The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-12
Proved Futile 1h Earnest Efforts
WeE : To Do SO.
DENlF1 GUILT TO THE LAST
But the Indignant Populace Believed the Child
and the Rope Route Was Resorted To-
Startling Rumor duplicating the
Husband and Father.

Bn.oAhsven, Mss, Dec. 11.-Ad iitionaI
"details of this murder of Mrs. Brown
Slmi,a and her four children i'm Dawrencs
COUNTY, about twenty-four miles wss, OF
here hast Monday and the subsequent
lynching of the murderer, were received
here today.
After capturing Charlie Lewis, tine AL
legged murderer, the mob placed him
alongshde the either negroes and asked
uhs 1llhle gin who wa spared by the
murdener, ITO pick out the one who killed
her mcIher She at once pointed TO
Charles Lewis This strong evidence TO
the mob made it difficult for Sheriff Cas-
sci, of Monticello, to induce the people
I,o turn Lewis over to him fer safe keep
ting. He alssursd them he would produce
ithe negro at BankSton ait 10 O'Clock for
trial.
Pleaded for Legal Proceedings
AS promised, he arrived here on time
with Lewis. and another mob of 200 mem
armed with shotguns and Winchestera
met him en- the opposite bank of the
river. Speeches were made by khe cood-
lrsaided mem, among them being Hon. A.
F. WleLatIherzby SENATOR from Lawrence
county, and Rev. Mr. Drummonds, a
MeIthodt1t preacher who pleaded elo-
qlIently Dor tine negrO'S u1e.
Smith Stems the Storm
Mr.. Brown Smith, the nj an Whose fans
ily was murdered, and who, of couTSesr
should fesl the most aggrieved, jumped,
upon thla waiteN shelf of the little st2rs
gallery and pleaded with the crowd to
be patient ami nor ITO rush hastily into
a thing they might regres. He said that
wihfla he did NOT doubt his child's word,
yet she wlss $50 young THAT there was a
possibility THAT she might be misltalxen-
He said There was something in There
(poinIting to hiIs left breaslt which did not
exactly satisfy him about the maIl;sr.
Futile Effort to Hold Court
The words of Smith did more to quiet
the mob than anything, but about that
time rain commenced to pour down I'M
torrents and those who could, together
with the prisoner, sought shelter inside
the store. AS soon as the rain stopped
an a.empt was made to hold court, but
this was soon found to be impossible.
Denied His Guilt to the Last
After parleying for some time, the mob
under leadership of a few determined
men, made a rush for the negro and
succeeded in getting him from the depu-
ties, after a hard struggle. They them
put plow line around the negro's necl1
and ran UP the street with him. He
was put on a big black horse and driven
under tree. Af.er that the rope was
fastened to limb and the horse was
driven from under him. His feet touched
the ground and he was strangling, when
Mr.. Arlington. one of the lawyers and
another man cut him down. He could
not speak. The crowd allowed him 10 be
revived and then hung him in earnest
His body was left hanging by the road
SIDE Lewis denied his guilt to the last.
Startling Rumor
A report that the negro committed the
murder at the instigadon of Smith,
which has gained curreny, is discredited
by his neighbors, but the facts and cir
Gums. .ances connected with the Attain
will all be sifted ITO the bottom.