The record-union., 1898-01-09
LYHChIhGS IN ARKANSAS.
FOUR NEGROES MEET WITH
SUMMARY JUSTICE.
Two Were Charged With Criminal
Assault and the Other Two
With Murder.

LITTLE ROCK (Ark.). Jan. S.-Four
eolored men were lynched in the vi
cin1ty of Bearden, Ark, within the last
few days. Two We're charged with
CRIMINAL assault, and two We're muir
derers
The ravishers, Devoe and Huntlev
We're swung up near Harlow Mill ranch,
about three miles north of Bearden
While the murderers met their fate
near the town of Little BAY. a few
miles south of Bearden. The work
was done by separate mobs
Devoe and Huntley were lynched for
CRIME committed a year ago. At
that time they attempted to outrage
a Mrs. Paine, a respectable white wo-
man at Bearden. Both escaped after
their crime, and remained out of the
vicinity for twelve months. A few
days ago Devoe again put in an ap-
pearance, and was promptly arrested.
A mob was quickly gathered, and De-
Voc barely escaped lynching at that
time. He was questioned regarding
the whereabouts of Huntley. but at
first refused to give any information.
lie finally stated that Huntley was
working at Anderson's mill on the Cot
ton Belt Railroad, about twenty-five
miles north of Fordyce. Devoe was
left in charge of a heavy guard. while
the remainder of the mob went to An
derson's mill to get Huntley. They
found their man and started away with
him, but they never returned with the
negro. He was lynched after leav-
ing Anderson's mill. When the mob
returned to Bearden they gave out the
report that Huntley could not be found.
Devoe was then placed in a wagon,
and the mob started with him to Har-
low Mill ranch, three miles north of
Bearden, where the crime was commit
ted, in order that his victim might
identify him. Later the mob returned
with an empty wagon, and reported
that Devoe had escaped. There seems
to be no doubt of the fate of both
rapsts.
When the mob left Bearden with De-
voc, the prisoner was chained to the
bottom of the wagon, and a heavy
guard surrounded the vehicle. Escape
under such circumstances was impos-
sible. When taken before Mrs. Paine,
the old lady positively identified Devoe
as one of the negroes who attempted
an assault upon her.
The posse then drove a short distance
away, and after placing a rope around
Devoe's neck compelled him to stand
erect in the wagon. The vehicle was
then driven from under him, and the
ravisher was left hanging in midair.
A few shots We're fired into his body.
and the mob returned to Bearden.
Mrs. Paine, the victim of the two
fiends, was a respectable white woman,
aged so years. She was Frustrated by
the excitement caused by the assault.
and only recovered after a long illness.
The two other men lynched were ac-
cused of the murder of Bart Frederick.
water pumper for the Cotton Belt
Railroad at Kingsland, few days ago.
Frederick was thrown from his veloci-
pede and murdered. His pockets were
rified and his watch taken 1t was
through the watch that clew to the
identity of the murderers was secured.
The negroes left the tinepiece at a
store in Rison. A mob at once started
in pursuit, and captured the murderers
at a point near Little Bay. The details
of this lynching are not obtainable. but
it is reported that three negroes were
captured and two We're hanged.
The third was wanted at Kingsland
on another charge, and he was turned
over to the Sheriff of Cleveland County.