The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-25

Palmetto. Ga, April 24.-The. body of
Lige Strickland, the negro preacher who
was implicated in the Crawford murder
by Sam Hose, was found swinging to
the limb of Il tree within Il mile and Il
quarter of this place early today Be
fore death was allowed to end the suffer
ings of the negro, his ears were cut off
and the small finger of his left hand
was severed at the second joint. These
trophies were III Palmetto today.
On the chest of the negro was piece
of blood-stained paper attached by an
ordinary PIN. On one side of this paper
was written New York Journal. We
musth protect our ladies. $3.50 The
other side of the paper contained a
warning to the negroes of the neighbor-
hood. 1t read as follows: Beware, all
darkies You will be treated the same
way"
Before being finally lynched Strick-
land was given a chance to confess to
the misdeeds of which the mob supposed
him to be guilty, but he protested his
innocence to the end Three times the
moose was placed around his neck and
Three times he was let down and told
that death was in store for him should
he fail to confess his completely in the
Crawford murder. Three times Strick-
land proclaimed his innocence until,
weary of useless torturing, the mob pull
ed on the rope and tied the end around
the slender trunk of tree. Not a shot
was fired by the mob. Strickland was
strangled to death.
The lynching of Lige Strickland was
not accomplished without a desperate ef-
fort on the part of his employer to save
his life. The man who pleaded for the
negro is Major w. w. Thomas, an ex-
State Senator. and one of the most dis
tinguished citizens of Coweta county.
He did all in his power to prevent the
lyncliing of the negro and did not discon-
tinue his efforts until he had been as
sured by the leaders of the mob that the
negro would be taken to jail at Milburne.
One mile from where this promise was
made Lige Strickland was hanged. The
negro was n tenant on the plantation
of Major Thomas
When Sam Hose. the murderer of
Alfred Crawford, and the assailant of
diately prior to his burning he implicated
Lige Strickland, Hose contending that
he had been offered money by Strick-
land to kill Crawford. 1t was known
positively, however, that Hose had made
false statements in his last confession,
and many of those who aided in his
blrning were disposed to disregard his
statement in regard to Strickland.
Late Sunday night about fifteen men
went to the plantation of Major Thomas
and took Lge Strickland from the little
cabin in the woods that he called home.
leaving his wife and five children to
wall and weep over the fate they knew
was in store for the negro. Their cries
aroused Major Thomas. and that sturdy
old gentleman followed the lynchers in
his buggy, accompanied by his son, VIM.
NJ. Thomas. He overlook the lynchers
with their victim at Palmetto.
Lge Strickland was halted directly
opposite the telegraph office. The moose
was adjusted around his neck, and the
end of the rope was thrown over Il tree.
Strickland was told he had a chance be-
fore dying to confess his completely in
the crime. He replied: Il have told you
all | know, gentlemen You can kill me
if you wish, but | know nothing more
to tell. -
The negros life might have ended then
but for the arrival of Major Thomas
who leaped from his buggy and asked
for Il hearing. He asked the crowd to
give the negro a chance for his life.
Gentlemen, this negro is innocent,
he said Hose said Lige had promised
to give him $50 to kill Alfred Gran
ford. and | believe Lige has not had
twenty dollars since he has been on my
place. He has never done any of you
any harm, and now | want you to prom
ise me that you will turn him over to
the baiiff of this town in order that
he may be given II hearing. i do not
ask YOU to liberate him. Hold him. and
if the courts adjudge him guilty hang
him.
To this the mob replied that Strick
land had intamed the negroes in the
neighborhood and had bad regulations
having been run from East Point several
years ago. Major Thomas reminded the
mob that the negro had voluntarily told
of seeing Hose on the night of the
murder. y man of the mob replied that
Strickland had done this in the coun-
ningness of his guilt to establish his
own innocence There were some. how
ever, who agreed with Major Thomas
and after Il discussion Il vote was taken
which was supposed to mean life or death
to Strickland. The vote to let him live
was unanimous. Major Thomas retired
some distance, and the mob was prepar-
ing To put Strickland in Il wagon to take
him to Newman, when a member of the
mob cried out: I'VE have got him here;
let's keep him" This again aroused the
mob, and messenger was sent to adj
wise Major Thomas to leave Palmetto
for his own good but the old gentleman
was not frightened. He drew himself