Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-25

Of Lige Strickland, the negro preacher,
who was implicated in the Crawford
murder by Sam Hose, was found swing
ing to the limb of tree within mile
and quarter of this place early to-
day. Before death was allowed to end
were cut off and the small finger of his
left hand was severed at the second
joint. These trophies were in Pal
metto to-day. On the chest Of the
negro was scrap of blood-stained
nOte-paper attached with an ordinary
pin. On one side of this paper was
written: 1--WE must protect our
ladies'" On the other side were the
words: Beware, all darkies. You
will he treated the same way
Before being finally lynched, Strick-
land was given a chance to confess to
the misdeeds of which the mob sup
posed him to be guilty, but he protested
his innocence until the end.
Three times the moose was placed
around his neck and the negro was
drawn up off the ground. Three times
he. was let down with warnings 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. Then,
weary of useless torturing, the mob
pulled on the rope and tied the end
around the slender trunk of the tree.
Strickland was strangled to death.
The lynching of Lige Strickland was
not accomplished without desperate
effort 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 prominent
residents of Coweta county. He did not
discontinue his efforts until he had
that the negro would be taken to Jail at
Fairbury One mile from where this
promise was made, Strickland was
hanged. The negro was tenant on
the plantation of Major Thomas.
When Sam Hcee, the murderer of AL
fred Crawford and the assailant of his
wife, made his confession Immediately
prior to his burning he implicated Lige
Strickland, Hose saying that he had
been offered money by Strickland to
kill Crawford. 1t was known positive
ly, however, that Hose had made false
statements in his last confession and
many of those who aided in his burn
ing were disposed to disregard his
statement in regard to Strickland.
Late Sunday night about fifteen men
went to the plantation of Major Thorn
as and took Strickland from the little
cabin he called home, leaving his wife
and five children to wait and weep
over the fate they knew was in store
for the negro. Their cries aroused
Major Thomas, who followed the
lynchers in his buggy, accompanied by
his son, W. NJ. Thomas, determined to
save, if possible, the life of his plan
tation darkey.
He overlook the lynchers with their
victim at Palmetto, and then ensued
with only the moonlight to brighten
the faces of those grim men, a most
weird and dramatic scene.
LICE STRICKLAND
was halted directly opposite the tele-
graph Office. The moose was adjusted
around his neck and the end of the
rope was thrown over tree. Strick-
land was told he had chance before
dying to confess his completely in the
crime. He replied:
Il have told you all l know, gentle
men. You can kill me if you wish, but
l know nothing more to tell
The Negroes life might have been
ended then but for the arrival of Major
Thomas, who leaped from his buggy
and asked for hearing. He asked the
crowd to give the negro q. chance for
his life, and said: Gentlemen, this
negro is innocent. Hose said Lge had
promised to give him $40 to kill AL
fred Crawford, 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 l want
you to promise that you will turn him
over to the bailiff of this town in order
that he may be given hearing. | do
not ask that you liberate him. Hold
him, and if the courts adjudge him gull
ty, hang him."
To this the mob replied that Strick-
land had inflamed the negroes in the
neighborhood and had a bad reputa-
ton, having been run away from East
Point several years ago.
Major Thomas remined the mob that
the negro had voluntarily told of see
ing Hose on the night of the murder.
A members of the mob replied that
Strickland had done this in the cum
ningness of his guilt to establish his
own innocence. There were some, how
ever, who agreed with Major Thomas
and after a discussion vote was taken
which was supposed to mean life or
death to Lige Strickland The vote
TO LET HIM LIVE
Nas unanimous. Major Thomas then