The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-12-07
Negro Dragged Through Streets
and Finally Burned Alive.
HIS EYES WERE GOUGED OUT
PrightfuI rsnalty Paid for the Usual
Crime 10 the SOuth-NOmen
and Childrsn Participate.

MARYsYILLE. KY. Dec. s.-Dick
Coleman, the negro murderer Of Mr.
Lashbrook, WIS taken from the officer
by mob OF 1000 men today and burn
ed at the stake The mob led by the
husband Of the negro's victim, dragged
the shrieklng criminal through the pr1n-
clpal streets Of the towr. bound him
tC a small tr,5s. set fire 10 brt sh heap
ed about HIM and stood guard until
he was dead. Before the roasting be-
gan. Coleman was almost dead. The
rope had torn and lacerated his neck
and his sace was terribly beaten.
All was done that was possible by
the sheriff and guard TO prevent d
lynching, but In the face Of such mob
Of people. Irrespective Of color. II was
useless to attempt TO do anything.
Tie crime for which Coleman was
burned was the murder OF Mrs. jams
Iashbrook, who had given him home
and food. She was entioed by him 20
enter a shed TO see about some work.
when he knocksd her down with club
and assaulted her. The blow did not
kill her. and Coleman. Notwithstanding
her cries for mercy. procured razor
ana cut her throat. At covington jail,
where he was placed to escape mob
violence, Cnlsman made a full confess
sion Of the crime.
Blue vitrul and cayenne pepper were
thrown into Coleman's eyes and his
face was mashed in with club. Prior
TO being set aflre. Coleman said he had
nothing TO say. His death was slow
and. writhlng in terrible agony, he
was hooted and giarcd III by thousands
OF people. Many women were press'lt.
His eyes, after the pepper and vitrol
were thrown into them, were gouged
out. and some say he was horribly mu-
tllated
Coleman arrived at Marysville from
Covington this morning under a special
guard TO be put on trial. When they
arrived at the courthouse they were
met by a mob Of fully 1000 people,
headed by James Lashbrook, the hus-
band OF the murdered woman, and who
went Immediately Up Second street
through the central portion OF the
city to hilL followed by a mob
- fuitx, OO0 YeaT,soDs
The mob grabbed Coleman and threw
a rope over his head and took him up
above the city. Coleman could be
heard above the cries Of the mob plead
ing for his life.
The place q execution had been Sc
lected weeks ago In accordance with
all other arranged "details OF the pro-
gram, mapped out by tho leaders Of the
mob.
The prisoner was dragged TO a sap
lin and strapped against the tree, fac
ing the husband of his victim. Large
quantities Of dry brush and large bits
Of wood wera piled around him while
he was praying for speedy death,
James Lashbrook, the husband Of the
victim applied the first match to the
brushwood. A brother of the victim
struck the second match. Someone's
with a knife was viciously shaping at
the prisoners chest.
A. m, na,,,ac nr,sa kiS hnrr.,sfsG in
creased. He made a vain effort to
withdraw his limbs from the encroach-
In fires and his eyes rolled in a frenzy
Of suffering. The ropes securing him
To the tree were burned and his body
finally fell forward on the burning pile.
Even then. although 1t was not certain
whether he was living or dead, the
vengeful purpose of the crowd led them
to use rails and long poles to push his
body back into the flames, At the end
of three hours the body was practically
cremeated.
During all that time members Of the
family of Mrs. Lashbrook had remained
W Natp up lilS hlN ebtiN W hSSp NliC bOA9
in position where it would continue to
burn. In all the thousands who con-
stituted the mob there was not a single
effort to disguise or conceal identity.
No man wore a mask. All the leaders
Of the mob are we'll known. They in
clude leading men in all lines Of bus
mess and many are members Of the
church.
\ statement from Frankfort that
the governor proposes to offer a reward
for the apprehension Of the members
Of mob does not excite much fear that
the reward will be claimed.
Relic hunters took away teeth and
bones and flesh and every fragment of
the body that they could lay hands on.
All the afternoon children, some of
them not more than six years old, kept
up the fires ON the blackened body by
throwing ON them grass. kindling wood
and everything combustible that they
could gather,