstrong was
found iu a thick clump of bushes. TIE
body of the girl was in horrible con.
ditiop. Every Shred of clothing had
been torn from it and she had been as
saulted.
The lower limbs OF the girl had been
torn apart, ber head crushed aud her
throat cut. 1t was evident that the
girl had made desperate fight, for un-
der her nails we're found pieces Of black
cuticle which she had torn from her as
sailants.
After caring for the mangled corpse
the enraged whites began search for
the perpetrators of the deed. Every
negro cabin in the vicinity was visited,
and each negro examined to see if he
tore any signs of the struggle with Miss
Armstrong. AS they approached the
home of Sam Echols the negro ran
out and made for the woods, but
was stopped by q bullet, which
wounded him slightly. The negro was
examined and his face found to be
scratched. Threatened with instant
death he confessed that he, with Sim
Crowley and John Brooks, had dragged
Miss Armstrong into the woods and as
saulted and murdered her
Echols said that they kept the girl for
twenly-four hours before killing her.
For the greater part of the time Miss
Armstrong was unconscious.
Having secured the negroes implicat,
ed by Echols, the white men proceeded
with the three fiends TO swamp on the
Suwanee river, where they were tor
tured. Just what manner of death was
meted out to the negroes is not positive
ly known, but it is reported that they
were flayed alive and then burned.
The scene of the crime and triple
lyncbing is near large phosphate mines,
in which are employed many negroes
of the worst class. Assault on white
women have not been infrequent, and
in the last six months twelve negroes
have been lynched in that vicinity:
The white people are terribly aroused
and swear that their wives and dauSh-
ters shall be protected. if they have TO
declare war of determination OF the
naprOeS