The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-06
DEMONIACAL.
A Mob of 1000 Infuriated
People In Kentucky
Roast a Negro Alive In Broad
Daylight.
GOUGE OUT HIS EYES
After Binding Him With Wit
riOl and Pepper.
Five Thousand Spectators Wit
ness the Horrible Affair.
MANY WOMEN PRESENT
Victim Had Murdered Wife Of
His Employer.
Husband of Dead Woman Head
ed the Mob.
After Binding Him With Wit
riOI and Pepper.
Five Thousand Spectators Wit
ness the Horrible Affair.
MANY WOMEN PRESENT
Victim Had Murdered Wife of
His Employer.
Husband of Dead Woman Head
ed the Mob.

Mayesville Ky. Dec. ga mob took
Dick Coleman. colored murderer of
Mrs. LashbrOok from Jail today and
burned him alive.
Coleman arrived at 1920 this morning
under a special guard of deputies
sworn in by the sheriff, including De-
tective Fitzgerald. Constable Dawson.
Chief of Police Donovan. all the police
force and two deputy sheriffs. When
they arrived at the court house they
were met by a mob of fully 1 900 people
headed by James Lashbrook. the hus-
band of the murdered woman, and
went immediately up Second street
through the central portion of the city
to the hill followed by d mob of fully
5000 persons. All was done that was
possible by the sheriff and guard to
prevent lynching, but in the face Of
such a mob of people irrespective of
color, it was useless to attempt to do
anything. The mob grabbed Coleman
and threw a rope over his head and
took him above the city Coleman could
be beard above the cries of the mob,
pleading for his life.
The mob carried Coleman to a small
hollow near the railroad where they
Mrs. LushbroOk from Jail today and
heaped a huge pile of brushwood and
timber around him and fired the stack,
2
put out his eyes and in moment mis-
head rolled around and he was believed
to be dead.
The scene was an awful one and
around the funeral pyre were thous-
ands of maddened people headed by the
husband of the dead woman. y dozen
torches We're applied simultaneously
and huge tongues of fire swept up and
around the agOnized wretch
Before the roasting began Coleman
was almost dead. The rope had torn
n T1r tod Iafc faf
was terribly beaten up.
About 250 men were at the Chesa-
peake q Ohio train last night expecting
him, but he failed to come they
waited for him this morning Had the
officers succeeded in getting Coleman in
jail here there undoubtedly would have
been several killed in the attempt to
storm the Jail doors.
The crime for which Coleman was
burned is the murder of Mrs James
LashbroOk who had given him a home
and food. She was enticed by him To
enter a shed to see about some work
when he knocked her down with a.
club and assaulted her. The blow did
not kill her and Coleman. notWith-
razor and cut her throat. He was re-
moved to escape mob violence.
The negro had been employed on the
farm, also acting as house servant. He
had the complete confidence OF both
Mr.. and Mrs. Lashbrook- on the day
of the murder Mr. Lashbrook was not
bors and told story of a mysterious
murder but was that night arrested and
was kept from mob by being hurried
to COTingtOn. At COVingtOu jail Cole
no shadow Of doubt Of his guilt.
Coleman was burned near The spot
where Charles Collins was hanged forty
years ago for similar Offeuse- The
place is now used for cricket grounds
It is already announced that Judge
HarbesOn viii call special grand jury
at once to consider charges against
leaders of the mob today.
Blue vitriol and cayenne pepper were
thrown into his eyes and his face was
smashed in with a club.
Prior to being set affre Coleman said
he had nothing to say. His death was
slow and writhing in terrible agony ne
was hoOted and glared at by thousands
of people standing on the edge of the
pit. Many women We're present He
died at 1880 a. III.
His eyes. after the pepper and vftriol
We're thrown into them, were gouEed
out and some say he was horribly mutt
lated.
Just before he died he rose to Il sit
ting posture and said:
IF you take the flames away. ] want
to say something Then ne sank back
and died.
Cincinnati. Dec. 6.-Dick Coleman. the
cOlOred murderer of Mrs John Lash
brook has been kept in the jail at Gov
ington. Ky, since his arrest because OF
fear of mob violence at MayesVille His
trlaI was TO DeSln at MayeSNllle TO-DAY
and Judge HarbesOn had ordered that
he be brought to Mayesville Tuesday
night. a [ legram however from Mayes-
vile caused the sheriff to delay start
ing uutil this morning. Coleman was
in mortal terror when he was hand
cuffed today to be placed in the train
He begged piteOusly to be allowed 70
stay in COvington until after his trial
was ended. 1t was understood that
relatives of the LashbrOOks were in
Covington last night and were on board
the train today for the purpose. it is
supposed, of giving Information IN case
any effort was made TO change the des-
tinatiOn of the prisoner
General Wood Promoted.
Mashington. Dec s-The president