The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-01-02


LOUISVILLE, KY, Dec so. "A spec.
cial from Lebanon. Ky, says.
Within two miles Of this city Satur-
day night a relentless mob burned
70 death delicate woman and rddled
with bullets her grsy-hairod friend.
The blaekened and dishgured corpses
Of the victims, Mira Thomas West and
William Deveres, were fonnd In tho
ruins Of the womsns home yesterday
BY the l4-year-old daughter Of the
murdered man.
The tragedy was one Of the most
brutal ever enacted under the Rrue-
some sway Of dread Judge Lynch.
Despite the pleadings for her fathers
lie Of hali-clad. frightened child and
the prayers and tears Of tho m and
helpless woman, the mob went through
with It's work with cold-bloodcd cruel
elaboration. and only left when GER
tain that both man and woman we're
dead.
The affair was the ouigrowth OF the
old story Of = iaithless wife and a ycngo.
~! husband. Several month ago de-
veres. = middle-agcd wldower. was ac-
eused by Thomas West. q prosperous
farmer. OF improper relations with
Mrs. West Quarrel followed quarrel
throughout the fall until West insti-
iuted divorce proceedings and declared
that Deveres must die
The men met In Lebanon. West
snapped his revolver. which missed
FIRE. and Deveres killed him on tho
spot On the plea Of scli-deiense the
murderer secured ball and scandallTcd
the neighborhood by Immediately TAX
Ing his two daughters and moving into
Vests house.
The relatives Of the murdered hus-
band swore vengeance. aud Saturday
night IL came. Close 10 10 o'clock
band VI men rode up 70 the West home
stead and demanded adinitiaucc.
'rom West Ia dead now II IL your
turn, THE spokesman called, and Deve-
res and the woman awoke 20 find their
house surrounded Mrs. West rushed
10 dArkened window and began a
Wild. hystericAl plea for mercy. A
dozen bullets answered her cries and
the demand for immediate surrender
was repeated. Deyeres. too, asked for
. hearing. but his request was greeted
with . shower Of shots
"Nell give you ten minutes 20 open.
Then you burn. said the mob's leader,
and his men quietly retired nom the
door. A hurried consultation was held
inside the house and then. white and
terror-siricken, the little girl Of DE.
veres was thrust out TO plead with the
mob. Glad In her night robe. bare
footed and unprotected, she bravely
walked out into the moonlight and
sobbed out a prayer for her white
haired fathers life.
sect out. you are liable to b shot
yourself = rnfian said. and the ter
For-stricken little child fed 10 the cabin
Of = negro neighbor.
Mrs. West then appeared at the
door, ard referring "a her condition,
made = last appeal for mercy. Il was
unAvailing, aud In another moment
the house was fired. The shrioks Of
the imprisoned wrctches failed 10 move
their iormeniors who, as tho flames
reached the living room, could see tho
man and woman In the agony Of death
by fire. just before the roof fell the
woman was seen TO reel across the room
and plunge headlong into the fireplace
among the burning Goals and there she
died. Wild With pain Deveres at tbs
last moment made a dash for liberty.
but a score OF balless stopped him hall
q dozen steps from the door.
Yesterday morning the little girl led
her negro protector 20 the scene and
there the bodies soorohcd beyond rec
ognitlon. were found untouched by the
lynchers There l. but little dout that
the members Of the mob will BE- cap
tured, - they we're Wlihou, masks and
made no attempts AZ secrecy.