Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-07
Horrible Fate Of a Kentucky
Negro Murderer.
Taken from Officers at Maysvi|Ie and
Burned Alive at the Stake.
No Doubt o! Guilt -coniesses Assauiiioq ard
Killing White Woman.

/
his employer. expiated his crime in
daylight today. at the hands of a
mob consisting of thousands of citi-
ZenS, by burning at the stake after suf-
fering torture and fright beyond de
! scription.
The dreadful spectacle occurred on
the cricket grounds on the outskirts OF
this city. The barbarities inflicted up
on this young negro are almost beyond
belief ana can only be accounted for
blythe intense horror created by long
consideration of the crime Of which
fun confession had been made by Cole
| man
Two months ago Coleman. in a man
ner peculiarly atrocious. murdered the
woman who had befriended him. Cole
man was not only employed on the
farm. but had been installed As 4 house
@ervant and was trusted implicitly by
both James Lashbrool and his wife.
on the day If the murder. Mi. Lash
Drok was working some distance from
the house OF which Coleman was left
in charge.
MIS-. LashbroOk had driven u Mays
willie ard returned. when Coleman ask
r1 her to enter the cabin u look at
| some work on which he had been en-
/ gagged. The negro locked the door on
1 The inside. Mrs. Lashbreok became
| frightened and screamed. Coleman
struck her on the head, knocking her
down but not stopping her cries. He
then seized 4 razor and cut her throat.
| He picked up the bleeding body and
| placed it on the bed. He then left the
room, but returned and hearing her
groan. he struck her repca teddy on the
head with an axe until he was sure she
was dead.
! Without any show Of alarm or re-
! morse. the negro washed the blood
! from his hands ana clothing ana went
! to where Mr.. Lashbrook was at work
/ in the field and told him that he had
| better come t. tho house. as some one
had killed his wife. MI. Lashbrook
did not take the matter seriously until
| Coleman Insisted that his wife was
| dead Even then, 50 great was the
confidence of Mr.. Lashbrouk in Cole
man that M thought occurred that he
was Inc murderer.
II WAS not until after the officers ar
rived that suspicion was directed
against Coleman. Blood spots had
counted for them by saying that hc
had been killing chickens. That night
however. at Maysvillc a partial con
fessinn was obtained. and knowing the
result if the fact should become known
the officers quietly took him to CovinS-
ton, Ky. for safe keeping. He was in
dictod for the murder. shortly after
his incarceration at Covington he made
complete confession to the jailcr
The story Of his crime, including worse
than murder. was told by him without
any appearance of feeling.
This confession becoming public
reused a feeling Of Indignation against
the prisoner among the relatives AMI
friends Of the victim which made it
morally certain that the officers Of the
law would be powerlcss to prevent
summary vengeance at the first oppor-
tunity. Still. the authorities at Mays
vile did not act upon that basis
There was no call upon the governor
for troops to protect the prisoner.
on Tuesday. Sheriff Perrine. under
orders Of Judge HarbesOn. with four
assistants, went to Covington. expect
ing to return with Coleman. Tuesday
night. but the jailer at Maysvile wired
NM lipl " stlttllll W DlllS lllt' lllS-
oncr in to Maysvlle at night
The trial was set for today Sheriff
Perrine decided to leave Covineton by
this mornings train. Coleman had
been told. Tuesday night. to prepare to
return To the scene Of his crime He
was stricken with fear ana begged pit
eously to be permitted to remain in
CovinGton until after his trial He
said he expected To die. but he dread !
Cd the vengeance of a mob. When he !
was handcuffed on leaving the Jail i'll /
Covineton. he was almost paralyzed 4
and had to be assisted to the patrol I
wagon. The crowd about the Jail !
Their and at the Covington depot added .
to his fear. on entering the train he .
seemed unable to sit down until one Of .
the guards forced him into a seat
The prisoner with his escort arrived
at 1920 o'clock. As the train pulled
into the station, the mob formed on
both sides. Armed men stationed
themselves at the platforms of all the
cars and warned the frightened pas
Scngcrs to remain quiet Sheriff Per \
rine started walking swiftly but with
no indication of panic. from the car
A step behind followed the officers with
Coleman, seeking to conceal himself
behind the forms of his protectors
Hundreds of stones and other missiles
were thrown and revolvers and rifles
We're freely displayed. The prisoner
was frequently struck and he presented
q frightful appearance, blood stream
ing from wounds on his face and head
At the court house q mob Of over 2000
men headed by James Lashbrook. the
husband had been hastily formed. \
demand for the prisoner was made. ac-
companied by threats. There was A
brief struggle in which weapons were
drawn by the officers, and then thu
sheriff and his assistants We're over
come by numbers and the prisoner was
taken from them.
tn through the central portion or
the town. the mob marched. the priS-
oner being held by the vanguard and
dragged along with the aid Of ropes
loosely attached to his body. He Was
Continued on page 81 !