The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-07
NEGRO BURNED AT THE STAKE.
CONFESSED MURDERER OF HIS
BENEFACTOR's WIFE.

and bruised Coleman WAS Tied 90
"A Tree, and LnshbroOk, the Hus-
band of His Victim, Applied the
Toreh-Reward for Mob Leaders.
Maysville, KY, Dec 6-Riohard Cole
man. colored, confessed murderer OF
Mrs. James Iashbrook, wife of his em-
ployer, explated his crime In daylight to-
day at the hands of mob, consisting of
thousands of citizens, by burning at the
stake after suffering indescrlbable tor
ture.
The dreadful spectacle occurred on the
Peaceful cricket grounds on the outskirts
OF this city.
Just two months ago Richard Coleman,
the trusted employe of Farmer James
Lashbrook, murdered the woman who had
been his benefactor. Coleman had been
left in charge of the house. Mrs. LASH
brook had driven to Maysville and re-
turned, 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 in
side. Mrs. Lashbrook became frighten-
ed and screamed. Coleman struck her
on the head, knocking her down, but not
stopping her cries, he seized a razor
and cut her throat. He picked up the
bleeding body and placed It on the bed
He then left the ROOM but returning.
hearing her still groaulng, he struck her
repeatedly on the head with an ak until
he was sure she was dead The negro
washed the blood from his hands and
al AtF1er
was at work in the field and tod him
that he had better come to the house as
some one had killed his wife.
1t was not until after the officers ar
rived that suspicion 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 Maysvllle, a
partial confession was obtained and know
ing the result IL that fact should become
known, the officers quietly took him TO
Covington, KY, for safekeepng.
He was indicted for the murder
Shortly after his Incarceration at Coving-
ton, he made a complete confession of his
crime to the jailer. The story Of his crime.
including worse than murder was told
without any appearance of feeling by the
Day of the Trial Fatal.
The trial was set for to-day. Sheriff
Perrlne determined to leave Covington by
the train on the Chesapeake and Ohio,
which started al 7:S0 O'Clock Wednesday
morning from Cincinnati and Covington.
Coleman had been apprlsed Tuesday
night to prepare to return to the scene
of his crime He was instantly stricken
with fear and begged piteously to be per-
the trial He said he expected TO die
but he dreaded the vengeance of a mob
When he was handcuffed on leaving the
Jail In Covington he was almost paralyzed
and had to be assisted to the patrol wag-
on. On entering the train he seemed
unable to sit down until one of the guards
forced him into a seat
1t developed that i'm the crowd at Cow
ington, and even on the train, there were
some of the relatives Of Mrs. Iashbrook
ready to convey information if any at
tempt was made to secrete the prisoner
Messages were sent here. The prisoner
with his escort arrived at 1920 O'Clock. y
Sheriff Perrine. while enroute to Mays
Vile, had been informed that a mob was
awaiting the arrival of the train at the
depot, and he hastily prepared for the
swearing in of deputy sherinfs.
AS the train puffed slowly into the old
station. the mob formed on both sides I'm
lWO tONS, buL closely nuudlSd. crowds.
Armed men stationed themselves at the
platforms of all the cars and warned the
frightened passengers to remain quiet and
not 10 interfere.
The sheriff and his assistants were
strongly armed, and there was some re-
sistance as the leaders of the mob jostled
roughly against them, and demands were
uttered from the outer fringe of the crowd
for the prisoner.
Was Stoned by the Mob.
Sheriff Perrine made q bold movement.
and started walking swiftly, but with no
Indications of panic, from the car A step
behind him followed the officers with Cole
man in their midst, seeking to conceal
himself behind the brawny forms of his
protectors.
AS the officers proceeded, the members
of the mob were constantly swelled by
new arrivals, and through the downtown
business streets to the court house they
were closely followed
Hundreds OF stones and other misses
were thrown and revolvers and rifles were
freely displayed. The prisoner was fire.
quently struck and he presented a fright
ful appearance, the blood streaming from
wounds on his face and head.
At the court house a mob Of over 1000
men, headed by James Lashbrook, the
husband, had been hastily formed. de-
mand for the prisoner was made. There
was brief struggle IN which weapons
were hastily drawn by the officers and
then the sheriff and his assistants were
overcome by force of numbers and the
prisoner was seized by the leaders Of the
mob.
The prisoner was dragged along by ropes
loosely attached to his body. He was
the target again of hundreds OF missiles
and several times he sank half conscious
to the ground while the crowd pressed
forward striking al him with clubs, sticks
and whips until his head and body we're
scarcely recognizable. More dead than
alive he was dragged along and forced
to his feet
Scores OF women joined the men. The
wre ch cou'd be heard pleading fer his life.
but The cry Of the prisoner was answered
with an oath and a blow.
Tied 10 "A Tree and Burned.
The place Of execution bad been selected
weeks ago and all the other details Of the
programme mapped out by the headers OF
the mob The prisoner WIS strapped
against a tree, fac ng the husband OF the
victim. Large quantities OF dry brush and