The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-07
M0b'S AWFUL VENGEANCE
ON A NEGRO MURDERER
Confessed to Killing White Woman in Kentucky,
He Was Burned at the Stake.
Husband Of His Victim Applied TOrch-HiS Eyes Gouged
Out and Frightul Torture Administered.

had driven to Maysville and returned
when Coleman asked her to enter the
cabin and look at some work at which
he had been engaged.
The negro locked the door on the in
side. Mrs Lashbrook became fright
ened and screamed Coleman struck
her on the head, knocking her down,
but not stopping her cries. He them
seized a razor and cut her throat He
picked up the bleeding body and placed
it on the bed.
He then left the room, but returning
heard her still groaning, and with an
AK he struck her repeatedly on the
head until he was sure she was dead
Goodness of the Fiend.
Without any show of alarm or re.
morse for his crime, the negro calmly
washed the blood from his hands and
clothing and went to where Mr.. LASH.
brook was at work in the field and told
him that he had better come to the
house, as some one had killed his wife
Mr.. Lashbrook did not take the matter
seriously until Coleman insisted that
his wife was dead. Even then, so
great was the confidence of Mr.. Lash
brook in Coleman that no thought oc-
CURED that he was the murderer.
1t was not until after officers ar
rived that suspicion was directed
against Coleman Blood spots had
been found on his clothing, but he ac-
counted for them by saying that he had
been killing chickens.
That night. however. at Maysville, a
partial confession was obtained and.
knowing the result if that fact should
become known. the officers quietly took
him TO Covington, KY. for safe keep
ing. He was indicted for the murder.
Shortly after his incarceration at
Covington, he made a complete and
horrible confession of his crime to the
jailer. The story of his revolving crime.
including worse than murder, was told
without any appearance of feeling by
the prisoner.
Confession Arouses Indignation
This confession, becoming public.
aroused feeling of Indignation
against the prisoner among the rela-
tives and friends of the victim. which
made it morally certain that the Off
GERS of the law would be powerlesS
to prevent a summary vengeance. at the
first opportunity. Still the authorities
at Maysville did not act upon that ba-
sis. There was no call upon the gov
ernor for troops to protect the pris-
oner.
County Judge Harbeson will empanel
a special grand jury at once to make a
speedy investigation and return indict-
ments against the leaders of the mob.
The statement from Frankfort that
for the apprehension of members of
the mob does not excite much fear that
the reward will be claimed. While there
is a wide difference among those who
were not connected with the mob, yet
there is a strong feeling that no pun
ishment will result from this tragedy
Souvenirs of Teeth and Bones.
The coroner held an inquest on the
charred remains of Richard Coleman,
and rendered the simple verdict:
Death at the hands OF mob
The body was left lying in the ashes
and Goals. and at the present writing
has not been removed. Relic hunters
took awav the teeth and bones and
flesh and every fragment Of the body
that they could lay hands on
All afternoon children, some of them
not more than six years old, kept up
the fires on the blackened body by
throwing grass, kindling wood, brush.
bits of boards and everything cornbus-
tible that they could gather. This they
kept I'D until dark
1t is related that Coleman, before
committing his crime, threw pepper IN
to his victims eyes from pepper box
One of the members used that same
pepper box today to throw pepper into
Ccleman'S eyes. as soon as he was LASH
ed to the stake. To make sure or
good job. he held open one eyelid after
the other, and peppered them success
sively, then drew the eyelids-
In this city the action of the mob IS
universally approved, even enthusiast
tically by women. who think that here
after they will be safer in consequence
Some men deprecate mob law, but say
this case was an exception to all rules
The latest report tonight is that Cole
mans mother is on the, way here TO
take charge of the ashes of her SON
All that was left of the body of Dick
Coleman was raked out of the emberS
and buried in the potter's field tonight
1t was only skull and two or three
charred bones. All Interest of the body
was widely distributed among relic
hunters Perfect quiet reigns in the
city tonight