The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-09-27
HE PAID THE PENALTY
LYNCHING AND RELIGION
The Brute Was Yanked Into Eternity In
the Presence Of Eight Hundred Peo-
pie In the Midst OF Protracted
Revival Meeting.

! Hawesville. Ky. Sept. 26-ln the
broad, open glare Of a Sunday sun; in
the midst OF a protracted revival. not a
mask TO be seen. and In the presence Of
500 infuriated people. Raymond Bush
rod. a negro. this evening. at 5 o'clock.
was made To pay the penalty of his as
sault ON l4-year-old Maggie Roberts.
He was swung from limb In the court
house yard.
Bushrod yesterday afternoon. three
miles below town, encountered Maggie
Roberts. daughter OF Ben Roberts. a
prominent farmer. He not only bru-
tally assaulted the girl. hut beat and
bruised her with an iron coupling pin
and left her ON the railroad grade TO
die. The news Of the outrage spread
and searching parties were sent In ey-
cry direction. He WAS captured In hid
ing AT Falcon, four miles below the
scene Of the crime. by four of the posse.
He was brought quietly To Hawesville
and surrendered TO the jailer while the
town was deserted. searching for him.
In the meantime the officers got wind
OF a mob and he was secretly guarded
in the graveyard on the hill until morn
ing. when he was again locked up. But
the people had been determined all day.
Early they came. afoot. on horseback.
I'm wagons and in trains. They were
impatient for darkness TO cover the
ground. IL was rumored 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 10 give a sign
IL the train bore such protection. They
failed 10 come. but at this time the
officers thought IL opportune To play a
ruse and the mob. now already furious
We're led to believe that he had escaped
from behind and a hot pursuit followed.
The trail was followed only a square
when the broad, open attempt Ia spirit
the negro over the hills and out OF town
was discovered. A few well chosen
guards. however stayed al the Jail. and
as he was brought out the mob formed
in front and the officers were made to
yield.
The excitement at this time was in
tense. Promptly at o'clock the march
10 the court square. but few steps
away. was begun. Hating in front Of
a great shady poplar. with limbs and
twigs overhanging the most public
street In town, a selection waa pAnAis-
Some delay was caused for want of a
lope. but directly brand new half-
inch pl0w line was furnished and cv-
erything was In readiness for the first
lynching In Hancock county.
In the meantime Bushrod was given
an opportunity for confession and
prayer. His confession was complete.
He stated that he was guilty and that
this was the third offense. one having
been made upon his 60-year-nld aunt.
After offering up his last supplication
and fervent prayer. the sigiiil to haul
away was given. and with pinioned
hands behind and legs beneath. he was
hanged between brick and tree. The
applause as he went up was deafening
In about four minutes iie was pro-
nounced dead and Coroner Mitchell
viewed the body, cut IL down and sum-
moned a jury. whose verdict was that
Bushrod came To his death at the hands
of unknown parties.
After the lynching the mob's leader
made a little talk. He pointed 10 the
corpse. saying: Here is the protection
We offer our wives and daughters"
When he committed the assault Bush
rod was drunk.