The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-25
STRICKLAND STRUNG Up
Negro Preacher Named by Hose Is
Hanged by a Mob.
DIED PROTESTING his 1NNooENoE

His Employer, Ex-senator Thomas,
Made an Appeal For the Negroes
Life, and Finally Secured Pledge
Which Was Violated by tho Mob.
Palmetto, Ca, April 25.-The body
OF "Lige" Strickland, negro preacher,
who was implicated In the Crawford
murder by Sam Hose, was found swing
ing to the limb of persimmon tree
within mile and quarter of this
place yesterday. Before death was al
lowed to end the sufferings of the
negro his ears were cut off and the
small finger of his left hand was sew
cred at the second joint These troph-
les are In Palmetto today. On the
breast of the negro was piece of blood
stained paper attached by an ordinary
pin. On one side of this paper was
written: 1--WE must protect our la
dies" The other side of the paper
contained a warning to the negroes
OF the neighborhood. 1t read as fol-
lows: Beware, all darkies; you will
be treated the same"
Before being lynched Strickland was
given chance to confess to the mis-
deeds OF which the mob supposed him
to be guilty, but he protested his in
nocence 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 COM
plicity in the Crawford murder. Three
times Strickland proclaimed his in
nocence until, weary of useless tortur-
ing, the mob pulled on the rope and
tied the end around the slender trunk
OF the persimmon tree. Not a shot
was fired. Strickland was strangled
to death.
The lynching Of Strickland was not
accomplished without desperate ef-
fort 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
distinguished citizens Of Coweta coun-
ty. He did all in his power to prevent
the lynching Of the negro. Said he:
Gentlemen, this negro is innocent.
Hose said Lige had promised to give
him $40 to kill Alfred Crawford, and
l believe Lige has not had $40 since he
has been on my place. / do not ask
you to liberate him. Hold him, and il
the courts adjudge him guilty, hang
him."
Mr.. Thomas called attention to the
fact that Strickland had voluntarily
told of having seen Hose on the night
of the murder, and finally vote was
taken, which resulted in unanimous
decision to let him live. With the as
surance that Strickland would be |
taken to Fairburn Jail the major re-
turned to his home. A mile further on
The lynching took place.
The negro was tenant on the plan
,ation of Major Thomas. When Sam
Hose, the murderer of Alfred Gran
lord and the assailant of his wife,
made his confession Immediately prior
% his burning, he implicated Lige
Hose contending that he
lad been offered money by Strickland
o kill Crawford. 1t was known posi-
lively, however, that Hose had made
alse statements in his last confession,
md many of those who aided in his
turning were disposed to disregard his
tatement in regard to Strickland.
Late Sunday night about is men
vent to the plantation of Major Thom-
s and took Strickland from his little
abin in the woods, leaving his wife
nd five children to wait and weep
yer the fate they knew was in store
Or The negro. Their cries aroused Ma
Or Thomas and that sturdy old gem
leman followed the lynchers in his
uggy, accompanied by his son, Will
I'm Thomas, determined to save, If
ossible, the life Of his plantation
arkey. AS detailed above his efforts
ere futile.
A coroner's jury held an inquest
yer the body last evening and render
l the usual veridct-death at the
ands of unknown parties.
Another mob is hunting the country
n Albert Sewell, who has made him
III obnoxious. by remarks concerning
le treatment given the negroes by the
hites. There is not much prospect OF
s capture, however.