The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-27
THEY THIRSTED FOR BLOOD.
A HORRIBLE CRIME AVENGED DY
KENTUCKY MEN.

The Negro Who Assaulted and Beat
Little Maggie Roberts Meets Death
at the Hands of the Enrnged PeO-
pie of HawesviIIe-I.ynch in
broad DayIieht-The Wretch Ends
His Life With n Long and Fervent
Prayer-Lynchers Cheered by WO-
men.
Cincinnati. Sept 26-A special to the
Commercial Tribune from Hawesville,
KY, says:
Robert Bushrod, colored, was lynched
at 8 o'clock this evening for an as
sault on 14-year-old Maggie Roberts, the
daughter of Ben Roberts, prominent far
mer. None of the lynchers were masked.
A revival was in session at the time, and
fully 800 people saw Bushrod swung from
the limb of tree in the court house yard.
'Bushrod, who had recently been releas-
ed from the county jail, where he served
a sentence of 1856 days for stealing watch,
met his victim near Petri station, three
miles from here. He had been drinking.
After accomplishing his purpose, Bushrod
beat the girl with a coupling pin. The
news of the outrage spread, and searching
parties started in every direction.
The negro was captured in hiding under
the waiting station at Falcon, a mining
town four miles below the scene of the
crime. His captors four in number, car
ried their prisoner to Hawesville, While
most of the citizens were away hunting
for Bushrod, and surrendered him to the
jailer. In the meantime, the officers got
wind of a mob, and the prisoner was Sc
cretely guarded in the grave yard until
morning, when he was again locked up.
But the people were determined. They
arrived afoot on horseback, in wagons,
and in trains. 1t was rumored that mill
tia would arrive at 4:40 from Owensburg,
Sentinels were Placed on the hillside to
give sign if the train bore such passen-
gers. The soldiers failed to arrive, but
the officers spread the report that Bush
rod had escaped to the train, and a hot
pursuit followed.
The train was followed only a square,
when the attempt to spirit Bushrod over
the hills and out of town was discovered.
AS he was brought out, the mob compelled
the officers to give him up.
Promptly at o'clock the march TO the
court house square, but a
few steps away, was begun.
Hating in front of the great shady
poplar with limbs overhanging, the most
public street in town,a selection was made
Some delay was caused for want of a rope
but soon a new half inch plow-line was
furnished and everything was Ia readiness
for the first lynching in Hancock county.
In the meantime, Bushrod was given an
opportunity to confess and pray. He said
that he was guilty and this was the third
offense, one successful effort having been
made upon his 60-year-old aunt After Of
fering up a long and fervent prayer, on
bended knees the signal to haul away
was given. The applause as the negro was
pulled up was deafening.
Coroner Mitchell summoned jury whose
verdict was that Bushrod came 20 his
death at the hands of unknown parties.
During the day, the county officials did
what they could for the prisoners s
protection. Identification of the accused
was complete. Bushrod was taken be-
fore the girl last night, and no doubt re-
mained.
After the lynching the mob's leader, an
Indianian made a little talk, in which
he said: Here's the protection we offer
our wives and daughters
No action by the authorities against
any member of the mob is likely. During
the time of the lynching not less than 200
women were on the hillside, overlooking
the public square. and they cheered the
lynchers' work frantically.