The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-30
A SUNDAY LYNCH|NG BEE.
HAWESVILLE, KY, HAD AN EXCIT-
ING AND MOST SUCCESSFUL
ONE YESTERDAY.
VENGEANCE OF |NFUR|A1ED PEOPE
A Little Girl Cruelty Assaulted BY a
Drunken Fiend, Who Was
Taken From the Officers
and Strung UP.

Commercial-Tribune, from Hawesville,
Ky, says:
In the broad open glare of Sunday sun,
in the midst of a protracted revival not d
mask to be seen, and in the presence of
hundreds of Infatuated people, Raymond
Bushrod, a negro, at 5 o'clock this even
ing, was made to pay the penalty of his
hellish assault on the person of 14-year-old
Maggie Roberts. He was swung from a
limb in the court house yard
Bushrod was from Rockport, Ind. Sew
eral months ago he was taken in and treat
ed kindly by Willis Clark, Il farmer in the
upper part of the county, only to betray
Clark and steal his watch. For this he
was released two weeks ago from the
county Jail after having served sentence
and drinking. In the afternoon he set
out afoot. going on the railroad. Three
miles below town, near Petri station, he
encountered Maggie Roberts, daughter of
Ben Roberts, a prominent farmer. He
ran her down, assaulting her, and accomp-
fishing his sensual purpose. In addition
to this. he beat and bruised her with an
iron coupling pin, and left her to die. The
news of the outrage spread, and search
ing party was sent in every direction.
Guards were sent to every skiff for twenty
miles, and his escape to Indiana was well
nigh impossible. Failing in his attempt
to cross at Tell City he made back over
the railroad and was captured in hiding
at Falcon. Il mining town four miles be-
low the scene of the crime. Bushrod fell
in with fortunate crowd of four, who
brought him quietly to Hawesville and
surrendered him to the jailer, while the
town was deserted searching for him. In
the meantime the officers got wind of Il
mob. and he was secretly guarded in the
grave yard on the hill until morning, when
he was again placed in Jail. But the pco-
pie had been determined all day. Early
they came afoot and on horses, i'll wagons
and in trains. They were impatient for
darkness 1t was rumored that militia
would arrive at 4:40 for his protection.
The angry crowd would not stand this,
and they placed trusty sentinels on the mill
overlooking the town to give sign If the
train bore such protection. The militia
failed to come, and about this time officers
thought it opportune to play rusc, ana
the mob, already furious, were led to be,
lieve that he had escaped from them, anu
hot pursuit followed. The trail was
followed onto the square, when broad
omen attempt to spirit Bushrod out OF
town was discovered. A few wen chosea
guards, however, stayed at the jail, ana lie
was brought out. The mob formed in front
and the officers were made to ylelu. l nc
excitement at this time was intense Gan,
MELTON. Ind. had oupoured upon us, ana
nromptly at ; o'clock the march to the
court square was begun. Hating III front
of a great shady poplar. with llmbs ana
twigs overhanging the most public street
in town, a selection was made ana every
thing was in readiness for the first lynch-
ing in Hancock county.
In the meantime Bushrod was gwen
an opportunity for confession and prayer:
His confession was complete. ne stated
that he was guilty. and this was his third
offense, one successful eHorl haNins
been made upon his 60-ycar-old aunt.
After Offering up his last supplication, Il
long and fcrvcnt prayer on Blended knee,
the signal to haul away was given, ana
with pinioned arms and legs, he was
dangled between brick and tree The
applause as he went up was deafening
1t only showed the determination of the
people. Then. four minutes after, he
was pronounced dead, and Coroner
Mitchell cut the body down and sum.
moned jury. whose verdict was That
Bushrod came to his death ut the hands
of unknown parties. :,
During the day. and at the critical
time, the county officials did what they
could for the prisoners protection, but
public opinion was too well defined.
Identification of the accused was COM
plete. He was taken before the grl last
night and identified. Four others also
added their strength to the identification.
Thus does this sleepy little village beat
| IN lynch records. On Sunday, I'M
| masked. on the public square of coun-
| ty seat, man is hung, and in a stone s
throw of four churches. After the lynch
| ing the mobs leader. an Indiana man,
made little speech, in which he pointed
| to the gruesomc corpse, saying:
Here is the protection we offer our
wives and daughters
No action by the authorities against
any member of the mob is likely. During
the entire time of the lynching not less
| than 2tO women were on the hillside
| overlooking the pubic square, and when
| his dangling form went up. cheers upon
J top of cheers from them rent the air. In
/ fact. the women gave double reinsurance
| to the ones engaged that the proper pun
-, ishmcnt was being melted out. All
through the day Bushrod gave evidence
| of intense anguish. He was told and
he fully realized that his time was close
| at hand, and he gave some evidence of
| sorrow. In the march to the place of
! lynching it was almost impossible to pre-
vent his being killed by Infatuated men
| Twice he was knocked down, and it is
believed by some that he was unconscious
| when strung up.