The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-24


turned the wretch over to the waiting
crowd.
A procession was quickly formed and
the doomed negro was marched at its
head through several streets of the town.
Soon the public square was reached.
Here former Gov. Atkinson, Of Georgia,
who lives in Newman, came hurriedly
upon the scene, and standing up in bug
gy fmportuned the crowd to let the law
take Its course. Gov. Atkinson said:
My fellow citizens and friends, 1 be-
seech you to let this thing go no further
You are hurrying this negro on to death
without Identification. Mrs. Crawford
whom he is said to have assaulted and
whose husband he is said to have killed
is sick in bed and unable to say whether
this is her assailant Let this negro be
returned to Jail. The law will take its
course and I promise you 1t will do so
quickly and effectually. Do not stain
the honor of the state with crime such
as you are about to commit
Judge A. d. Freeman, also of Newman,
spoke In similar strain, and implored
the mob to return the prisoner to the Gus
tody of the sheriff and go home.
PLEAS IN VAIN.
The assemblage heard the words of the
speakers in silence, but the instant their
voices had died away shouts of ION to
DuIu IlIH. lulIlk Ol his
crlme! arose and the march was re-
sumed.
MRS. Cranford's mother and sister are
residents of Newman. The mob was
headed In the direction of their house,
and in short time reached the McElroy
nome. The negro was marched in the
gate, and Mrs. McElroy was called to the
front door. She Immediately identified
the African and her verdict was agreed
to by her daughter, who had often seen
Hose about the Crawford place.
10 the stake!' was again the cry
Several men wanted to burn him In Mrs
McElroy's yard. To this she objected
strenuously, and the mob. complying
with her wish, started for Palmetto. Just
as they were leaving Newman news was
brought that the o'clock train from At
1anta was to bring 1000 people from At
lanta. This was taken to be regiment
OF soldiers and the mob decided to burn
the prisoner at the first favorable place
rather than be compelled to shoot him
When the militia put in an appearance
Leaving the little town whose Sunday
quiet had been so rudely disturbed, the
mob, which now numbered nearly 1900
people, started on the road to Palmetto.
A line Of buggies and vehicles of all
kinds, their drivers fighting for position
In line, followed the procession, at the
head of which, closely guarded, marched
the negro.
AT THE STAKE.
One and a half miles out Of Newman a
place believed to be favorable for the
burning was reached. A little to the
SIDE or the road was strong pine tree.
Up to this the negro was marched his
back placed to the tree, his face to the
crowd, which jostled closely about him.
Here, for the first time, he was allowed
to talk. He said:
Il am Sam Hose. I killed Alfred Gran
ford, but was paid to do it. Lige Strick-
land, the negro preacher at Palmetto,
gave me $12 to kill him."
At this roar went up from the crowd
The Intelligence impaired was spread
among the crowd.
Let him go on. Tell all you know
about it," was shouted.
The negro, trembling like leaf. continu-
ed his recital. 81 did not assault Mrs.
Crawford. Some one else did that I
can identify them. Give me time to do
that" The crowd would hear no more.
The clothes were torn off the negro. A
heavy chain was produced and wound
about the terrified man, and clasped by
new lock, which dangled at his neck.
He said not word to these proceed
ings, but at the sight of two or three
knives flashing in the hands of several
men In the crowd near him, which SEEM
ed to imply the terrible ordeal he was
about to be submitted to. he sent up a.
yell that could be heard for a mile.
EARS CUT OFF.
Instantly hand grasping a knife shot
out and one Of the negros ears dropped
into hand ready to receive 1t. Hose
pleaded piteously for mercy, and begged
his tormentors to let him die His cries
went unheeded. A second later the other
ear was cut off. Hardly had he been
deprived of his organs of hearing than his
hngers, one by one, were taken from his
hands, and passed among the members
OF the yelling, and now thoroughly mad
dened crowd.
The words Come on with the oilp'
brought huge can of kerosene to the
loot OF the tree. where the negro, his BODY
covered with blood from head to foot.
was striving and tugging at his chains.
Ihe can was lifted over the negro's head
by three or four men, and It's contents
poured over him.
by this time good supply of brush.
pieces OF fence rails and other f1rewood
had been placed about the negro's feet
Th1s pyre was thoroughly saturated and
q match applied. The flames shot upwa rd
and spread quickly over the pile of wood
AS 1t licked the negro's legs he shrieked
once and began tugging at his chains
LAST STRUGGLE.
AS the flames crept higher and the
smoke entered his eyes and mouth he put
the stumps of his hands to the tree back
of him, and with a terrific plunge of his
body forward released the upper portions
CoufiuroS1 NJ, TI,s-<1 n..