The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-05-15
VICTIMS OF A MOB.
Two Colored Girls Taken to the
Woods and Hanged.
They Are Accused OF Poisoning Sew
eraI Persons, One OF Whom Died
"A Confession of Guilt IL Fol-
lowed by Lynching.


Huntsville, Ala, Nay 13.-The corpses
of two negresses. Nellie Smith and
Mandy White, are dangling from the
limb OF live oak just on the outskirts
OF the village of JEFF. They were hanged
Tuesday night for poisoning Joshua
Kelly, 4 well-known citizen. They con-
fessed TO two attempts on the lives of
the Kelly family. The first attempt re-
suited In the death of Mr.. Kelly. Sheriff
]. p. Powell has gone 10 the scene 20
cut down the bodies. The lynching was
participated in by 20 or 30 persons.
Nine weeks ago the first attempt on
the lives of the Kelly family was made.
The family siclSened shortly after eat
ing supper. and Joshua Kelly died "a
hours afterward. On May the family
and tenants of the deceased were poi
soned again in some mysterious man
ner. There were six whites and eight
negroes affected. Messrs. ID. f. and
hanson Kelly became critically i'll. as
did Mrs. II. Kelly. Oakley Woodward,
clerk In a store, who came near dying
from the other poisoning. and Ten
nessee drummer who spent the night
with them. were two other victims. In
eliminating evidence was found Sat-
urday at the Kelly home at JEFF. and a
clew in the shape OF n box of poison
led 10 the detection of the negresses.
The premises were searched and under
meath the kitchen was found box of
poison. On IL was stamped the trade
mark of ID. L. & j. o. Kelly. the grocers
at JEFF. The poison. which was rough
on rats, was placed in the biscuits which
all the affected ate.
Suspicion was then directed to Mol
lie Smith, a young negro girl who had
formerly worked in the family. and a
search of her house was made. Mollie
had anticipated the visit and had start
ed 10 Tennessee on foot. Mandy Frank
lin, Mollie's successor at the Kellys,
was also suspected. Twenty men gath
cred Wednesday night and part struck
out TO capture Mollie. whom they over
took some ten miles away.
The Franklin woman was found at
her own home in bed. She was hidden
TO get up and dress and go with the
posse. which she did The Franklin
woman gave way when she was cross
questioned and finally made clean
breast OF the whole affair She con-
fessed TO the last poisoning. but said
Mollie Smith had Put the poison in the
coffee and sausages and had persuaded
her TO poison the bread This she did
while carrying the -four of which IL was
made from the pantry to the kitchen.
The posse, satisfied of the guilt of the
two women, carried them to the woods
n short distance from Mollie Smiths
house and, deaf to tears. prayers and
screams, tied ropes about their necks.
lifted them on high and waited by quiet
~ until IL was evident they were dead.
Without n word they then stole away in
the darkness. There will probably
never be a clew 10 their identity.
Jennie Barwell, another negress. is
in custody. She has coolly avowed that
she knew the poisoning was going on,
but did not care 10 mention the matter.
The instigator of the crime is believed
to have been n negro named Williams,
who short while before the first pois-
oning had been discharged by the Kellys
for impudence and driven from the
place. Report has il that he too was
captured and lynched. II is certain that
all participants in the crime will meet
the same fate.