The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-10-30
BURNED AT THE STAKE.
Terrible Punishment of a Negro
Murderer in Texas.
WITNESSED BY SEVEN THOUSAND.

Most Brutal Crime Speedily Avenged
In Most Brutal Manner-The Husband
Of the Brute's Victim Started the Fire
Which Conoumed His Body.
TYLER, Tex, Oct 8O.-At point about
four miles from Tyler Mrs Bell, who
had been visiting her mother short dis
tance from home was on her return met
by negro named Jim Hilllard. What oc-
CURED could only be told by the negro
himself, and the evidence given by the
dead body Of the lady The ground shows
that she had struggled for her honor, and
the condition of the body told of Il cruelty
that has only been equalled by "Jack the
Ripper" After outraging the body the
negro deliberately out her throat and,
then taking his knife ripped up her body.
A posse was quickly organized, led by
Deputy Smith, Of Tyler, who with liant
erns in hand, and aided by a hound,
tracked the negro to within four miles of
Kilgore, where they found him fast asleep
In cotton pen The negro was covered
with blood, which he had attempted to
wash off. The posse started back to
Tyler with the negro, who offered no
resistance.
Soon after the officers had him hand
cuffed mob of some 200 men, heavily
armed, arrived on the scene and demanded
the immediate surrender of the prisoner,
which was readily given. The mob then
left for the scene of the murder, where
they arrived in the afternoon at 3 o'clock.
The crowd continued to gather at the
scene of the horrible crime until nearly
1000 citizens of Tyler and vicinity were
there, A few moments before the fend
was brought to the place a meeting was
held and committee was appointed to in
vestigate his identity. Witnesses were
summoned and closely interrogated The
result was thorough Identification. When
Hilliard arrived he was also brought be-
fore the committee. He made a full con-
| fessiOn, in substance as follows:
II was coming down the road and saw
Mrs. Bell in the road. She was scared of
me, and knew that if 1 passed her she
would say l tried to rape her, and / con-
cluded that 1 would rape her and then kill
her. cut her throat and cut her in an
other place and left"
After his confession and thorough iden
tity vote was taken as to the mode of
punishment. 1t was unanimously agreed
to burn him, and it was agreed that he
should suffer the penalty ON the public
square. The line of march was taken up
toward Tyler and at o'clock the head of
the line entered the main plaza, where no
less than 1000 people were assembled.
Large crowds Of ladies and children were
congregated on the awnings surrounding
the public plaza Wagons, carriages, trees
and buildings were converted into grand
stands, and were thronged.
A scaffold was erected In the center of
the square Wagons laden with kindling
wood, coal oil and straw were driven to the
scene and placed in position. The negro
was then given an opportunity to speak,
but his words were inaudible, but when he
offered up his last prayer his words could
be heard for several blocks. He was then
lashed to the iron rail that extended
through the platform.
Mr. Bell, the husband of the murdered
lady, applied the match, and the flames
shot upward, enveloping Hilliard in
sheets of fire, while he frantically begged
for mercy. 1t was decided to burn him at
once, and as fast as the wood was thrown
around him was consumed it was quickly
replenished From the time the match
was applied until he was incinerated was
exactly fifty minutes.
The l. and G. n. south bound train was
crowded with people from the towns
north. Hundreds of negroes witnessed
the execution, and representative negroes
expressed their Endorsement of the pun
ishment. The officers were powerless and
the sheriff wired the governor, but his
message was too late All business houses
and factories closed, and the big cotton
halt Shnpa Vyara daaertnd