Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-24
Awful Fate Of a Negro Near New
nan, Georgia.
FOR A HEINOUS CRIME
He Had Murdered His Employer
and Outraged His Wife.
HIS BODY CUT TO PIECES

A dlSpatch from Newman, Ga, yesterday
says: In the presence of nearly 1000 peo-
pie, who sent aloft yels of defiance and
shouts of joy, Sam Hose a negro. who COM
mitted two of the basest acts known to
crime, was burned at the stake in a public
road one and one-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
anatomy. The negro pleaded pitifully for
his life while the mutiation was going on,
but stood the ordeal of fire with surprising
fortitude. Before the body was cold it was
cut to pieces, the bones We're crushed into
bits, and even the tree upon which the
wretch met his fate was torn up and dis
posed of as souvenirs. The negro's heart
was cut in several pieces, as was also his
liver Those unable to obtain these CHASTITY
relics direct, paid their more fortunate
possessors extravagant prices for them.
Pieces of bone sold for % cents and
piece of the liver crisply cooked sold for
10 cents.
One of the men who lifted the can Of
kerosene to the negro's head is said to
have been an officer of the commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. His name is said to be
known by those who helped him, but they
refuse to divulge it,.
The mob was composed of citizens of
Griffin, Palmetto and other little towns
in the country round about Newman, and
of all the farmers who had received word
that the burning was to take place.
Victim Was Murderer.
Sam Hose killed Alfred Crawford, a white
farmer. near Palmetto, and outraged his
wife ten days ago. Since that time the
business in that part of the state has been
suspended, the entire population turning
out in an effort to capture Hose.
troops here to preserve order for a day
or two, as it is feared the negroes may
Wreak vengeance, many threats to that
effect having been made.
Hose had been on the farm of the Jones
brothers, between Macon and Columbia,
since the day after he committed the crime.
His mother is employed on the farm, and
to her little cabin he fed as a refuge. She
fed him and cared for him, but it is not
thought she knew he was being hunted by
the authorities. The Joneses were not
aware of the crime until a few days ago,
and were not sure he was the much-wanted
man. Saturday morning one of the Jones
boys met Hose and noticed that his gin
ger face was ebony black. but just below
the collar of his shirt the copper color was
dlscernlbe. Convinced that the negro had
blackened his face to escape detection,
Jones surmised that he was the negro for
whom the authorities. assisted by blood
hounds, had been securing the country for
ten days. 1t was then determined to ar
rest him.
brought to Macon.
Sunday morning the Jones boys brought
the negro into Macon and put him aboard
the Central of Georgia train, with the in
tention of bringing him TO Atlanta At
Griffin some one recognized Hose and sent
word on to Newman, the next station, that
the negro was on the train, bound for At
lanta. When Newman was reached a great
crowd surrounded the train and pushed into
the cars. The Jones boys were told that
the negro could be delivered to the sheriff
OF Campbell county there, and that 1t was
not necessary to take him to Atlanta This
was acceded TO. and the negro was taken
on the train and marched at the head of
shouting crowd of 500 people to the iaiI
Here they turned him over TO Sberiff
Brown, taking receipt for the prisoner
thus making themselves sure of the $3.50
reward for the arrest and delivery to the
snerif of Campbell county of one Sam
Hose"
Word was sent to Mrs Crawford. at Pal
metto. that it was believed Hose was under
arrest and that her presence was necessary
at Newman to make the identity.
Meantime, the news of the arrest leaked
out. and as the town had been on the alert
Tor nearly two weeks. the Intelligence
spread rapidly. From every house in the
little city came out its occupants. and soon
a crowd was gathered about the jail.
Sherlf Brown was importuned to give up
the prisoner, and finally in order 20 avoid
an assault on the Jail and possible blood
shed, he turned the wretch over to the
crowd. A procession was quickly formed
and the doomed negro was marched at its
head through the streets Former Gov
Atkinson of Georgia, who lives Eere came
upon the scene. and, standing I'D in a
buggy irnportuned the crowd to let the law
take its course The governor said:
Ex-Gov. Atkinson Speaks.
My friends and fellow-citizens, 1 beseech
you to let this affair go no farther You
are hurrying this negro on to death without
Identification. Mrs Crawford wiora he is
said to have assaulted. and whose husband
he is said to have killed, is sick in bed and
unable to be here to say If this is her as
sailant. Let this negro be returned to the
Jail The law will take its course, and
promise you it will do SO quickly and eff
lectually. DO not stain the honor of the
state with a crime such you are about
to perform
IN a similar strain. and implored the mob
TO return the negro to the custody of the
sherlf and go home. The assemblage heard
the words of the two speakers in silence
but the instant their voices had died away
SHOUTS OF on to Palmetto,' Burn him.
mink or his crime!" arose and the march
was resumed va
Mrs. Cranfords mother and sister arc
residents of Newman The mob was bead
ed in the direction of their house, and in
a snort time reached the McElroy home
4 ne negro was marched to the gate and
Mrs. McElroy was called to the front door
She identified the African and her YER
dict was agreed to by her daughter who
had often seen him around the Crawford
place.
ITO the stalker again arose the cry
and several men wanted to burn him in
Mrs. McElroy's yard. TO this she object
ed strenuously, and the mob. complying
with her wish. started for Palmetto
As they were leaving Newman word was
brought that the l o'clock train from At
lanta was bringing 1000 people to Pal
metto. This was thought to be regiment
of militia. and the mob at once decided to
burn the prisoner at the first favorable
place, rather than be compelled to shoot
him when the militia arrived.
Start for Palmetto.
Leaving the little town whose Sunday
quiet had been so rudely disturbed, the
mob which now numbered nearly 500
people, started the road to Palmetto
A line of buggies and vehicles of all kinds
their drivers fighting for position in line
followed the procession. One and a half
miles out of Newman place favorable for
the purpose of tho mob was reached
A little to one side of the road stood q