Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-28
NO MERCY SHOWN.
Negro Who Assaulted Girl at Hawes-
vile, Ky, Lynched BY People.
Gather from Miles Around and Make No
Attempt At Secrecy.


Commercial Tribune from HawesviIle,
KY. says: Raymond Bushrod, the
negro, who, yesterday, assaulted a.
year-old Maggie Roberts, was lynched.
this morning, by mob OF about 500
people. The lynching occurred in the
court house square and the body was
left hanging to the limb OF a shade
tree. There was no attempt at disguise
on the part OF the lynchers, not mask
being seen in the crowd
Bushrod was from Rockport, Ind.
Several months ago he was taken in
and treated kindly by Willis Clark, q
farmer in the upper part OF the coun-
try. only to reward his benefactor by
stealing his watch. He was released
two weeks ago from the county Jail
after having served q sentence Of 156
days for the theft.
He was in town. yesterday, and drink
irg. In the afternoon, he set out afoot,
going west on the Texas Railway.
Three miles below the town near Petri
station he encountered little Maggie
Roberts. daughter of Ben Roberts. a
prominent farmer. He assaulted her
and after beating her about the head
with coupling pin left her on the rail-
road embankment for dead.
News OF the outrage spread and
searching parties were sent in every
direction. Guards were sent to every
station for 20 miles and his escape to
Indiana was well night impossible.
Falling In his attempt tocross at Tell
City, he went back over the railroad
and was captured in hiding under the
waiting station at Falcon, a mining
town four miles below the scene Of the
crime.
Bushrod fell in with a crowd OF four
men who brought him on quietly to
Hawesville and surrendered him to the
jailor. while the town was deserted
searching for him.
3 In the meantime the officers got wind
Of a mob and Bushrod was secreted
under a guard In a graveyard on the
hill until morning. when he was again
locked up. But the people had deter
mined on dealing him summary Justice.
Early in the day they came afoot. on
horseback. in wagons and in trains.
They were impatient for darkness. 1t
was rumored that militia would arrive
at 4.30 from greensboro. The angry
crowd. hearing this placed sentinels
out overlooking the road to notice II the
train brought any soldiers.
When the train pulled out the jail au-
thorities started the rumor that Bushrod
had been smugglcd on board and was be-
ing spirited out of town. The mob broke
for the railroad and the officers then tried
to get their prisoner out of town i'm the
other direction. Lookouts who had been
posted by the Vigilants discovered this
movement in the of life and death
and it was quickly checked by the jailers.
At the point of 100 guns they gave up
their prisoner and the march to the court
house began. U.s.
The spreading poplar in sight of the
main thoroughfare of the town was Sc
lected for gibbet and Bushrod was given
n brief shift for prayer and confession.
His confession was complete. He stated
that he was guilty and this was his third
offence. one successful effort having been
made upon his 60-year-old aunt. After
Bushrod had offered up a long and fer
vent prayer on his Bonded knee. the sig
nal to haul away was given. and with
pinioned arms he was soon dangling from
= tree. The applause as he went up was
deafening.
In about four minutes he was pro-
nounced dead and Coroner Mitchell view
ing the body, cut 1t down and summoned
n jury. whose verdict was that Bushrod
came to his death at the hands of ''un-
known 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 strong. The Identification
of the accused was complete. After the
lynching. the mob leader. a prominent
citizen. made an address in which he
pointed to the corpse saying: Here's
the protection we offer our wives and
daughters
All through the day Bushrod gave evil
dence of intense anguish. He was told
and fully realized that his time was close
at hand. In the march to the place OF
lynching there was hard to work to pre-
vent his being killed by Infatuated men.
Twice he was knocked down. and 1t is
believed by some that he was unconscious
when strung up.