Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-07-02
NEGRO LYNCHED.
An Infatuated Mob Take the Law Into
Their Hands.

Their Hands.
BRooKHAvEN, Mss, June 27.-The
negro, Tom Bowen, who was lodged in
Jail here last Saturday. charged with
committing a criminal assault on Miss
Lizzie Britt, blind lady, a year and
half ago, was taken from the sheriff
this afternoon near the scene of his
crime by an Infatuated mob and hung.
Sheriff McNair, who had been hold
ing the prisoner here, this morning re-
ceived a summons from Justice Bart
lett Smith, of the district in which the
crime was committed, to bring the ac-
cused before him for thorough inves-
tigation. He responded, and in COM
pany with w. II. Pepper, constable of
district 5, carried Bowen to Red Star
postoffice, where the trial was to be
held.
The facts disclosed before the mag
istrate were such as to establish
Bowen's guilt beyond all reasonable
doubt, and he was remanded to Jail
without the benefit of bail. Among
other witnesses, two of Bowen's broth
ers testified that he had acknowledged
that he committed the brutal assault
and boosted of it.
After the judgment of the Justice
Court had been pronounced the sheriff
and constable placed their prisoner in
the hack again, and were in the act of
starting back when an angry mob sur
rounded them and demanded the ne
gro be surrendered to them.
The sheriff vigorously demonstrated
and summoned to his assistance sever
al leading citizens of the county, who
were present as spectators, but all pos
itively refused He then courageously
announced to the mob that he would
defend his prisoner to the last even
with his own life, and making the ne
gro crouch down under him, started
to drive off, when the horses we're
seized by the bits by a portion of the
mob, while others seized the officers
and prisoner and dragged all from the
vehicle.
Sheriff McNair attempted to use his
pistol, but it was wrenched from his
hand and that member badly lacerated,
while his coat was almost torn off The
negro was then taken short distance
and swung to limb, where he was
left dangling with life extinct.
None of the mob made any attempt
to disguise themselves, and most of
them were personally known to the
sheriff and constable.-TimeS Demo
crdt special.
BROOKHAvEN, Miss, June ga jury
on inquest, summoned by Coroner
Phillips to inquire into the facts of
yesterdays lynching of the negro Tom
Bowen, returned verdict this after
noon that deceased came to his death
at the hands of mob composed of
persons to the jury unknown. Sheriff
McNair and Constable Pepper did not
witness the hanging, as the prisoner
was carried about half mile from
where the officers were overpowered
before being hung.
In an interview with the reporter,
Sheriff MoNair asserted that when the
mob was organized for attack, Hon. II.
7, Byrd, who is a candidate for State
Seator from this district, made strong
appeal to the crowd to refrain from vi
olence and permit the law to take it's
course, but to no avail.
AS if by omniscience it seems
surprisingly large number of candi
dates were at the preliminary trial, if
not at the scene of the hanging Sher-
iff McNair deserves great credit for
his courage and efforts to save, his
prisoner, and was literally overpower-
ed when doing his best at the risk of
his life to save him.
Miss Britt, the blind victim of the
negroes brutality, was placed on the
stand during the preliminary trial and
said she recognized her assailant by
his voice and also correctly described
his size.-Times-D Democrat Special.