The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-07
NEGRO DIES
AT STAKE.
Continued from Page One.l

even on the train there were relatives
of Mrs. Lashbrook. ready to convey
information, if any attempt was made
to secrete the prisoner. Messages were
sent here.
The prisoner, with his escort, arrived
at 1920 o'clock Sheriff Perine, while
en- route to Maysville, had been in
formed that a mob was awaiting the
arrival of the train, and he prepared
for swearing in deputies. AS the train
pulled into the station the mob formed
on both sides. Armed men stationed
themselves at the platforms of all the
cars and warned the frightened pas
sengers to remain quiet. The sheriff
and his assistants were strongly
armed, and there was some resistance
as the leaders of the mob jostled
against them and demands were made
from the outer fringes of the crowd
for the prisoner.
Sheriff Perine started walking swift
ly, but with no indications of panic,
from the car. A step behind him fol-
lowed the officers with Coleman, seek
ing to conceal himself behind the
forms of the officers. AS the officers
proceeded the numbers of the mob
were constantly swelled by new ar
rivals, and through the down town
business streets to the court house, the
officers were closely followed. Hun
dreds of stones and other missiles
We're thrown, and revolVers and rifles
were RELY displayed.
The prisoner was frequently struck,
and he presented a frightful appear
ance, blood streaming from wounds on
his face and head At the court house
mob of over two thousand men,
headed by James Lashbrook, the hus-
band, had been hastily formed A de-
mand for the prisoner was made, ac-
companied by threats.
There was brief struggle in which
revolvers were drawn by the officers
and then the sheriff and his assistants
were overcome by numbers and the
prisoner was taken from them. Up
through the central portion of the town,
the mob marched, the prisoner being
held by the vanguard and dragged
along with the aid of ropes loosely at
tached to his body. He was the target
of hundreds of missiles and several
times he sank half unconscious to the
ground, while the crowd pressed for
ward, striking at him with clubs, sticks
and whips until his head and body were
scarcely recognizable.
More dead than alive he was dragged
along and forced to his feet. Scores of
women joined the men. This spectacle
continued until the grounds were
reached when the final work of the mob
was accomplished. There the prisoner
was dragged to a sapling and strapped
against it, facing the husband of the
victim.
Eashbrook tore off dry brush and
later fragments of wood We're piled
around him, while he was praying for
speedy death. James Lashbrook, the
husband of the murdered woman, APP
piled the first match to the brushwood.
A brother of the victim struck the Sec
ond one. Some one with a knife was
slashing at the prisoners chest. Not a
single shot was fired The purpose
seemed to be to give the wretch the
greatest possible amount of torture
AS the flames arose, Coleman's horror
increased and he made vain efforts to
withdraw his limbs from the encroach-
ing fire. The ropes, securing him to the
tree, were burned and his body finally
fell forward on the burning pile. Even
then, although it was not certain
whether he was living or dead, the
crowd used rails and long poles to push
his body back into the flames. 1t is not
certain how long life lasted
During the process, while his voice
could be heard, Coleman begged for a
drink of water. At the end Of three
hours the body was cremated. During
that time the members of the LASH
ooN fanny AeHidlilSu W heep up the
fire and to keep the body in a position
where it would continue to burn 1t is
said on the march through the city,
the prisoners eyes were burned out by
acid thrown in an eggshell. Among all
the thousands of the mob there was not
single effort made to disguise or con-
ceal identity.
No man wore mask. All the leaders
of the mob are well known and there
are hundreds Of witnesses who can tes-
tify to their participation in the trag-
edy. They are leading citizens in all
lines of business and many are mem
bers of churches.
County Judge Harbeson will empanel
a special grand jury at once to make a
speedy investigation and return indict-
ments against the leaders, but there is
strong feeling that no punishment
will result from this tragedy.