Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-12-09

AglOW and Relic Hunters Carry
or Flesh for SOuvenirs-Awfui
Scene In Kentucky Town.
Maysville. KY, Dec. "A mob Of men
took Richard Coleman. the colored
murder of Mrs. Lashbrook. from Jail
yesterday and burned him alive. The
coroner held an inquest on Coleman's
remains, and rendered the veld CT
death at the hands OF Il mob" Relic
hunters took every fragment Of the
body that they could lay hands on. All
he afternoon children kept up the
dre around the backened body. The
action of the mob is universally APP
proved by women here.
The dreadful spectacle occurred on the
cricket grounds on the outskirts Of this
city Two months ago Coleman mur-
dered the woman who had befriended
him. Coleman was trusted implicitly
by both Lashbrook and his wife. On
the day Of the murder LashbrOok was at
work some distance from the house, OF
which Coleman was left in charge. Mrs.
Lashbrook had driven to Maysville and
returned, when Coleman asked her to
enter the cabin to look at some work on
which he had heen engaged.
The negro locked the door on the in
side. Mrs. Lashbrook became fright
ened and screamed. Coleman struck
her on the head, knocking her down.
but not stopping her cries. He then
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 and hearing her groanlng.
he struck her repeatedly on the head
with an axe, until he was sure she was
dead.
Without any show Of alarm or re-
morse, the negro washed the blood from
his hands and clothing and went To
where Lashbrook was at work in the
field, and told him that he had better
come to the house, as some one had
killed his wife. LashbrOOk did not take
the matter seriously until Coleman in
sisted that his wife was dead. Even
then, so great was the confidence of
Lashbrook in Coleman that no thought
occurred that he was the murderer.
1t was not until after the officers ar
rlNeu tHdl SuSplClOu w iS VII SGteo
Coleman. Blood spots had been found
on his clothing. but he accounted for
them by saying that he had been kill
Ing chickens. That night. however. at
Muysville. a partial confession was OBJ
tanned, and, knowing the result If the
fact should become known. the officers
| quietly took him to Covington. lie
made a complete confession to the jailer.
The story of his crime. including worse
than murder was told by him without
any appearance of feeling.
| The trial was set for yesterday. Sher-
If Perrine decided to leave Covington
been told Tuesday night to prepare to
return to the scene of his crime. He
was stricken with fear, and begged
piteously to be permitted to remain in
Covington until after his trial. The
prisoner, with his escort. arrived here
at 1920 o'clock. AS the train pulled
into the station, the mob formed on
both sides. Armed men stationed them
selves at the platforms of all the cars
and warned the frightened passengers
| to remain quiet. The sheriff and his
assistants were strongly armed, and
there was some resistance as the lead
ers of the mob jostled against them, and
demands were uttered from the outer
fringes Of the crowd for the prisoner.
Sheriff Perrine started walking swift
" from the car. A step behind hin
follow ed the officers with Coleman seek
ing to conceal himself behind the forms
Of his protectors. AS the officers pro-
ceeded, the numbers of the mob were
constantly swelled by new arrivals
and through the downtown business
streets to the courthouse the officers
were closely followed. Hundreds ol
stones and other missiles We're thrown
and revolvers and rifles were freely dis
played. The prisoner was frequently
struck. and he presented frightful ap
pearanre, blood streaming from wound:
on his face and head. At the court
house a mob Of over 1000 men. headed
by James Lashbrook. the murdered
womans husband. had been hastil,
formed A demand for the prisoner wa.
made, accompanied by threats.
There was brief struggle. in which
weapons were drawn by the officers, bu
the sheriff and his assistants were over
come by numbers. and the prisoner wa.
taken from them.
Up through the central portion Of tn
town the mob marched. the prisone
being held by the vanguard and dragged
along with the aid of ropes loosely at
tsched to his body. He was the targe
Of hundreds Of missiles and severa
times he sank half conscious to tn,
ground, while the crowd pressed for
ward, striking at him with clubs. stick
and whips, until his head and body wer
scarcely recognizable. More dead thai
alive, he was dragged along and force,
to his feet. Scores of women Joined tn
men. High above the noise. the wretcl
could Ie heard pleading for his life
This spectacle continued until tn
grounds were reached where the fina
work Of the mob was accomplished.
There the prisoner was dragged to
sapling and strapped against II, facin
the husband of his victim. Large guam
titles OF dry brush and larger bits q
wood were piled around him, while H.
was praying for speedy death. Jane
Lashbrook applied the first match t
the brush. A brother of the victir
struck the second match. Some on
with knife was slashing the prisoner
breast. Not a single shot was fired
This seemed to be to give the wretc
the greatest possible amount and dura
ton Of torture
As the flames arose Coleman's horro
Increased. and he made vain efforts t
withdraw his limbs from the encroach
ing fire. The ropes securing him to tn
tree were burned. and his body finall
!, fell forward on the burning pile. Eve
then, although II was not certain wheth
er he was living or dead. the crow
Ninety FER Cent. American Born.
Uoabiputon Dec 7-GOyernOr Rarrf