The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-07
ACME OR TORTURE
REVOLVING PUNISHMENT METED
OUT TO A NEGRO DESPOILER
OF A KENTUCKY HOME
HIS CRIME Was TERRIBLE
EXPIATION OF 1T MADE FIENDISH
IN THE UNBRIDLED PASSION OF
HIS EXECUTIONERS
DRAGGED THROUGH STREETS

Burned at the Stake After Having
Been Submitted to All the Agony
That Could Be Devised by the
Men Who Had Taken the Law
Into Their own Hands-ISleadings
of Victim for Mercy AgOnizing.
NASHVILLE, KY, Dec. 6.-Richard
Coleman (colored), confessed murderer
of Mrs. James Lashbrook, wife of his
employer, expatiated his crime in day
light today at the hands of a mob con-
sisting Of thousands of citizens by being
burned at the stake after suffering tor
ture and fright beyond description.
The dreadful spectacle occurred on the
peaceful cricket grounds on the out
skirts Of this, one Of the oldest and
among the proudest cities of Kentucky.
The barbarities inflicted upon this young
negro by citizens of one of the most
highly civilized cities of the state are
almost beyond belief and can only be
accounted for by the intense horror
created by long consideration Of the
atrocious crime Of which full confession
had been made by Coleman.
Just two months ago Richard Coleman,
the trusted employe of Farmer James
Lashbrook, in a moment of depravity
and savagery not equaled in the annals
of crime, murdered the woman who had
been his benefactor. Coleman was not
only employed on the farm, but had been
installed as a house servant, and was
trusted implicitly by both Mr.. Lashbrook
and his wife.
On the day of the murder Mr.. Lash
brook was at work some distance away
from the house. Mrs. Lashbrook had
driven to Maysville and returned when
Coleman asked her to enter the cabin
to look at some work at which he had
been engaged The negro locked the
door on the inside. Mrs. Lashbrook be-
came frightened and screamed. Coleman
struck her on the head, knocking her
down, but not stopping her cries. He
then seized a razor and cut her throat.
He picked up the bleeding body and
placed il on the bed. He then left the
room, but, returning, heard her still
groaning, and with an axe he struck
her repeatedly on the head until he was
sure she was dead.
Without any show of alarm or remorse
for his crime, the negro calmly washed
the blood from his hands and clothing
and went to where Mr.. Lashbrook was
at work in the field and told him that
he had better come to the house, as
some one had killed his wife. Mr.. Lash
brook did not take the matter seriously
until Coleman insisted that his wife was
VUaC 10
confidence of Mr.. Lashbrook In Cole
man, that no thought occurred that he
was the murderer.
COLEMAN ARRESTED.
Not until after the officers arrived was
it that suspicion was directed against
Coleman. Blood spots had been found
on his clothing, but he accounted for that
by saying that he had been killing
chickens. That night, however, at
Maysville, a partial confession was OBJ
tanned, and knowing the result If the
fact should become known, the officers
quietly took him to Covington, KY, for
safe keeping. He was indicted for the
murder.
Shortly after his incarceration at Gov
| ington he made a complete and horrible
| confession Of his crime to the jailer.
| The story of the revolving crime, includ-
! ing worse than murder, was told with
| out anv appearance of feeling by the
| prisoner. This confession becoming pub
! lie, aroused a feeling of Indignation
| against the prisoner among the relatives
| and friends Of the victim which made 1t
| morally certain that the officers Of the
| law would be powerless to prevent a
] nf 1n frC
! tunity Still the authorities at Mays
vile did not act upon that basis. There
| was no call upon the government for
troops to protect the prisoner.
! On Tuesday Sheriff Perrine, under or
ders of Judge Harbeson, with four as
| sistants, went to Covington, expecting
| to return with Coleman on Tuesday
night but, after reaching Covington, the
jailer at Maysville wired him not to at
tempt to bring the prisoner into Mays
vile at night.
| The trial was set for today. Sheriff
Poyne determined to leave CovingtOn by
| the train on the Chesapeake & Ohio
| which started at 7:30 o'clock "Wednesday
morning, from Cincinnati and Covington
| Coleman had been apprised Tuesday nigh
to prepare to return to the scene of nj!
| crime. He was instantly stricken will
| fear, and begged to be permitted to re
main in Covington until after his trial
He said he expected to die, but he dread
ed the vengeance Of mob.
When he was handcuffed on leaving thu
| jail in Covington he was almost par
alyzed, and had to be assisted to thu
patrol wagon. The crowd about the jai
| there and at the Covington depot added
| to his fear. On entering the train h,
| seemed unable to sit down until one O.
the guards forced him into the seat 7
developed that in the crowd at Covingtor
and even on the train there were somt
TO convey information If any attempt wa.
made to secret the prisoner. Messages
| were sent here
ARRIVAL AT MAYSVILLE
| Coleman arrived at 1920 this morning
under a special guard of deputies, swori
| in by the sheriff, including Detectivt
| Fitzgerald, Constable Dawson, Chief O
Police Donovan, all Of the police force
and two deputy sheriffs When they ar
| rived at the court house they were me
by mob of fully 1000 people, headed b,
James Lashbrook, husband of the mur
dered woman, and went Immediately III
| Second street, through the central par
of the city to the HILL followed by full,
5000 citizens of this city, and county
This is the first time anything of thi:
kind ever happened in this city and tn,
/ excitement is intense. All was done tha
was possible by the sheriff and guard f.
| prevent a lynching, but in. the face q
such mob of people, irrespective O.
| color, 1t was useless to attempt to d.
| anything.
The mob grabbed Coleman and threw
/ rope over his head and took him vi