The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-07
A FULL CONFESSION MADE
Kentucky Citizens Commit the
AtroCious Act.
HORRIBLE SIGHT AT THE STAKE
Blue Vitriol and Cayenne Pepper Was
Thrown in the Negro's Eyes and
His Face Crushed by
Chunk of Wood
HORRIBLE SIGHT AT THE STAKE

Maysville, Ky, December 6-Richard
Coleman, colored, the confessed murderer
of Mrs James Lashbrook, the wife of his
employer, expiated his crime in daylight
today at the hands of a mob consisting of
thousands of citizens. by being burned at
the stake after suffering torture beyond
description.
The. dreadful spectacle occurred on the
peaceful cricket grounds on the outskirts
of the town. The barbarities inflicted upon
the negro by citizens of one of the most
highly civilized cities of the state are al
most beyond belief, and can only be ac-
counted for by the intense horror created
by long consideration of the atrocious
crime, of which full confession has been
made by Coleman.
Just two months ago Richard Coleman,
the trusted employe of Farmer James
Lashbrook in moment of depravity and
savagery murdered the woman who had
been his benefactress. Coleman had been
installed as house servant, and was trust
ed implicitly by both Mrs. Lashbrook and
her husband
On the day of the murder Mr. Lashbrook
was at work some distance from the house.
Coleman was left in charge of the house.
Mrs. Lashbrook had driven to Maysville
and returned, when Coleman asked her to
enter the cabin to look at some work at
which he had been engaged. The negro
locked the door the inside. Mrs. Lash
brook became frightened and screamed.
Coleman struck her on the head, knocking
her down, but not stopping her cries. He
then seized razor and cut her throat.
He picked up the bleeding body and placed
it on the bed. He then left the room, but
returning, heard her still groanng and
with axe he struck her repeatedly on
the head until he was sure that she was
dead.
Without any show of alarm or remorse
for his crime, the negro calmly washed the
blood from his hands and clothing and
went to where Mr.. Lashbrook was at work
dn the field and told him that he had better
come to the house, as some one had killed
his wife.
Mr.. Lashbrook did not take the matter
seriously until Coleman insisted that his
wife was dead. Even then, so great was
the confidence of Mr.. Lashbrook in Cole
man, that no thought occurred that he was
the murderer. 1t was not until after the
officers arrived that suspicion was directed
against Coleman. Blood spots had been
found on his clothing. but he accounted for
chickens. That night, however, at Mays
Vile, partial confession was obtained,
and knowing the result if that fact should
become known, the officers quietly removed
him to Covington, KY, for safe keeping.
He was indicted for the murder
Made Complete Confession
Shortly after his incarceration at Cow
ington he made a complete and horrible
confession to the jailer The story of his
revolving crime, including worse than mur-
der, was told without any appearance of
feeling by the prisoner This confession be-
coming public, reused feeling of indigna-
tion against the prisoner among the rela-
tives and friends of the victim which made
it morally certain that the Officers of the
law would be powerless to prevent a sum-
mary vengeance at the first opportunity.
Still the authorities at Maysville did not act
upon that basis. There was no call upon
the governor for troops to protect the
prisoner.
On Tuesday Sheriff Perrin, under orders
of Judge HARRISON, with four assistants,
went to Covington expecting to return
with Coleman on Tuesday night, but after
reaching Covington the jailer at Maysville
wired him not to attempt to bring the pris-
oner into Maysvile at night.
The trial was set for today. Sheriff Per-
rim determined to leave Covington by the
train on the Chesapeake and Ohio, which
started this morning. Coleman had been
apprised Tuesday night to prepare to re-
turn to the scene of his crime. He was in
stantly stricken with fear and begged
piteously to be permitted to remain in Cow
dngton until his trial. He said he expected
to die, but he dreaded the vengeance of a
mob.
When he was handcuffed on leaving the
Jail in Covngton he was almost paralyzed,
and had to be assisted to the patrol wagon.
The crowd about the jail there and at the
Covington depot added to his fear On en-
tering the train he seemed unable to sit
down until one of the guards forced him
into the seat. 1t developed that in the
crowd at Covngton and even on the train
there were some of the relatives of Mrs.
Lashbrook ready to convey information If
any attempt was made to secrete the pris-
oner. Messages were sent here. The negro
and his escort arrived at 1920 this morning
under special guard of deputies, sworn in
by the sheriff, including Detective Fitzger-
aid Constable Dawson, Ch'ef.of Police Dom
ovan, all the police force and two deputy
sheriffs.
Met by Immense Mob
When they arrived at the court house
they were met by mob of fully 1000 peo-
ple headed b James Lashbrook, the hus-
band of the murdered woman, and went