The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-24
Head Hunters and Can.
nibals Outdone.
Victim Was Accused of Murder
and Rape.

NeWman, "a, April 25.-ln the pres
ence of nearly 1000 people who sent aloft
yells of defiance and shouts of joy, Sam
Hose. a negro, who committed two of the
basest crimes, was burned ut the stake
in public road one and half miles
from here this afternoon. Before the
torch was applied to the pyre the negro
was deprived of his ears. fingers and
other portions of his body. 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, 1t 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 into several pieces as was
also his liver. Those unable to obtain
the ghastly relics paid their more fortu-
nate possessors extravagant sums for
them. Small pieces of bone went for ESQ
and bit of liver, crisply cooked, sold for
10c.
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.
rush was made for the stake and those
near the body forced against it and had
to 1ght for their freedom. Knives were
quickly produced and soon the body was
dismembsred.
One of the men who lifted the can of
kerosene to the negro's head is said TO
be 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.
Hon. W. Y. Atkinson. former governor
of Georgia, met the mob as he was re-
turning from church and he appealed to
them TO let the law takes 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 depend upon 1t that will
| testify against you"
A member of the mob was seen to draw
revolver and level. is at MIR. 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 st the stake.
Hose confessed TO killing Crawford, but
denied that he had outraged Mrs. Gran
| ford. Before being put to death the me-
gro stated that he had been paid $i2 by
'Lige'' Strickland. a negro preacher at
Palmetto TO kill Crawford.
Citizens are securing the country for
Strickland, who has left his home and
will lynch him If caught.
Sam Hose killed Alfred Crawford, a
| white farmer, near Palmetto, and it Is
said, outraged his wife ten days ago.
Since that time business in this part
of the state has been suspended, the en-
| tire population turning out in an effort
| to capture Hose. He successfully eluded
pursuit until discovered near Macon.
| Gov. Chandler has been asked tc ssnd
| troops here to preserve order for day
or two as it is feared the negroes will
wreak vengeance, many threats to that
effect having been made.
Hose has been on the farm of the Jones
brotherhood between Macon and Colum-
| bus since the day after he committed the
| horrible crime. His mother is employed
on the farm and TO her little cabin he
| fled for refuge. She fed and cared for
him, but 1t Is not believed that she knew
he was being hunted for by the authori-
| ties. The Jones brothers were not aware
of the crime until n few days ago and
were not sure that Hose was the much
wanted man. Saturday morning one OF