The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-04-27

NEWMAN, Ga. April 24.--In the pres.
ence of 1000 people who sent aloft yells
of defiance and shouts of Joy, Sam
Hose, 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. 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 disposed of as
souvenirs.
The negro's heart was cut in several
pieces as was also his liver. Those un.
able to obtain the ghastly relics direct
paid their more fortunate possessdrs ex-
travagant sums for them. Small pieces
of bone went for % 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 tremendous
struggle among the crowd which had
witnessed his tragic end to secure the
souvenirs. A rush was made for the
stake and those near the body We're
forced against it and had to fight for
their freedom. Knives were quickly
produced and soon the body was dis.
membered.
One of the men who lifted the can
of kerosene to the negro's head was said
to be a native of Pennsylvania. His
name is known to those who were with
him, but they refuse TO divulge it.
The mob was composed Of citizens of
Newman, Griffin, Palmetto and other
little towns in the country round about
Newman, and Of all the farmers who
had received word that the burning was
to take place.
Hon. w. Y. Atkinson, former gov.
ernor of Georgia, met the mob as he
was returning from church and he ap.
pealed 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 depeud upon it that ]
will testify against you"
A member of the mob was seen to
draw revolver and level it at Gov
ernor Atkinson, but his arm was seized
and the pistol taken from him. The
mob was frantic at delays and would
hear to nothing but burning at the
stake.
Hose confessed to killing Crawford,
but denied that he had outraged Mrs.
Crawford. Before being ppt to death
the negro stated that he had been paid
$l2 by Lige Strickland, a negro preacher,
at Palmetto, to kill Crawford.
Sam Hose killed Alfred Crawford, a
white farmer, near Palmetto, and out
ragged his wife, ten days ago. Since
that time business in that part of the
state has been suspended, the entire
population turning out in an effort to
capture Hose. He successfully eluded
pursuit until discovered near Macon.
Governor Chandler was asked to send
troops here to preserve order for a day
or two, as it was feared the negroes
would wreak vengeance, many threats
to that effect having been made.
Hose had been on the farm Of the
Jones brothers, between Macon and
Columbus, since the day after he COM
lifted his horrible crime. The Jones
,oys brought the negro into Macon and
Ut him aboard a Central of Georgia
roiu, with the intention of taking. him
TO Atlanta Some one recognized Hose
and sent word to Newman, the next
station, that the negro was on the train
bound for Atlanta. When Newman
was reached great crowd surrounded
the train and pushed into the cars.
The Jepes brothers were told that the
negrl could be delivered TO the sheriff