New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-07
NEGRO BURNED ALIVE.
INHUMAN TORTURE INFLICTED BY A
KENTUCKY MOB.
MURDERER OF MRS LAsHBROoK TAKEN
FROM HANDS OF SHERIFF ON MORN
ING OF HIS TRIAL AT MAYS
vILLE-EYEs SAID TO HAVE
BEEN BURNED OUT
WITH ACID.

WITH ACID.
Maysville. KY Dec. 8-Richard Coleman
colored, the confessed murderer Of Mrs. James
Lashbrook. wife OF his employer expiated his
crime In daylight to-day at the hands OF mob
consisting Of thousands OF citizens. by burning
at the stake. after suffering torture and fright
beyond description.
The dreadful spectacle occurred on the peace
ful cricket grounds the outskirts OF this, one
OF the oldest and among the proudest cities OF
Kentucky. The barbarities inflicted on this
young negro are almost beyond belief, and can
only be accounted for by the intense horror
created by long consideration Of the atrocious
crime Of which full confession had been made
by Coleman.
Two months ago Coleman. the trusted en-
rloye OF James Lashbrook. farmer. in a man.
ner peculiarly atrocious murdered the woman
who had befriended him. Coleman was not
only employed on the farm but had been In
stalled as a house servant and was trusted i'm
plcitly by both Mr.. Lashbrook and his Wife
on the day Of the murder Mr.. Lashbrook was
at work some distance from the h6use Of which
Coleman had been left in charge.
Mrs Lashbrook had driven 10 Maysvile and
returned. when Coleman asked her to enter the
cabin 10 look al some work which he had
been engaged The negro locked the door on
the inside Mrs Lashbrook became frightened
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 1t on the
bed and left the room. but returning and hear
Ing her groaning. he struck her repeatedly on
the head with axe until he was sure she was
dead.
COLD -BLOODED MURDERER.
without any show Of alarm or remorse, the
negro washed the blood from his hands and
clothing and went to where Mr. Lashbrook was
at work In the field and told him that he had
better come to the house. some one had killed
his wife Mr. Lashbrook did not take the mat
ter seriously until Coleman insisted that his
wife was dead. Even then. 80 great was the
confidence OF Mr.. Lashbrook In Coleman that
no thought occurred that he was the murderer.
1t was not until after the officers arrived that
suspicion directed against Coleman. Blood
spots had been found his clothing. but he
accounted for them by saying that he had been
killing chickens. That night. however at Mays
Vile. a partial confession obtained. and
knowing the result II the fact should become
known. the officers quietly took him to Coving-
ton for safe keeping until he was indicted for
the murder.
Shortly after his Incarceration at Covington
he made complete confession to the jailer.
The story Of his revolving crime, including
than murder was told without any APP
pearance Of feeling by the prisoner. This con-
fession becoming public, reused feeling Of In
dignation against the prisoner among the rela-
tives and friends of the victim. which made It
morally certain that the officers OF the law
would be powerless TO prevent summary ven
geance at the first opportunity Still. the au-
thorties at Maysville did not act on that basis.
There call on the Governor for troops
to protect the prisoner
On Tuesday Sheriff Perrine under the orders
OF Judge Harbeson. with four assistants went
to Covington. expecting to return with Cole
man on Tuesday night but after reaching
Covington the jaler at Maysvllle teegraphed
him not to attempt to bring the prisoner into
Maysvllle at night.
SHERIFF PROVED POWERLESS.
The trial was set for to-day. Sheriff Perrne
determined To- cave Covington by the Chesa-
peake and Ohio train. which started at 7:30
o'clock this morning from Cincinnati Coleman
had been told Tuesday night to prepare TO
return to the scene of his crime. He
stricken with fear. and begged plteously to be
permitted to remain In COvngton until after
his TRIAL He said he expected to die. but dread
ed the vengeance OF mob. When he was hand
cuffed on leaving the jail in CovingtOn. he was
almost paralyzed. and had TO be assisted TO the
patrol wagon. The crowd about the Jail there
and at the Covngton station added 10 his fear.
on entering the train he seemed unable to sit
down until one Of the guards forced him into
seat.
II appears that in the crowd al Covington and
even on the train there were some Of the rela-
tives Of Mrs LashbrOok, ready 10 convey in
do rata
the prisoner. and messages were sent here The
prisoner with his escort arrived at 1920 o'clock.
Sheriff Perrine while the way to Maysve,
had been informed that mob was awaiting the
arrival OF the train. and he hastily prepared
for the swearing in Of deputy sherfs. As the
train pulled slowly into the old station the mob
formed on both sides. Armed men stationed
themselves at the platforms Of all the cars and
warned the frightened passengers to remain
quiet and not to interfere.
The Sheriff and his assistants were strongly
armed and there some resistance, the
leaders Of the mob jostled roughly against them
and demands were uttered from the outer fringes
of the crowds for the prisoner. Sheriff Perrne
made bold movement. and started walking
swiftly but with no Indications OF panic. from
the car. A step behind him followed the officers
with Coleman in their midst seeking TO conceal
himself behind the forms OF his protectors. AS
the officers proceeded the number OF the mob
was constantly swelled by new arrivals. and
through the downtown business streets 10 the
courthouse they were closely followed. Hun
dreds of stones and other missiles were thrown,
and revolvers and rifles freely displayed.
The prisoner was frequently struck and he pre-
sented a frightful appearance blood streaming
from wounds on his face and head.
DRAGGED THROUGH THE CITY.
At the courthouse mob OF over two thou
sand men, headed by James Lashbrook, had
been hastily formed. The demand for the prs
oner was made accompanied by threats from
the leaders There a brief struggle. in
which weapons hastily drawn by the OFF,
GERS and then the Sheriff and his assistants
were overcome by force OF numbers and the
prisoner pulled from their midst. Up
through the centre OF the town the mob
marched the prisoner being held by the van
guard and dragged along with the aid OF ropes
loosely attached to his body He was the target
OF hundreds OF missiles. and several times he
sank half conscious 10 the ground whie the
ctrIlr rnO nj In