Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-07
DIED At THE STAKE.
Negro Fearfully Expiated a
Terrible Crime.
VICTIMS HUSBAND LED AVENGERS
Dragged the Brnte Through the Streets
of MaysviIle, KY, Then Burned Him,
With Awful Tortures-Assaultod and
Murdered Woman.

Coleman (colored). confessed murderer
of Mrs. James Lashbrook, wife of his
employer, expiated his crime in daylight
at the hands of q mob. consisting of
thousands of citizens, by burning at the
stake, after suffering torture and fright
beyond description.
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.
Richard Coleman was the trusted en-
ploye of Farmer James Lashbrook. On
the day of ihe murder Mrs. Lashbrook
had driven to Maysville and returned.
when Coleman asked her to enter the
cabin to look at some work at which he
had been engaged. The negro locked
the door on the inside. Mrs. Lashbrook
became frightened and screamed.
Coleman struck her on the head,
knocking her down, but not stopping
her cries. He then seized razor and
cut her throat. He picked up the bleed
ing 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. The negro
washed the blood from his hands and
clothing and went to where Mr.. Lash
brook was as 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.. Lashbrook
in Coleman, that no thought occurred
that he was the murderer. 1t was not
until after the officers arrived that sus-
picion was directed against Coleman
Blood spots had been found on his
clothing, but he accounted for that by
saying that he had been killing chickens,
That night, however, at Maysville.
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 Gov
ington he made a complete and horrible
confession of his crime to the jailer.
The story of his revolving crime, includ-
ing worse than murder, was told with
out any appearance of feeling by the
prisoner. ..
Sheriff Perrine, under orders of Judge
Harbeson, with four assistants, went to
CovlngtOD. expecting to return with
Coleman that night. but after reaching
Covington the jailer at Maysville wired
not to attempt to bring the prisoner into
Maysyille at night.
Sheriff Perrlne and deputies left Cow
ington the next day with the prisoner.
Coleman had been apprised the night
before the day the departure was made
to prepare to return 60 the scene of his
crime. He was instantly stricken with
fear and begged piteously to be per-
mitted to remain in Covington until
after his trial. He said he expected to
die, but he dreaded the vengeance of q
mob.
Sheriff Perrlne, while .enroute to
Maysville, had been informed that a
mob was awaiting the arrival of tho
train at the depot and he hastily pre-
pared for the swearing IN of deputy
sheriffs. As the train puffed slowly into
the old station the mob formed on both
sides in TWO long but closely huddled
crowds. Armed men stationed them
selves at the platforms of all the cars
and warned the frightened passengers
to remain quiet and not to interfere. A
low murmur gathered louder force as it
spread up and down the lines and its
volumes slowly increased to a roar as
first one and then another of the wait
ing men plunged into the cars.
The sheriff and his assistants were
strongly armed anu there was some re-
sistance as the leaders of the mob
jostled roughly against them and hoarse
demands were uttered from the outer
edges of tie crowd. Sheriff Perrine
made a bold movement and started
walking swiftly, but with no indica-
tons of panic, from the car. A step
behind him followed the officers with
Coleman in their midst.
AS the officers proceeded the mum bers
of the mob were constantly swelled by
new arrivals, and through the down
town business streets to the court house
they were closely followed. Hundreds
OF stones and other missiles were thrown
and revolvers and rifles were freely dis
played. The prisoner was frequently
struck and he presented frightful ap-
pearance, the blood streaming from
wounds in his face and head. At the
court house Il mob of over 1000 men,
headed by James Lashbrook, the hus-
band of the murdered woman, had been
hastily formed.
The prisoner was taken away from
the officers. Up through the center
portion of the town the march was
taken. The prisoner being held by the
vanguard and dragged along with the
aid of ropes loosely attached to his body.
He was the target again of hundreds OF
missiles and several times he sank half
unconscious to the gronnd while the
crowd pressed forward, striking at him
with clubs, sticks and whips until his
head and body were scarcely recog-
nizable. More dead than alive he was
dragged along and forced to his feet.
Scores of women joined the men. High
above the noise the wretch could be
heard pleading for his life and the cry
of the prisoner would be answered with
an oath and blow. This spectacle
continued until the grounds were
reached.
The place of execution had been Sc
lected weeks ago, in accordance with all
tue other arranged details of the pro-
gram mapped out by the leaders of the
mob. The prisoner was dragged to the
sapling and strapped against the tree.
facing the husband of the victim. Large
quantities of dry brush and larger bits
of wood were piled around him while he
Lashbrook, the husband OF the victim,
applied the first match to the brush
wood. s brother of the victim struck
the second match. Someone with a
knife was vainiy slashing at the prison
s<'s chest.
As the flames arose Coleman s horrors
increased. He made vain efforts to
Withdraw his limbs from the encroach-
Ing fire; his eyes rolled in a frenzy Of
suffering. The ropes securing him to
the tree were burned and his body fin