Richmond planet., 1899-12-09

brawny forms of his protectors. As
the officers proceeded the numpers OF
the mob we're constantly swelled bv
new arrivals, and through the down
town business streets they were close
~ followed Hundreds of stones and
other missiles were thrown. ard re-
volvers and rifles were freely display
ed
The prisoner was frequently struck.
and he presented q frightful appear
ance, the blood streaming from wounds
Oh his face and head. At the court
house mob OF over 2 900 men. head ed
by James Lashbrook. the husband. had
been hastily formed. A demand for
the prisoner was made There WAS a
brief struggle in which weapons were
hastily drawn by the officers, and then
the Sheriff and his assistants were
overcome by force of mum 0ers. and the
prisoner was secured by the leaders of
the mob.
The prisoner was dragged alonx bv
ropes loosely attached 60 his body. hs
was the target again Of hundreds of
missiles, and several times be sank.
half conscious. to the ground, while
the crowd pressed forwa ard, striking at
him with clubs, sticks and whips. until
his head and body were scarcely reco0-
nlzable. More dead than alive, he was
dragged along and forced to his feet.
Scores OF women Joined the men. The
wretch could be-heard pleading for his
life, but was answered with an oath
and a blow.
DEATH MADE SLOW.
The place OF execution had been se-
lected a week ago and other details of
the execution mapped out by the lead
ers- ihe prisoner was strapped against
tree facing the husband of the vic
tim. Large quantities of drv brush
and larger bits OF wood were piled
around him, while he was praying for
speedy death. James Lashbrook. the
husband OF the victim, applied the
Hrst match TO the brushwood. A broth
er OF the victim struck the second
match Some one with a kuife was
vainly slashing at the prisoners chest.
Not single shot was fired. The pur-
pose seemed to be to give the wretch
the greatest possible amount of tor
ture. A fatal shot would have been
merciful, and there was no mercy in
the crowd surrounding Richard Cole
man.
The ropes securing him to the tree
were burned, and his body finally fell
forward on the burning pile. The
crowd used rails and long poles to
push his body back into the flames. lk
is not certain how long life lasted.
Dorlng the process, while his voice
could be heard, he begged for drink
OF water. At the end of three hours
the body was practically eremated.
During all that time members of the
family OF Lsshbrook had remained to
keep up the fire.
| NO ATTEMPT AT DIseUIsE.
In all the thousands whoyeonstituted
the mob there was not q single effort
made to Disguise or conceal identify.
No man wore a mask. All the leaders
OF the mob are we'll known, and there
are hundreds of witne sses @bo can
testify TO theis participation in the
tragedy. They are leading citizens in
all lines OF business. and many are
members of churches.
County Judge Harbeson will en-
panel q special grand juIy at once, to
turn indictments against the leaders of
the mob.
CoRoNER's VERDICT.
The Coroner held an inquest on the
charred remains Richard Coleman.
and rendered the -slmple verdict,
Death at the hands of mob"
The body WAS left lying there, and at
present has not been removed. Relic
hunters took away teeth and bones and
flesh, and every fragment OF the body
that they could lay hands upon.
All the Afternoon children, some of
them not more than 6 years old, kept
up the fires on the blackenea body, bv
throwing brush, grass, bits Of kindling-
WOOD and everything combustle that
they could gather.
The action of the mob seems to be
generally approved, even by women.
who think that hereafter they will be
safer.
ACTION BY THE GOVERNOR.
FRANKFoRT, KY. December 6.-Gov-
ernor Bradley announced this after
noon that he would offer q reward for
the apprehension of the members OF
the mob which burned Coleman st