Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-09-27
SWUNG Up 70 A LIMB.
A Negro Brute Lynched at Hawes-
vile, Ky.
His Crime Was an Outrage Upon
Fourteen ear-Old Girl-His Pur-
suit and Capture-The Authori-
ties POwerless to Save Him from
the Mob Of Citizens.

special TO the commercial Tribune
from TOWNSVILLE, KY, says:
In the broad open glare of Sunday
sun, in the midst of protracted re-
vival, not a mask to be seen, and IL
the presence of eight hundred in
| furiated people, Raymond Bushrod.
! negro, this afternoon at 5 o'clock, was
made to pay the penalty for his bci.-
lsh assault on the person of the IL
year-old girl, Maggie Roberts. He was
swung from limb in the court h;use
yard Bushrod was from Rockport,
Ind. Several months ago he was taken
in and treated kindly by Willis Clark,
farmer in the upper part Of the
| county, only to betray Clark anG steal
his watch. For this ne was released
two weeks ago from the county Jail,
after having served sentence o. one
hundred and fifty-fve days. He was
In town yesterday and drinking. in
the afternoon he set out afoot, going
west on the Texas railway. Three
miles below town, near Petri station,
| he encountered poor little defenseless
Maggie Roberts, daughter of Ben Rob-
| erts, prominent farmer. He ran her
| down, assaulting her and accomplish
ing his sexual purposes. In addition
to this he beat and bruised her with
a coupling pin, and left her on the
railroad to die. The news of the re-
voting outrage spread and searching
parties were sent in every direction.
Guards were sent to every skiff for
twenty miles, and his escape to In
diana was well nigh impossible Fail
ing in his attempt to cross at Tell CITY
he made back over the railroad and
was captured in hiding under the wait
ing station at Falcon, a mining town
four miles below the scene of the out
| rage. Bushrod fell in with a FORUM
ate 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 the
mob, and he was secretly guarded in
the grave yard 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 horse
back, in wagons and in trains. They
were impatient for darkness to cover
tla ground. 1t was rumored that the
militia would arrive at 4:4O from
OWensboro for the prisoners protec-
ton. The angry crowd would not
stand this, and they placed trusty SEN
tinels on the hill overlooking to give
sign if 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 the
negro had escaped from behind, and a
hot pursuit followed The trail was
followed only square when the
broad open attempt to spirit Bushrod
over the hills and out of the town was
discovered. A few well 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 at this time
was intense Cannellton, Ind. had
outpoured upon us, and promptly at 5
o'clock the march to the court square.
but few steps away, was begun.
Hating in front of a great shady non
lar with limbs and twigs overhanging
the most public street in town. a Sc
lection was made. Some DELAY was
caused for want of a rope, but direct
ly bran new half-inch plow line was
furnished, and everything was in
readiness for the first lynching in Ham
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 effort having been
made upon his sixty-year-old aunt. After
offering up his last supplcation. a long
and fervent prayer on Bonded knee. the
signal to haul away was given, and with
pinioned arms behind, and legs beneath
he was dangled between brick and tree.
nc oPPAddSC dS he AEiil up was 6eafen-
ing. It only showed the determination
of the people.
In about four minutes he was pro-
nounced dead and Coroner Mitchell.
viewing the body. cut it down and sum-
moned jury, whose verdict was that
Bushrod came to his death at 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. Judge
Adair advised with the circuit iIdgA bv
telephone. but nothing practical came Of
it. Identification OF the accused was
complete. He was taken before the girl
last night and no doubt remained. Four
others also added their strength to the
Identification. Thus doe this quiet.
sleepy little village beat all lynch records.
On Sunday. unmarked on the public
square Of county court house. not a
drunken man, and not a pistol fired. a
man is hung and all in a stones throw of
four churches. After the lynching. the
mob's leadsr. an Indianan. made little
talk. in which he pointed TO the grue-
some corpse. saying: Here's the pro-
lection we offer our wives and daugh-
ters''
After a great deal of idle curiosity was
gratified. the crowd and mob quietly dis