The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-25
HORRIBLE TORTURE
Hose Mutilated and Then Burned to
Death at the Stake

Newman, Ca, April 24.--In the presence
of nearly 1000 people, who sent aloft yells
of defiance and shouts of joy, Sam Hose,
a negro who committed two of the basest
acts known to crime, was burned at the
stake in public ROAD one and one-half
miles from here last afternoon.
Before the torch was applied to the pyre
the negro was deprived of his ears, fingers
and other portions of his anatomy. The
negro pleaded pitifully for his life while
the mutilation was going on, but stood the
ordeal of fire with surprising fortitude.
Before the body was cool it was cut to
pieces, the bones were crushed into small
bits and even the tree upon which the
wretch met his fate was torn up and dis
posed of as souvenirs. The negro's heart
was cut in several pieces, as was also his
liver.
Those unable to obtain these CHASTITY relics
direct paid their more fortunate possessors
extravagant sums for them. Small pieces
of bone went for rs cents, and a bit of the
liver, crisply cooked, sold for 10 cents. AS
soon as the negro was seen to be dead
there was a tremendous struggle among
the crowd which had witnessed his tragic
end to secure the souvenirs.
Rush for Souvenirs
A rush was made for the stake, and those
near the body were forced against it and
had to fight for their freedom. Knives
dismembered.
One of the men who lifted the can of
kerosene to the negro's head Is said to be
native of the commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania. His name is known to those who
were with him, but they refuse to divulge
1t. The mob was composed of citizens of
Newman, Griffin. Palmetto and other little
towns In the country around about New
nan, and of all the farmers who had re-
ceived word that the burning was to take
place..
Hon. w. Y. Atkinson, former governor of
Georgia, met the mob as he was return
ing from church and appealed to them to
let the law take its course In addressing
the mob he used these words
Some of you are known to me, and when
this affair is finally settled in the courts
you may depend upon It that will testify
against you.''
A member of the mob was seen to draw
a revolver and level it at Governor At
kinson, but his arm was seized and the
pistol was taken from him. The mob was
frantic at d .ays and would hear to moth
ing but br.ning at the stake.
@ Confessed to Killing Crawford
Hose confessed to killing Crawford, but
denied that he had outraged Mrs. Gran
ford. Before being put to death the negro
stated that he had been paid $12 by "Lige"
Strickland, a negro preacher at Palmetto,
zens was securing the country for Strick-
land. who has left his home. He will be
lynched If caught.
Sam Hose killed Alfred Crawford, a white
farmer, near Palmetto, and outraged his
wife ten days ago. Since that time busi-
ness in that part of the state has been sus-
pended. the entire population turning out
in an effort to capture Hose. He success
fully eluded pursuit until discovered near
Macon.
Governor Gambler has been asked to send
troops here to preserve order for day or
two, as it is feared that the negroes may
wreak vengeance, many threats to that ef-
feet having been made.
Hose has been on the farm of the Jones
brothers, between Macon and Columbus,
since the day after he committed his horrl-
BILE crime. His mother is employed on the
farm, and to her little cabin he fed as a
safe refuge. She fed him and cared for
him. but 1t is not believed she knew that
he was being hunted for by the authori-
ties.
Identified as Hose
The Jones brothers were not aware Of
the crime until few days ago, and were
not sure that he was the much wanted
man. Saturday morning one of the Jones
boys met Hose, and as he was talking to
him noticed that while bis ginger" face
was ebony black, Just below the collar Of
his shirt the copper color was discernible.
Convinced that the negro had blackened
his face to escape detection, Jones became
convinced that he was the negro for whom
the authorities. assisted BY ploodhounds.
had been securing the country FOR ten days.
and they determined to arrest him.
into Macon and put him aboard Central
Of Georgia train. with the intention OF
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