The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-25
THE PREACHER LYNCHED
Lee Strickland, implicated by Sam Hose,
Hanged by the Mob.
ASTRONG PLEA MADE BY HIS LANDLORD.
lIt Was Thought the vegro Would
BE saved, Hut the Mob Had
Lost All Henson,

Palmetto. Ga, April 24---rbe body o
Lige Strickland, the negro preacher VIII
was implicated In the Crawford murde
by Sam Hose. was found swinging to tn
limb Of persimmon tree within a mil
and quarter Of this place early today
Before death was allowed to end the suf
fering the negro's ears were cut off AM
the fingers OF his left hand were severct
al the second Joint. The troops were II
Palmetto. blood stained paper wa
found attached with pin to the body
On one side,ok the paper was written:
New York journal.
I'VE must project our ladies. $50"
The other side OF the paper contained
q warning to the negroes Of the neighbor-
hood. II read as follows:
Beware. all darkies! You Will be
treated tho same way"
Before being finally lynched Strickland
was given chance to confess to the mis-
deeds OF which the mob supposed him
to be guilty but he protested hts In
nocence until the end,
Three times the moose was placed
around his neck and the negro was drawn
ND off the ground; three times he was
let down with warnings that death was In
store for him should he fail to confess
his completely in the Crawford murder.
Three times Strickland proclaimed his In
nocence. until. weary Of useless torturing
the mob pulled on the rope and tied the
end around the slender trunk OF the per
simmon tree.
Not shot was fred by the mob strlck-
land was sranglcd to death.
The lynching Of Lign strickland was
not accomplished without desperate ef
fort on the part Of his employer to save
his life. The man who pleaded for the
negro is Major W. w Thomas, an ex~State
senator, and one Of he most distinguished
citizens Of this county. He did all IN
his power TO prevent the lynching Of the
negro and did not discontinue hts efforts
until he had been assured by the leaders
Of the mob that the negro would be taken
to Jail at Fairburn One mile from where
This premise was made Llge Strickland
was hanged.
The negro was tenant on the planta-
tion OF Major Thomas Sam Hose che
murderer OF Alfred Crawford and the as
salant OF his wife made his confession
Immediately prior to his burning he I'M
plicated Lige Strickland, Hose contending
that he had been offered money by Strick-
land ia kill Crawford II was known POSI-
NiNtles upWtNtI, ludl llNht lhu ildht lhi0N
statements in his last confession and
many OF those who aided In his burning
were disposed to Disregard his statement
IN regard to Strickland
Late Sunday night about fifteen mon
went to the plantation OF Major Thomas
and took Lige Strickland from the little
cabin in the woods that no called home
leaving his wife and Ave children TO wall
and weep over the fate they knew was in
store for the negro. Their cries aroused
Major Thomas, aud that sturdy old geutle-
man followed the lynchers In his buggy
accompanied by his son, William Thomas
determined II possible. to save the life
OF his plantation darby, He overlook the
lynchers with their victim Ms Palmetto,
and then ensued with only the moonlight
10 hrigten the faces OF these grim men.
the weirdest and most dramatic scene this
section has ever known
Llge Strickland WIS halted directly op-
ppslte the telegraph office, the moose was
adjusted around his neck and the END Of
lhe rope was thrown over q tree. StrlclI-
land was told he had chance before diving
TO confess his completely IN the crime
ne replied. have told you an know
gentlemen. You can kill me If you wish
but | know nothing more 10 tell
The negroes life might have been ended
then but for the arrival OF Major Thomas
who leaped from his buggy and asked for
a nearing he asked the crowd to give
the negro chance for his life here on tie
streets OF Palmetto, aud said Gentle
men, this negro Is innocent Hose gaid
!ige mad promised to give him SIC to XIII
aired Cr;tnford, and / believe Llge has
not had Sle since he has been on NV
place, He has never done any OF YOU nny
Marin, and now want YOU to promise me
mar you VIII turn him over 10 the ba1in
OF this town in order that he may be givsn
a hearing. do not ask that YOU llterate
MN Hold him and II the courts adndge
him guilty, hang him
10 THIS the mob replied that StrIelsl,,,,I
nad infamed the negroes in the poInbaor-
mood, and had a bad reputation bnvny
neen run away from East Point several
yenrs ago. va"
Major Thomas reminded the mob tbat
the negro had voluntarily told Of seei h,,
nose on the night OF the murder
member Of the mob rcpIisd that str,.,,
iano mad done this in tho eunnIngneys OF
MS sdiit 10 establish his own innncence
ners were some, however, who. agreed
Win MAJOR Thomas and after a discussion
vote was taken which was supposed 10
mean me or death to Ltge Strickland The
wore 70 let him live was unanimous.
Major Thomas then retired some distance
and the mob was preparing TO send strIck.
,ana IN wagon to Newman, when a mem
per OF the mob cried out: eve have gnt
him here; let's keep him.
TINS again aroused the mob and mes
seenger was sent TO advise Major Thomas ~
rave Palmetto for his own good. but the
oid gentleman was not frightened He
Grew himself up aud said emphatically: ~
nave never before heen ordered TO leave
town and | am not going to leave this
one. And then the major, uplifting his
nsnd to give his words force. said 10 the
messengers: Tell them that the muscles
OF my legs are not trained to running; tell
mem that ] have stood the ere aud heard
the whistle of the minnies from a thousand
l1nes and / am not frightened BY this
erowd "
Major Thomas was not molested
Inen with the understanding that Lge
strickland was to he delivered 10 the ian
a Fairburn, Major Thomas saw the negro
ne mad pleaded for led or to his death
The mob took the negro to grove near
the home OF Marshal J. J. Givens Of this
place ~nd again the moose was adjusted