The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-10
LYNCH LAW IN MISSOURI
Erastas Brown Whe Assaulted
Miss FerbiHg, Hanged.
MOB GALLOPED TO THE JAIL
ImpassioDed Speech From a Judge
to Respect the Law AvaiIed Moth
Ing-Avengers Acted With Mill
tary PrecisioB-victim P1teOusIy
Appealed for Mercy.

Union, No, July I0.-Erastus Brown,
the negro who criminaHy assaulted Annie
Ferbing near Union, No. one week ago,
was tasen from TAIL at CHon at 2; 80 this
morning and banged to a willow tree one
mile southeast
Forty or fifty mounted men rode into
Union at O'Clock They galloped four
abreast until they were within one block
OF the Jail, where they divided into two
squads One squad rode north and the
other half rode sVuth. completely surround
ing the boucS OF the sheriff and tail0r.
Az each house they placed a strong guard
The remainder rode quickly to the jail
and attacked the iron dgors with sledgs
hammers and cold chiseIs. The nUise dwak-
ened many OF the villagers and they hur-
Tied TO the jail with the avowed purpose
OF preventing a lynChing. Judge Coleman
was spokesman and made an fmpassi0ned
speech to the mob, in which he implored
them To dssperse and not bring disgrace
upon their homes and families by over
ruling the law and order. His words had
but little effect and were punctuated by
they cut their way through the outer
doors of the JaIl-
In less than ten minutes the mob had
forced an entrance and rushed 20 the
cell in which the frightened wretch was
confined. and placed a strong rope around
his neck
He begged piteousIy for mercy, but G he
mob was inex0rable and he was dragged
out to the yard. where a hollow square
was formed Ly the determined hOrsefnen-
The start was made toward the south
ern portion OF the village. with the guns
of the mob resting in the hoHows OF
their arms. Severn residents Of Union
made a final appeal that the negro be
spared until his case could be passed on
according to law. but he mob would
listen To no aryHmen Is and warned the
men that an attempt at rescue wonId
provoke blOedshed and possibly result In
the loss OF innocent lives
The history OF Bruwn's crime Is as fol-
lows
Miss Ferbing, who is twenty-four years
old, wasattacked near villa Ridge, Friday,
July 2, about IL a. m. At lonely SPOT
Brown approached her from behind and
seizing her, attempted an assault Miss
Ferbiug struggled f1erceIy for her honor,
and had all but succeeded in breaking
away fcoTu her sssailant when Brow n seized
a stone lying n the roadway. and beat her
into Inconsistencies While she lay In
this condition Brown assaulted the giri
in 4 most horrible manner.
A passing farmer found her StfH uncon-
scious. At first II was thought that she
was fatal y injured, but she has recovered.
After an all-aight search Brown was To-
Gated Tn the railroad tracks near st Clair,
making his wav toward a thick wood The
posse pursued Brown, who ran until ne
saw escape was impossible. Then he turn
ed at bay, but was quickly overpowered
and hurried 10 the house where his victim
lay.
As Brown was dragged, covering. into
the room In which the girl lay she rose
from her couch. aud as she caught 81 ght OF
the ugly visage of her assaiIant. she sank
bark. screaming dt the top Of her voice:
That's the man; that's the man"
Brown was hgrriediy dragged away,
while estoratives were applied TO the
faintfng girl. who was almost overcome.
The posse which had Brown in charge
kaowing the danger OF q Iynchinx pre-
tended to take the scoundrelinto the woods
with the avowed intention OF 1ynching him
themselves. This report was given cir
culstion. and the coBBtrytnen believed that
justice had been quickly uleted out m
stead of lyEching Brown the posse tpok
him across the country to Union. and hs
was lodged iD the county jaiL