Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-12-29
LYNCHING AT BOLTON.
JIM MARTIN AND FRANK WEST COM.
PEELED TO PLUNGE TO DEATH.
One Hundred and Fifty Determined Men
Did the Work---Crime for Which the
Blacks We're Punished was the Murder
of Mr.. Harre,


lynched on the Bakers Creek bridge, a
quarter of mile west of this place,
about O'Clock Saturday night for the
murder of an aged and highly respect
ed citizen named Milton s. Harre. and
and an attempted criminal assault on
his niece, Miss Curran.
The murder was one of the most
cold-blooded in the criminal annals of
the country. Robbery was the incen-
tive, the regroes being under the i'm
preston that large sum of money
was concealed IN the house.
Martin and West were captured
about 10 O'Clock Saturday morning.
1t required a whipping to make the
former confess when he broke down
and related the whole story.
The town marshal brought the pris-
oners to town and placed them in
the calaboose. About Z o'lock mob
CT fully $50 unmasked men, composed
of. the best citizens of the town, broke
open the place and took the two men
to the bridge west of town. nooses
were placed aroun1 their necks, the
other ends being tie1 to the cross
ties, AMI they were told to jump off.
Martin at once plunged into space,
but West had to be pushed off.
Mr.. HARE, the murdered man, was
about 80 years of age, and hal re-
Gently recovered from spell of insan-
ity. The negro who attempted to COM
init criminal assault on Miss Currsn
did not succeed in his purpose.
Another account Of the affair tells
the story in the following language:
All day Saturday the quiet and
peacesble little town of Bolton was in
turmoil of excitement arising from
the fact that one of the most heinous
crimes which has ever darkened the
fair name of Mississippi had been COM
mitted within her borders.
The citizens were early aroused and
q party started in search of the sus-
pected negroes, Jim Martin and Frank
West. They were found about noon
and taken to the calaboose, small
4~o efr tx,r1 fhau
quickly incarcersted, and remained un-
til about 8 o'clock Saturday night,
when party of about $50 determined
men went quietly to the calaboose and
demanded to see the prisoners.
According to the statement of pasen-
gers arriving by the 1915 train last
Saturday night, there was an entire
absence of mob feeling. The party
quietly approaching the building, ac-
qusinted the keeper with the nature of
their visit which was to procure a
statement from the prisoners.
Jim Martin at once made complete
confession of the horrible crime, al
though West asserted his innocence.
He was informed that denial would not
save him; that Martin had implicated
him, and quietly advised him to make
q clean breast Of the whole affair
West saw that further denial was use
less, and then made complete confes-
sion.
Shortly after s O'Clock the party
with the two negroes in wagon start
cd for Bakers Creek on the outskirts of
Bolton where preparations were quick
ly made for the me ing out of summary
punishment.
There was no display of firearms the
hanging being conducted in perfectly
quiet manner with no noise, no attempt
at masking or concealment on the part
Of the participants. The victims were
placsd on the bridge the moose about
their necks and Martin jumped as COM
nlanded but West demurred, and it was
found necessary to assist his move
ment. After the lynching the crowd
dispersed quietly to their homes, leav-
ing the bodies hanging where they
were seen by passengers on the local
train az 1t approached Bolton.
The crime for which Jim Martin and
Frank West were lynched was one OF
the most horrible and fiendish conceiv-
able. Mr.. Milton S. Harrc, promi-
ncnt and highly respected old gentle
man, whose hone was short distance
south of Bolton, was cruelty esiassin
ated By the two negroes who had en-
tered the house for tho purpos, Of So
curing his money Of which it was sup
posed he kept consi ierable about the