The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-24
Member of the Mob Drew a Revolver
on Ex-Governor Atkinson, Who
Pleaded for Hoses Life.
STORY OF THE MANS CRIME
MURDERED A WHITE FARMER AND
THEN ASSAULTED HIS WIFE.
The Frenzied Lynchers Cut Him to
Pieces and Sold Sections of His
Body as Souvenirs.

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NEWMAN, Ga, April 23.-In the presence
of nearly 2.O00 people who sent aloft yells
of defiance and shouts of JOY, Sam Hose.
a negro who committed two of the basest
acts known to crime, was burned at the
stake in a public road one and one-half
miles from here this afternoon. Before the
torch was applied to the pyre, the negro
was deprived of his ears, fingers and other
portions OF his anatomy. The negro pleaded
pitifully for his life while the mutilation
was going on, but stood the ordeal Of fire
with surprising fortitude. Before the body
was cool ii was cut 10 pieces. the bones
were crushed into small bits and even the
tree on which the wretch met his fate was
torn up and disposed of as souvenirs. The
nsgro's heart was cut in several pieces. as
was his liver. Those unable to obtain the
ghastly relics direct paid their more fortu-
nate possessors extrava CANT sums for them
Small pieces of bone went for % cents, and
a bit of the liver crisply cooked sold for 10
cents AS soon the negro was seen to be
dead. there was a tremendous struggle
among the crowd which had witnessed his
tragic end to secure souvenirs. A rush was
made for the stake and those near the body
were forced against it and had to fight for
their freedom. Knives were quickly pro-
duced and the body was soon dismembered.
One OF the men who lifted the can of
kerosene TO the negro's head is said to be
a native Of the commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania- His name is known to those who
were with him. but they refuse to divulge
Ii. The mob was composed of citizens of
Newman, Griffin. Palmetto and other little
towns in the country roundabout Newman
and Of all the farmers who had received
word that the burning to take place.
Hon. w. Y. Atkinson, former Governor of
Georgia. met the mob as he was returning
from church and appealed to il to let the
law take its course. In addressing the mob
he used these words: Some of you are
known to me and when this affair is finally
settled in the courts. you may depend on it
that i will testify against you,"
ATKINSON'S NARROW ESCAPE.
member OF the mob was seen to draw a
revolver and level 1t at Governor Atkinson.
but his arm was seized and the pistol taken
from him. The mob was frantic at delays
and would hear to nothing but burning at
the stake.
Hose confessed TO killing Alfred Crawford
but denied that he had outraged Mrs. Gram
ford. Before being put TO death the negro
stated that he had been paid $12 by ''Lige''
Strickland. negro preacher at Palmetto,
10 kill Crawford. Tonight a mob of cti-
zens is securing the country for Strickland
who has left his home
Sam Hose killed Alfred Crawford. a white
farmer near Palmetto and outraged his wife
ten days ago. Since that time business in
that part Of the State has been suspended.
the entire population turning out in an
effort to capture Hose. He successfully
eluded pursuit until discovered near Macon
Governor Gambler has been asked to send
troops here TO preserve order for day or
~ ?, as II is feared the negroes may wreak
vengeance. many threats TO that effect hav-
ing been made.
Hose has been on the farm of the Jones
brothers between Macon and Columbus
since the day after he committed his horri-
bic crime. His mother is employed on the
farm and to her little cabin he fled as a
safe refuge She fed him and cared for him.
but IL Is not believed that she knew he
was being hunted for by the authorities
The Jones brothers were not aware Of the
crime until a few days ago and were not
sure that he was the much-wanted man.
Saturday morning one of the Jones boys
met Hose and as he was talking TO him
noticed that he was really "ginger-f faced
negro blacked up. Just below the collar Of
his shirt the copper color was discernible
Convinced that the negro had blackened his
face to escape detection Jones became con-
vinced that he was the negro for which the
authorities assisted by bloodhounds. had
been securing the country for ten days and
they determined to arrest him.
This morning they brought the negro into
Macon and put him aboard a Central of
Georgia train with the intention of bringing
him to Atlanta. At Griffin some one recog-
nized Hose and sent word 10 Newman the
next station. that the negro was on the
train bound for Atlanta. When Newman
was reached a great crowd surrounded the
train and pushed into the cars. The Jones
brothers were told that the negro could be
delivered TO the sheriff of Campbell county
there and that IL was not necessary TO take
him TO Atlanta This was acceded TO and
the negro was taken off the train and
marched at the head OF a yelling crowd of
Ave hundred people TO the jail Here they
turned him over TO Sheriff Brown taking a
receipt for the prisoner. thus making them
selves sure OF the $50 reward Cor the ar
rest and delivery 10 the sheriff Of Campbell
county Of one Sam Hose"
THE MOB GATHERING.
Word was sent 10 Mrs. Crawford at
Palmetto that IL was believed Hose was
under arrest and that her presence was
necessary In Newman 10 make OF the
Identification. In some way the news OF
the arrest leaked out and as the town has
been on the alert for nearly two weeks
the intelligence spread rapidly. From every
house I'm the little city came its occupants
and good sized crowd was soon gathered
about the jail. Sheriff Brown was fmpor-
tuned TO give up the prisoner and finally
IN order TO avoid an assault on the jail