The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-07
YitrioI and Red Pepper Thrown In
His Bleeding Face and His Eyes
Burned or GOuged Out
THEN TIED TO A SMALL TREE
BRUSH AND WOOD PILED ABOUT HIN
AND THE TORCH APPLIED.
No Mercy Shown by Relatives of the
Woman He KiIIed-EIer Husband
the Leader of the Mob.

MAYSVILLE, KY. Dec. 6.-Richard Cole
man, colored, confessed murderer of Mrs.
James Lashbrook, wife of his employer,
| expiated his crime in daylight to-day at
the hands of a mob. consisting Of thou
sands of citizens by being burned at the
| stake, after suffering torture and fright be-
yond description. He was dragged through
the streets. and pelted with all sorts of
missiles until his body was covered with
on his face. and his eyes either burned out
| by the acid or gouged out with sticks or
| knives. When he arrived at the scene Of
| his funeral pyre he was tied to a tree.
brush and limbs Of trees piled about his
body. and the torch applied. The best citi-
zens, men and women. looked on or partici-
pated in the horrible execution. The mob
did not form a circle about the dying man
and dance and yell. as the Indians were
won't to torture their victims, but otherwise
the scene was shocking exhibition of saw
agery.
The dreadful spectacle occurred on the
peaceful cricket grounds on the outskirts
| of this, one of the oldest and among the
proudest cities of Kentucky. The barbara
ties inflicted upon this young negro by citi-
zens of one of the most highly civilized
| cit of ha-
lief, and can only be accounted for by the
intense horror created by long considera-
ton of the atrocious crime Of which full
confession had been made by Coleman.
Just two months ago Richard Coleman, the
trusted employe of Farmer James Lash
brook, in a moment of depravity and saw
agery not equaled In the annals Of crime,
murdered the woman who had been his
benefactor. Coleman was not only en-
ployed on the farm, but had been installed
as house servant and was trusted i'm
plicitly by both Mr.. Lashbrook and his
wife.
THE NEGRO'S CRIME.
On the day of the murder Mr.. Lash
brook was at work some distance away
from the house Coleman was left in
charge of the house. Mrs. Lashbrook had
driven TO Maysville and returned, when
Coleman asked her to look at some work
at which he had been engaged. The negro
locked the door on 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 a razor and cut her throat. He
picked up the bleeding body and placed it
on the bed, and then left the room. When
he returned she was still groaning, and
with an ak he struck her repeatedly on the
head until he was sure 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
in the field and told him that he had bet
ter come to the house, as some one had
Killed his wife. Mr.. Lashbrook did not care
TO take the matter seriously until Coleman
insisted that his wife was dead. Even then
so great was the confidence of Lashbrook
in Coleman 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 account
ed for that by saying that he had been
killing chickens. That night, however. at
Maysville. a partial confession was OBJ
tained, and knowing the result IL that fact
should become known. the officers quietly
removed him to Covington, KY. for safe
keeping. He was indicted for the murder.
CONFESSED HIS CRIME.
Soon after his incarceration at Coving
ton he made a complete confession OF his
crime to the jaier. The story of his re-
voting crime including worse than MUIR
der was told without any appearance Of
feeling by the prisoner. This confession
becoming public, reused a feeling of indig-
nation against the prisoner among the
relatives and friends of the victim which
made 1t certain that the officers of the law
would be poweIless to prevent a summary
vengeance at the first opportunity Still.
the authorities at Maysville did not act
on that basis. There was no call on the
Governor for troops to protect the pris-
| oner.
On Tuesday Sheriff Perrine. under orders
of Judge Harbeson, with four assistants
went to Covington expecting TO return
with Coleman on Tuesday night. but afte,
reaching Covington the jailer at Maysville
wired him not TO attempt TO bring the pris.
| Oner nldySNllic dl HlSDt- Inc trlal
was set for to-day. Sheriff Perrine deter.
mined to leave Covington by the train or
the Chesapeake & Ohio which started a,
7:30 o'clock Wednesday morning from Gin
cAnati and Covington. Coleman had beer
apprised Tuesday night 10 prepare TO re.
turn TO the scene of his crime. He wa.
instantly stricken with fear and begged
! piteously to be permitted to remain In
: covington until after his trial. He sale
he expected to die. but he dreaded ths