The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-27
Mob Executes Summary Justice Upon
a Negro.
CONFESSED TO ASSAULTING AND
NUMBERING LITTLE GIRL.
officers Tried to Protect Man But without
Avail-No Attempt at Disguise on Part
of the Lynchers-Coroner's Jury Re-
ports That Man Came to His Death at
Hands of Unknown Persons.


Hands of Unknown Persons.
Cincinnati, Ohio, September 26.-A
special to the Commercial Tribune from
Hawesville, Ky, says:
Raymond Bushrod the negro who yes
terday assaulted IA year old Maggie
robert, was lynched this morning by a
mob of about 800 people. The lynching
occurred in the court house square and
the body was left hanging to the limb
of shade tree. There was no attempt at
disguise. on the part of the lynchers, not
mask being seen in the crowd. Boshrod
was from Rockport, Ind. Several months
ago he was taken in and kindly treated
by Willis Clark, a farmer in the upper
part Of the country, only to reward his
benevolence by stealing his watch. He
was released two weeks ago from the
county jail after having served sentence
Of 1856 days for the theft. He was In town
yesterday and drinking. In the afternoon
he set out afoot, going west on the Texas
railway.
Three miles from town near Petri
station he encountered little Maggie
Roberts, daughter of Ben Roberts,
prominent farmer. He assaulted her and
after beating her about the head with a
coupling pin left her on the railroad en-
bankment for dead. News Of the outrage
spread and searching parties were sent in
every direction. Guards were sent to
every station for 20 miles and his esca pc
to Indiana was well nigh impossible.
Failing in his attempt to GROSS at Tell
City, he went back over the railroad and
was captured in hiding under the waiting
station at Falcon, mining town four
miles below the scene of the crime. Bush
rod fell into crowd of four men who
brought him quietly to Hawesville and
surrendered him to the Jail. while the
town was deserted searching for him.
In the meantime the officers got wind
of q mob and BushrOd was secreted under
guard in the graveyard on the hill until
morning when he was again locked up.
But the people had determined on dealing
him summary justice. Early in the day
they came afoot, on horseback, in wagons
and in trains. They were Impatient for
darkness. 1t was rumored that the militia
would arrive at 4.3o from Owensboro.
The angry mob hearing this placed senti-
nels on the hill overlooking the road to
give notice II the train brought any
Soldiers.
When the train pulled out the jail au-
thorities started the rumor that Bushrod
had been smuggIed on board and was be-
ing spirited out Of town. The mob broke
for the railroad and the officers then tried
to get their prisoner out of town in the
other direction. The lookouts who had
been posted by the vigilants discovered
this move in the game of life and dea tn
and st was quickly checkmated fora the
jailers. At the point of 100 guns they
gave up their prisoner and the march to
the court house square began.
A wide spreading poplar in sight of
the main thoroughfare of the town was
given brief shift for prayer and confess
sion. His confession was complete. He
stated that he was guilty and that this
was his third Offense, one successful effort
having been made on his 60year old aunt.
After Bushrod had offered up a long and
fervent prayer on bended knees, the sig
nal to haul away, was given, and with
pinioned arms, he was soon dangling
from tree. The applause as he went up
was deafening.
In about four minutes he was pro-
nounced dead and Coroner Mitchell, view
ing the body cut it down and summoned
a jury, whose verdict was that s'Bushrod
came to his death at the hands of un-
known parties"
During the day and at the critical tina
the county officials did what they could
for the prisoners protection, but public
opinion was too strong. The identifica-
tion of the accused was complete.
After the lynching, the mob leader,
prominent citizen made an address in
which he pointed to the corpse saying
Here's the protection we offer our wives
and daughters.
All through the day Bushrod gave
evidence of intense anguish. He was told
and fully realized that his time was close
at hand. In the march to the place of
lynching there was hard work to prevent
his being killed by infuriated men. He
was twice knocked down and it is be-
lieved by some that he was unconscious
when strung up.