The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-07

above the cries of the mob pleading for
his life. The mob carried him to a small
hollow, near the railroad where they
bound him tightly to a young sapling. A
huge pile of brush wood and timber was
heaped around him and fired Around the
funeral pyFe were thousands OF maddened
people, headed by the husband of the
dead woman. A dozen torches were ap-
piled simultaneously and tongues of flame
swept around the agonfzed wretch.
Before the roasting began Coleman
was almost dead. The rope had torn
and lacerated his neck and his face was
terribly beaten up
AWFUL TORTURE.
The place of execution had been select
ed weeks ago, In accordance with all the
other arranged details of the programme
mapped out by the leaders Of the mob
The prisoner was dragged to the sapIing
and strapped against the tree, facing the
husband of the victim. Large quantities
of dry brush and larger bits of wood
were piled around him while he was pray
ing for~speedy death. James Lashbr ook
the husband of the victim applied the
first match to the brush wood A brother
of the victim strucA the second match.
Some one with knife was vainly slash
ing at the prisoners chest.
By sort Of cruel concurrence OH the
u.
The purpose seemed to be to give the
wretch the greatest possible amount and
duration of torture. A fatal shot would
have been merciful, and there was no
mercy in the crowd surrounding Richard
Coleman. AS the flames arose his hor-
rors increased. He made vain efforts to
withdraw his limbs from the encroaching
fire, and his eyes rolled in a frenzy of
suffering. The ropes securing him to the
tree were burned, and his body finally fell
forward on the burning pile. Even then,
although 1t was not certain whether he
was living or dead, the vengeful purpose
of the crowd led them to use rails and
long poles to push the body back into
the flames.
1t is not certain how long life lasted.
During the process, while his voice could
be heard, he begged for a,drink of water,
his tongue protruding and his eyeballs
fairly starting from his head.
At the end of three hours the body was
practically cremated. During all that
time members of the family of Mrs. Lash
brook had remained to keep up the fire
and keep the body in position, where 1t
would continue to burn. At that time a
nephew Of Mrs Lashbrook was pushing
the body into the burned embers while a
curious crowd of several thousand per-
sons still fingered on the scene. 1t is said
that on the march through the city the
prisoners eyes had been burned out by
acid thrown in an egg shell
NO ATTEMPT AT DISGUISE.
In the 1000 that constituted the mob
there was not a single effort made to dis
guise or conceal identity. No man wore
mask All the leaders Of the mob are
we'll known, and there are. hundreds of
witnesses who can testify to their par
ticipation In the tragedy. They are lead
ing citizens in all lines of business, and
many are members of churches.
County Judge Harbeson Will tmpanel
special grand jury at once to make
speedy investigation and feturn indict-
nents against the leaders of the mob
The statement from Frankfort that Gov
Bradley proposes to offer q reward for
the apprehension of the members of the
mob does not excite much fear that the
reward will be claimed.
While there is a wide difference of
opinion among residents Of the city who
were not connected with. the mob, yet
there is strong feeling that no punish
ment will result from this tragedy.
AWFUL DETAILS OBSERVED.
The coroner held an inquest on the char
red remains Of Richard Coleman, and
rendered the simple verdict. death at the
hands of a mob" The body was left
lying there, and at present writing has
not been, removed. Relic hunters took
away teeth and bones, flesh and every
fragment of the body that they could lay
hands on. All afternoon children, some
of them not more than six years DID, kept
up the fires on the blackened body by
throwing grass, kidding wood, brush,
bits of boards and everything combus-
tible that they could gather. This they
kept up until dark.
1t is related that Coleman, before COM
nitting his crime, threw pepper into his
victims eyes from pepper box. One Of
the mob used that same pepper box to-
day to throw pepper in Coleman's eyes
as soon as he was Iasheds to the stake
To make sure of a good job he held open
an eyelid, one after the other, and pep
pered them successfully. then drew the
eyelids.
In this city the action Of the mob is
universally approved even enthusiastical-
ly by women who think hereafter they
will be safer in consequence.
Some men deprecate mob law, but say
this case was an exception to all rules.
The latest report tonight is that Cole
mans mother is on the way here to take
charge of the ashes OF her son.