The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28
A Second EXECUTION
For Completely in the
Crawford Crimes
LIGB STRICKLAND LYNCHED

Brave Efforts Of colonel Thomas 10
Save the Man From the Hands OF the
Mobilize Negro Declares His Ipno>
eence to the Last
Palmetto, Ga, April 24.-The body
OF Lige Strickland, the negro preacher
who was implicated in the Crawford
murder by San Hose, was found
swinging to the limb Of a tree within
a mile n a quarter OF this place ar
ly today. Before death was allowed to
end the sufferings OF the negro, his
ears We're cut of 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 a piece
or bloodstained paper attached by an
ordinary pin. On one side Of this paper
was written: New York Journal-We
Must Protect Our Ladies, 1899"
The other side Of the paper contained
a warning to the negroes of the neigh
borhood. 1t read as follows: Beware
All Darkies. You will be Treated the
Same Way"
Before being finally lynched Strick-
Ian was given a chance to confess TO
the misdeeds Of which the mob sup
posed him to be guilty, but he protest.
ed his innocence to the end. Three
tunes the moose was placed around his
meek and the negro was draw up off
THE ground; three times he was let
down and told that death was in store
for him should he fail to confess his
L nm -
Three times Strickland proclaimed his
innocence, until, weary Of useless tor
turing, the mob pulled on the rope and
tied the end around the slender trunk
OF a tree. Not a shot was fired by the
mob. ricklan was strangled to
death.
The lynching Of Lige Strickland was
not accomplished without a desperate
effort on the part of his employer to
save his life. The man who pleaded
for the negro is Major w. w. Thomas,
an eX-state senator, n one of the
most distinguished citizens of Coweta
county. He did all in his power to
prevent the lynching 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 Milburn- One mile from where
this promise was made Lige Strickland
was hanged. 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 imme-
diately prior to his burning he impli-
Gated Lige Strickland, Hose contend
ing that he had been offered mons by
Strickland to kill Crawford. It was
known positively, however, that Hose
had made false statements in his last
confession and many Of those who aid
ed in his burning were disposed to dis
regard his statement in regard to
Strickland.
Late Sunday night about fifteen men
went to the plantation Of Major Thom-
as and took Lige Strickland from the
little cabin in the woods hat he called
home, and left his wife and five chill
dren to weep over the fate they knew
was in store for the negro. Their cries
aroused Major Thomas and that stur-
dy old gentleman followed the lynch
ers in his buggy, accompanied by his
son, William M. Thomas, determined
to save, if possible, the life Of his plan
tation darkey. He overlook the lynch
ers with their victim at Palmetto and
then ensued, with only the moonlight
to brighten the faces OF these grim
men, the wierdest n most dramatic
scene this section las ever known. Lige
Strickland was halted directly oppo-
site the telegraph office. The moose was
adjusted GROUND his neck and the END
Of the rope was thrown over a tree.
Strickland vas told he had a chance
before dying to confess his completely
in the crime. He replied: Il ave told
you all I know gentlemen. You can kill
me if you wish, but I know nothing
A STRONG APPEAL FOR THE NE
GRO'S LIFE
The negro's life might nave been end
ed then but for the arrival Of Major
Thomas, who leaped from his buggy
n asked for a hearing. lie asked the
crowd to give the negro a chance fo1
his life here on the streets Of Palmetto
and said:
Gentlemen, his negro is innocent
Hose said Lige had promised to give
him $40 to kill Alfred CranfOr and ]
believe Lige has not had twenty dol
lars since he has been on my place
He has never done any of o any
harm and now I want you TO promise
me that you will turn him over to the
bailiff of this town in order that he
may be given a hearing. l do not ash
you to liberate him. Hold him and il
; the court adjudges him guilty, hang
| him"
} To this the mob replied that Strick.
land had inflamei the negroes in the
neighborhood and had a bad reputa.
| ton, having been run from East Poinr
al OA1 oo" OAAA =
: minded the mob that the negro haG
voluntarily told Of seeing Hose on tn,
. night Of the murder. a man of the moi
replied that Strickland had thi:
t in cunningness OF his guilt to establish
his own innocence. There were some
: however, who agreed with Major
Thomas, and after a discussion a yot:
} was taken which was supposed II
mean life or death to Strickland. TIL,
vote to let him live was unanimous
Major Thomas then retired some dis
lance and the mob was preparing Il
take Strickland in q wagon to New.
man, when a member Of the mob cried
out: w have got him here; let's keel
him.
? This again aroused the mob and
= messenger was sent to advise Maioa
= Thomas to leave Palmetto for his Owl
2 grounds, but h old gentleman wa
not frightened. He drew himself III
and said emphatically: II have neve
! before been ordered to leave a tow