The Portland daily press., 1899-04-25
HUNG TO TREE.
Another Example Of Georgia
SaVagery.
Story Lynching of Lige
Strickland.
Negro Dragged From Ills Wife and
Children.
Elk Senator Thomas
Pleaded For Life.
Mob Promised and Then Made
Way With Victim.

| Palmetto, Ga, April 24.-The body of
Lige Strickland, q negro preacher who
was implicated In the Crawford murder
by Sam Hose. was found swinging to the
limb of q persimmon tree within mile
and quarter of this place early today.
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 today. On
the chest of the negro was piece of
bloodstained paper attached by an ordi-
nary pin. On one side of this paper was
| written:
New York Journal-wo must protect
our ladies. 1888"
The other side of the paper contained a
warning to the negroes of the neighbor-
hood. 1t read as follows:
Beware all darkles. You will be treat
ed tn e same way"
Before being lynohed Strickland was
given a chance to confess to the misdeeds
of which the mob supposed him to be
guilty. but he protested his innocence to
placed around his neck and the p.sro
was drawn up off the ground; three times
he was let down with warning that
death was in store for him should be fail
to confess his completely in the Crawford
| murder. Three dimes Strickland pro-
claimed his Innocence until weary of use
less torturing the mob pulled on the rope
and tied the end around the slender trunk
of the persimmon tree. Not shot was
fired. Strickland was strangled to death.
The lynching of Lige Strickland was
not accomplished without n desperate
effort on the part of his employer to saye
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 Oowota county. be did all in
his power to prevent the ynching of the
negro and did not discontinue his efforts
until he had been assured by the leaders
of the mob that the negro would be taken
to Jail at Fairburn.
One mile from the spot where this
promise was made. Lige Strickland WAS
banged. The negro was a tenant on the
plantation of Major Thomas. When Sam
Hose, the murderer of Alfred Crawford
and the assailant of his wife. made his
confession Immediately prior to his burn
ing, he implicated Lige Strick land, Hose
money by Strickland to kill Crawford.
1t was known positively. however, that
Hose had made false statements in his
last confession and many OF those who
aided in his burning were disposed to
disregard his statement in regard to
Strickland.
Late Sunday night about fifteen men
went to the plantation of Major Thomas
and took 5 Strickland from his little cabin
in the wood ald lsft his wife and five
children TO wall and weep over the fate
t1ey knew was in store for the negro.
Their cries aroused Major Thomas and
that sturdy old gentleman followed the
lynchers in his buggy, accompanied by
his son, William Thomas. determined to
save If possible the life of his plantation
darkey. They overlook the lynchers with
their victim at Palmetto and then ensude,
with only the moonlight to brighten the
faces of these grim men, weird and
dramatic scene. Lige Strickland was
halted directly opposite the telegraph
office. The moose was adjusted around
his neck and the end OF the rope was
thrown over tree. Strickland was told
he had chAncs before dying to confess
his completely in the crime. lie replied:
~ have told you all l know, gentle
men. You can kill rue II you wish, but l
know nothing to tell.
The negro 5 life might have been ended
then but for the arrival of Major Thomas
who leapea from his buggy and asked
for hearing. He asked the crowd to
give the negro chance LOT MS Lie anu
saia.
Gentlemen this negro is innocent.
Hose said Lige had promised to give him
$40 to kill Alfred Crawford and l don't
believe Lige has had twenty dollars since
he has been on my place He has never
done any of you any harm; | want you
to promise me that you will turn him
over to the bailiff of thisitown that he
NAV be given a hearing. / do not ask you
to iiberate him. II old him for the courts "
The mob replied that Strickland had
infiamei the negroes in the neighborhood
and had bad reputation.
Major Thomas reminded the mob that
the negro had voluntarily told of having
seen Hose on the night of the murder.
One of the mob replied that Strickland
had done this III the cunniDgness OF his
guilt to establish his own innocence.
There were some, however. who agreed
with Major Thomas and after u discussion
~ vote WAS taken which was supposed to
mean lie or death to Strickland
ihe vote to let him live was unanimous.
jor Thomas then retired SONS distance
ana the mob was preparing to send
5 rickland in wagon to Newman when
member of the mob cried out: I'VE
have got him here, let's keep him.
This aroused the mob and messenger
was sent to advise Major Thomas 10 leave
Palmetto for his own good but the old