Audubon Republican., 1897-09-30
A BRUTE LYNCHED.
Hanged by n Mob mt Hawesville, KY,
After Revolving Confession.

Hanged by n Mob mt Hawesvf1le, Ky.
After a Revolving Confession.
Hawesville, KY, Sept. 27.--At five a.
m. Sunday, in the presence of SEQ in
furiated people, Raymond Bushrod, a
| negro, was lynched as penalty for a
hellish assault upon the person of IL
year-old Maggie Roberts on Saturday.
He was hanged from limb of tree in
the courthouse yard. Bushrod was from
Rockport, Ind, and had just served a
term in the county Jail for theft. Sat-
urday afternoon near Petri, three miles
from this place, he met the little Rob-
erts girl, and after outraging her beat
and bruised her with an iron coupling
pin and left her on the railroad grade
| to die.
The news Of the revolving outrage
spread and searching parties were sent
in every direction. He was captured
in hiding under the waiting station at
Falcon, mining town four miles be-
low the scene of the crime. Bushrod
fell in with n fortunate crowd of four
who brought him quietly to Hawesville
and surrendered him to the jailer while
him. In the meantime the officers got
wind of mob and he was secretly
guarded in the graveyard on the hill
until morning, when he was again
locked up. But the people had been de-
termined all day. Early they came,
afoot, on horseback, in wagons and in
trains. They were impatient for dark
-
mored that militia would arrive at 4:40
from Owensboro for his protection.
The angry crowd would not stand this
and they placed trusty sentinels on the
hill overlooking to give a sign # the
train bore such protection. They failed
to come, but at this time the officers
thought it opportune to play ruse,
and the mob, now already furious, were
led to believe that he had escaped from
behind and hot pursuit followed.
The trail was followed only a square
when the broad, open attempt to spirit
Bushrod over the hills and out of town
was discovered. A few well-chosen
guards, however, stayed at the Jail, and
as he was brought out the mob formed
yield. The excitement at this time was
intense. At five o'clock the march to
the court square, but a few steps away,
was begun. Hating in front of great,
shady poplar, with limbs and twigs
overhanging the most public street in
town, a selection was made. Some de-
lay was caused for want of rope, but
n f1u hro ha1 Il 1,,,a
was furnished and everything was in
readiness for the first lynching in Han
cock county.
In the meantime Bushrod was given
an opportunity for confession and
prayer. His confession was complete.
He stated that he was guilty and this
was the third offense, one successful eff
fort having been made upon his CO.
year-old aunt. After offering up his
last supplication, a long and fervent
prayer on bended knee, the signal to
haul away was given, and, with pin
ioned arms behind and legs beneath, he
was dangled between brick and tree.
The applause as he went up was deaf
ening. 1t only showed the determina-
tioh u thS PSOPlC. LII dDOuI lOuT 1Qln-
utes he was pronounced dead, and Cor
oner Mitchell, viewing the body, cut
it down and summoned a jury, whose
verdict was that Bushrod came to his
death at the hands of unknown parties.
After great deal of idle curiosity
was gratified the crowd and mob quiet
ly dispersed, and there are not
three men in Hancock county that are
ready to say that wrong has been
done. No action by the authorities
against any member of the mob is like
ly. During the entire time of the lynch
ing not less than 200 women were on
the hill and hillside overlooking the
public square, and when his dangling
form wentup cheers upon top of cheers
from them rent the air. In fact, the
women gave double reinsurance to
the ones engaged that the proper pun
ishment was being meted out.