The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-04-25
LYNCHING OF LICE STRICKLAND.
The Negro Preacher Iianged From n
 PersimmOM Tree.

PersimlnOn Irees
 Palmetto, Ga., April 24.-The body Of
 Lige Strickland, negro preacher, who
 was implicated in the Cranford murder
 by Sam Hose, was found swinging to
 the limb of persimmon tree within a
 mile and a quarter of this place early
 to-day. Before death was allowed to
 end the sufferings of the negro his ears
 were cut off and the small finger of his
 left hand was severed at the second
 Joint. These trophies were in Palmetto to-day. On the chest of the negro was a piece of blood-stained paper attached by an ordinary pin. On one side of this paper was written we must protect
 our ladies. 23-99'' The other side of the paper contained warning to the negroes of the neighborhood. It read as follows: Beware all darkies. You will be treated the same way"
 Before being lynched Strickland was given chance to confess to the charges of which the mob supposed he was guilty, but he protested his innocence to the last Three times the moose was placed around his neck and the negro was drawn up off the ground; three times he was let down with a warning that death was in store for him should he fail to confess his complicity in the Cranford murder. Three times Strick- land proclaimed his innocence until weary of useless torturing the mob q. tnI lao around the slender trunk of the persim- mon tree. Not a shot was fired. Strick- land was strangled to death
 The lynching of Lige Strickland was not accomplished without a desperate effort on the part of his employer to save his life. The man who pleaded for him is Major w. w. Thomas, an ex- state senator and one of the most distin- guished citizens of Coweta county. He did all in his power to prevent the lynch- ing of the negro and did not discon- tinue his efforts until he had been as- sured by the leaders of the mob that the negro would be taken to jail at Farburn. One mile from the spot from where this promise was made Strick- land was hanged. The negro was ten- ant on the plantation of Major Thomas. When Sam Hose, the murderer of AL fred Cranford and the assailant of his wife, made his confession immediately prior to his burning. he implicated Lige Hose contending that he had been offered money by Strickland to kill Cranford. It was known positively, however, that Hose ilad made false in his last confession and many of those who aided in his burn ng were disposed to disregard his state nent i'll regard to Strickland.
 Late Sunday night about fifteen men went to the plantation of Major Thom- IS and took Strickland from his little cabin in the wood and left his wife and i've children to wait and weep over the ate they knew was in store for the legro Their cries aroused Major | Thomas and that sturdy old man fol- owed the lynchers in his buggy, accom- panied by his son, William Thomas, de- | to save, if possible, the life of | lis plantation darlSey. They overlook i he lynchers with their victim at Pal | netto and then ensued, with only the | to brighten the faces of these grim men, weird and dramatic scene |
 Lige Strickland was halted directly i opposite the telegraph office. The moose vas adjusted around his neck and the nd of the rope was thrown over a tree. was told he had chance be- ore dying to confess his complicity in he crime. He replied: q have told ou all I know, gentlemen; you can kill ne if you wish, but I know nothing to ell.' The negros life might have been nded then but for the arrival of Major 'homas, who eaped from his buggy and sked for a hearing. He asked the rowd to give the negro a chance for is life and said: "Gentlemen this ne- TO is innocent. Hose said Lige had romsed to give him twenty dollars to ill Alfred Cranford and I don't be- eve Lige has had twenty dollars since e has been on my place. He has never one any of you any harm; l want you ) promise me that you will turn him { yer to the sheriff of this town that he lay be given a hearing. I do not ask 1