The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-07
Negro Taken from The Sheriff by a Mob Of
One Thousand Men.
HE HAD BRU1ALlY MURDERED A WOMAN
Dragged Through the streets to the
Outskirts of Town. where He
Was Speedily Dispatched.

stake The mob. led by the husband o.
the negros victim, dragged the shrieAins
criminal through the principal streets OF
the town, bound him to small tree, set
fire 10 brush about him and stool guard
until he was dead.
Coleman was under special guard, In
GLIDING Detective Fitzgerald, Constable
Dawson, Chief OF Police Donovan. all the
police force and two deputy shsriffs
When they arrived at the court house
they were met by a mob OF fully loVo
people, headed by James Lashbrook, the
husband of the murdered woman, ami
went Immediately up Second street
through the central portion OF the city TO
the hill, followed by fully 5000 OF the citl-
zens of this city and county.
This is the first time anything OF this
kind ever happened in this city and the
excitement is intense. All was done that
was possible by the sheriff and his guard
to prevent a lynching, but in the face of
such a mob of people irrespective OF col
or. 1t was useless to attempt to doFany-
thing save deliver him up, which was
done. The mob grabbed him and threw
rope over his head and took him up above
the city. The wretch could be heard above
the cries of the mob pleading for his life.
The mob carried Coleman to small hol-
low near the railroad tracks, where they
bound him tightly to a young saplng.
Then they heaped a huge pile OF brush
wood and timber around him and fired
the stack, while his eyes rolled horribly.
Some one cut out his yes and in mo-
ment his head rolled around and he was
believed to be dead.
nj.
the funeral pyre were thousands of mad
dened people. A dozen torches We're ap-
piled simultaneously and huge tongues OF
fire swept up and around the agonized
wretch. Before the roasting began Cole
man was almost dead. The rope had torn
and lacerated his face and neck and his
face was terribly beaten.
AS the flames arose, his cries increased.
He made vain efforts to withdraw his
limbs from the encroaching fire, his eyes
rolled In frenzy of suffering. The ropes
securing him TO the tree were burned and
his body finally fell forward on the blu n
ing 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 his 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 drink of water, his tongue pro-
truded and his eyeballs fairly started from
his head. AT the end of three hours the
body was practically cremated. During
all that time members of the family OF
Mrs. Lashbrook 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 on to the burning
embers, while curious crowd of several
thousand persons still fingered on the
scene. 1t is said that on the march
through the city the prisoners eyes had
been burned out by acids thrown In an
eggshell.
In all the mob who constituted the
crowd there was not single effort to dis
guise or conceal identity. No man wore
a mask. All the leaders of the mob are
well known and there are hundreds OF
witnesses who can testify to the partici-
pants in the tragedy. Many are Members
OF churches. County Judge Harbeson will
impanel special grand jury at once to
make a speedy investigation and return
indictments against the leaders of the
mob. The statement from Frankfort that
Governor Bradley proposes to offer re
ward for the apprehension Of members of
the mob does not excite much fear that
the reward will be claimed. While there
10 "iue uilSTence OF OPINION among
of the city who were not con-
nected with the mob, yet there is a strong
FEELING that no punishment was bad as
the result OF this tragedy
About 25O men We're at the Chesapeake
and Ohio train last night expecting him.
but he failed 10 come; they waite for him
this morning. There Is no telling what
would have been done had they succeeded
IN getting him in jail, as there would
nave undoubtedly been several killed in
the attempt to storm the jail doors
The crime for which Coleman was
burned Is the murder OF Mrs. James Lash
brook, who gave him a home and food.
she was enticed by him to enter a s.ed
to see about some work, when he knocked
her down and assaulted her. The blow
Was struck with an oak stave. II was not
euectVe and Coleman dragged her II
oed and amid her cries for mercy procured
razor and cut her throat. He was i'm
meaiately removed to escape mob violence.
ne had been employed on the farm. do ny
iarn work and also acting as house sar-
san'' lie mad the complete confidence OF
ootn MT and Mrs Lashbrook On the day
=. the murder Mr.. Lashbrook was not at
nvnle' MIS- Lashbrook had gone to Mays
Nh 'oi tne man and had Just returned
"Heh coleman enticed her in O the hoysa
ana committed his awful crime. He ,ben
went TO the neighbors and t Id a story NJ
MYSTERIOUS murder. but was that night ar
rested and was kept from a mob by beinp
hurried to Covirgton, At the Co,in@ton
,au Soleman made full confession.
"n, ~, lett no shadow of doubt OF his eullt
me coroner held an INQUEST nm IN.
charred remains OF Coleman ana renaons
the simple verdict, Death M ~ he,s
VI MOB The body was left living there
aaI mas not been removed, Relic hunters
took away teeth and bones and aesh and
,nasmehts OF the body that they could law
is related that Coleman. before cou.
mlttlng his crime, threw psnner mt M.
victim eyes from pepper box. One ~
the mob used that same pepper hov tna.n
70 throw pepper into Coleman's eves as
ruoh as ne was dashed to the stake. To
, n,.ants sure OF good jub he held omen one
eyeiid after the other and peppered tbem
ssuccesslvely and then drew the eyelids
Town, IN the city the action OF the NOR
Is unanimously approved. ''
rrankfort' KY, December Ex-Governor
bradley has only FIVE days OF his admin
STATION remaining, but he viii make AN
.nei' n mat time to have the MaysyijIe
lnop, which burned Dick Coleman. yiyor-
Dusty prosecuted. He will Offer rsusra
~, :, me apprehension of the members