The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-29
JUST HOW A MAN FEELS
r. J Sykes. the Weary Wag gie,
Tells His Story.
DIDN'T LIKE MANNER OF DEATH
But Didn't Mind Dying "Oidn't
Propose to be Yanked OFF by Such
Hand Sawed Specimens OF
k4Ilnna nitX.W
Humanity

Humanity"
Columbus. Nov. POI told that big
duffer who put the rope around my meek
and seemed SO anxious to yank me up
that / would live to see the geese PICK
the grass off his grave, and III do 1t, too.
The speaker was I. j. Sykes, the tramp
who came so near being lynched by an
infurated mob of citizens of this city
one day last summer, and only saved
himself playing a star engagement at
the end Of a tight rope by his remarka
BILE GOODNESS and nerye-a nerve whlch~is
not displayed once in a lifetime.
Sykes is no ordinary man. There rs Il
something about his every movement and
word which naturally interests and mys-
tifes one He is clearly an enigma, and
vet there is no apparent desire on his
part to appear as such. When he is once
seen he will never be forgotten There
is something about him that makes one
feel that he is in the presence of man
OF more than ordinary interest
This now famous tramp-hero is about
five feet FIVE, weighs 40, is light COM
plected. has sandy mustache, wavy light
hair, thin tapering nose and large, clear
blue eyes, which fairly dance and sparkle
as he warns up in telling of his expert
ence on that eventful day which came
near being the last one for him on this
mundane sphere.
OUT, CLIPPER AS A HOTEL GIRL.
But he is out and is as clipper as a
school girl at her first frolic His case
is one of the most remarkable that ever
occurred in Georgia.
On the day of his trouble tramp call
ed at the house of Mr.. George Crouch, a
farmer in the northwestern section Of the
city, and asked for bread. The staff of
life was given him and then trade was
made for him to pull SOME fodder. The
tramp went off toward the field, and in a
short time Louise, the little daughter,
went running in the house and told her
mother that the man had scared her.
The mother questioned the child and be-
came convinced that the man had made
improper advances on the girl. Like the
bngting Of a thunder cloud there came
a storm when the frantic mother gave
the alarm. and in a very short time the
-report that a child had been assaulted flew
rapidly over the city, and it was not long
before there was a determined crowd OF
men armed with rifles, shotguns and PTS
tolls. securing the city and county III
search of the fiend. Later in the day the
officers discovered thin and gaunt look
ing man of the bird of passage tramp,
walking about the city. This individual
was Sykes. He was thought to be the
man that had been to the Crouch home,
and was told so.
II am not the man you are hunting for,
was the answer he gave, land you had
best be looking for some reprobate, one
of which | am not whom"
The mans nerve struck the officers, and
he did not believe that he had the right
man, and when Sykes was asked if he
would go with him his reply was that he
would go anywhere, as he had been
everywhere and little bit beyond"
WHEN TROUBLES GREW.
The queer citizen of the road was taken
to the home Of the little girl and there
he was identified. 1t looked rather bilious
for Sykes, but he held a tight grip on his
courage and quietly remarked that he
was as innocent as man who had never
seen the city of Columbus. The crowd,
or at least some Of them, were ready for
the lynching, and a great big butcher ran
to horse which was hitched near by and
cut the halter from his neck, and with
veil sufficient to lift the hair off cigar
sign, he made d dive for Sykes and placed
if around his neck, while cries of Hang
him! Hang him' went mp from the III
furated mob. Sykes was as cool as a May
morning, and with his blue eyes flashing
like stars he told them
81 will die an innocent man hanged by
cowardly ruffians. If you have any spark
of bravery you will give me a chance to
show myself innocent Of a crime which
I detpst and abhor as much as any man
ever dared to-"
Looking the big butcher squarely IN the
eyes he told them the words which open
this story. Standing there on the road
side with the rope around his neck, with
not q tremor over his frame, he looked
the picture Of a martyr. Certain death
seemed to be staring him in the face, but
he never finched. No, not he. But with
wonderful GOODNESS he read the riot act
and defied them to do their worst, de
claring that they didn't have the grit
to come at him one at time, and that
if they did he would wipe up the whole
shooting match
There were men there who then be-
lieved in the mans innocence and these
began TO speak up in his behalf. After
time it was decided to postpone the lynch
ing bee and let the law take it's course.
Sykes was carried to jail, quite a crowd
following the wagon, and when the jail
was reached it again appeared that the
effort to get him might be renewed. Cool
ly Sykes said to Jailer Phelts:
Just give me a good gun and I'll take
care Of myself, and don't you doubt it."
A REMARKABLE TRIAL.
Sykes preliminary trial was remark
able one. There were two sets Of wit
nesses, one Of which swore that they
had seen Sykes in the vicinity OF the
Crouch residence early that morning, and
the other that they had seen the same