The San Francisco call., 1897-09-27
Infuriated CitiZenS Take the
Prisoner and Promptly
Hang Him.
NO MASKS WORN BY THE
PARTICIPANTS.
"Hsre Is the Protection We Offer
Our w YES and Daughters" Says
tho Leading AVsnger.

HAWESVILLE. KY, Sept. 2e.-At s
o'clock this Sunday evening. in the
midst of a revival, not a mask to DE seen
pie, Raymond Bushrod, a negro. was
made to pay the penalty of his assault on
14-year-old Maggie Roberts He was
swung from a limb in the courthouse yard.
Bushrod yesterday afternoon, three
miles below town, encountered Maggie
Roberts, daughter OF Ben Roberts, q
prominent farmer. He not only brutally
assaulted the girl, but 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 out in every direction. He was
captured in hiding 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 jailor,
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 b i'll until morning, when
he was again locked up. But the people
had been determined all day. Early they
came, afoot, on horseb back in wagons and
in train>. They were impatient for dark
ness to cover the ground. 1t was rumored
that militia would arrive at 40 from
Owensboro for his protection. Tne angry
crowd would not stand this and they
placed trusty sentinels on the hill over
looking to give sign # the train bore such
protection.
They failed to come, but at this time
the officers thought it opportune to play a
ruse, and the mob, now already furious,
was led TO believe that he had esca ped
from behind and hot pursuit followed.
The trail was followed only square
when the attempt to spirit Bushrod over
the hills and out of town was discovered.
A few we'll chosen guards, however, stayed
at the Jail, and as he was brought out the
mob formed in front and the officers were
made to yield. The excitement al this
time was intense.
Promptly at o'clock the march to the
court square, but few steps away, was
begun. Hating in front of great sh ady
popular, with lin bs and twlgs overhang-
ing the most public street in town, Sc
lection was made. Some delay was caused
tor want OF rope, DuI ulrectly new nall
inch plow-line was furnished and every
thing was in readiness for the first lynch
ing 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 successful effort having
b en- made upon his 6o-year- old aunt.
After offering up his last supplication, a
long and fervent prayer, the signal to
haul was given and with pinloned arms
behind and legs beneath, he was dangled
between brick and trees. The applause as
he went up was deafening.
In about four minutes he was pro-
nounced dead and Coroner Mitchell,
claiming the body, cut it 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 to the
CORPSE say ing: Here is The protection
we offer our wives and daughters"