Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-12-09
HUSBAND LED THE MOB.
Lashbrook Started Fire That
Cremated Coleman.
HIS FRlGHTFUL REVENGE,
A Deaf Ear Turned to Colored Muir
derer's Plea For Life--Burning of
the Negro Witnessed by Fully Five
Thousand People - Wronged Hus-
band Thinks he Did Right.

Maysville, Ky, Dec. 7.--Dick Cole
man, the negro murderer of Mrs. LASH
brook, was taken from the officers by
mob of 00o men Wednesday and burn
ed at the stake.
The mob, led by the husband of the
negro's victim. dragged the shrieking
criminal through the principal streets
of the town, bound him to a small tree,
set fire to the brush and stood guard
until he was dead
Coleman arrived under special
guard of deputies sworn in by the
Sheriff. including Detective Fitzgerald.
Constable Dawson, Chief of Police
Donovan, all the police force and two
deputy sherffs.
When they arrived at the court house
they were met by mob of fully 1000
people, headed by James Lashbrook,
the husband of the murdered woman.
The officers We're compelled to de-
liver their prisoner. and the mob went
Immediately up Second street through
the Central portion of the city, follow
ed by fully five Thousand OF the citi-
gems of the town and county.
No attempt at disguise was made by
the members of the mob. They work.
ed in grim silence scarcely a word
being spoken beyond the curt CONF
mands of their leaders.
A dozen men dragged Coleman from
the grasp of his guards. and, throw
ing rope over his head, dragged him
through the streets. The wretch shriek-
ed constantly for mercy, pleading for
his life at every step.
The mob carried Coleman to a small
hollow near the railroad, where they
bound him tightly to a young sapling.
Then they heaped a huge pile of brush
wood and timber about him and fired
the stack, while he continued his cries
for help.
Some one cut out his eyes, and in a
moment his head Cled around and he
was believed to be dead. A dozen
torches we're applied simultaneously
and huge tongues of fame swept up
and around the senseless body.
AS the flames burst forth the inn
mense crowd broke into cheers which
continued as long as the fire burned.
Before the roasting began Coleman was
almost dead.
The rope had torn and lacerated his
neck and his face was terribly beaten
up.
Before Coleman was burned blue Wit
riol and cayenne pepper were thrown
into his eyes and his face was smashed
in with chunk of wood
Many women were present during the
burning. Just before Coleman died he
raised his head and is reported to have
said
IF you take the flames away I want
to say something then he sank back
and died
Judge Harberson will call a special
grand jury at once to consider charges
against the leaders OF the mob.
Coleman had been kept in the jail at
Covington since his arrest because OF
his fear of mob violence at Maysville.
Coleman was in mortal terror when
he was handcuffed TO be placed in the
train. He begged piteously TO be al
lowed to stay in Covington until after
the trial was ended.
After the lynching was over, James
Lashbrook husband of the woman
whom Coleman criminally assaulted
and murdered last August, said:
81 touched the match to the fire that
sent Coleman to his doom. I did as
thought right. ] will stand for all that
maV follow"