The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-07
A AMOyS7ROUS LYNcHING|
Terrible Fate Of a Self Confessed
Negro Murd9er in Kentucky.
OREMATED In BROAD DAYLIGHT.|
Ing. and the Husband Of His yic~
tim started the Fire which Ended
His Life-No Attempt At Secrecy. u


/. Ing. aud the Husband Of His vici
tim started the Fire which Ended
His Life-No Attempt ~ secrecy.
| MayvilIe, Ky, Dec. 7.--Richard Cols-
man, the confessed murderer Of Mrs.
James Lashbrook, wife Of his. employ
er, expiaied his crime in daylight yea
terday at the hands OF a mob, con-
sisting of thousands Of citizens, By
burning at the stake after suffering
| torture and fright beyond description.
Coleman was trusted employe. Two
months ago. while Mr.. Lashbrook was
at work some distance from the house,
Coleman asked Mrs Lashbrook to
enter the cabin to look at some work
on which he had been engaged. The
negro locked the door on the inside.
Mrs. Lashbrook became frightened and
screamed. Coleman struck her on thsI
head. knocking her down, but not
stopping her cries. He then seized ~
razor and cut her throat He picke&
up the bleeding body and placed 1t on
the bed He then left the room, but
returning and hearing her groaning
he struck her repeatedly on the head
with an AK.
The negro then washed the blood
from his hands and clothing and went
to where Mr.. Lashbrook was at work
in the field and told him that he had
better come to the house. as some one
had killed his wife. 1t was not until
after the officers arrived that suspicion
was directed against Coleman. He
was arrested and taken to Covington
for safe keeping. Shortly after his
incarceration at Covington he made
a complete confession to the jailer.
The story of his revolving crime, in \
GLIDING worse than murder, was told /
without any appearance Of feeling.
The trial was set for yesterday.
Coleman had been tod Tuesday night
to prepare to return to the scene OF 4
his crime. He was stricken with fear,
and begged piteously to be permitted \
to remain in Covington until after his
trial On entering the train he seemed
unable to sit down until one of the
guards forced him into seat 1t de-
veloped that in the crowd at Coving- 4
ton and even on the train there were
some of the relatives of Mrs LASH
brook, ready to convey information if
any attempt was made to secrete the
prisoner.
The prisoner, with his escort, arrived
here at 1920 O'Clock. AS the train
pulled into the station the mob formed
on both sides. Armed men warned the, 4
frightened passengers to remain quiet 4
and not to interfere. Sheriff Perrine
made Il bold movement and started
u-.l l. if1o h,,t ty,Hf n
tion of a panic. from the car. A step II
behind him followed the officers, with Il
Coleman in their midst, seeking to
himself behind the forms OF H
his protectors. AS the. officers pro-
ceeded hundreds of stones and other
missiles were thrown, and revolvers V
and rifles We're freely displayed, The
prisoner was frequently struck, and he
presented a frightful appearance. ~
AT the court house a mob OF over
,,0U0 men, headed by James Lashbrook,
he husband, had been hastily formed.
lhe demand for the prisoner was made,
by threats from the lead d
srs. There was brief struggle, and h
hen the sheriff and his assistants Werse .s
overcome and the prisoner pulled from q
heir midst. Through the center por.
ion of the town the mob marched, the a
prisoner being dragged along with the
lid of ropes loosely attached to his
,ody. He was the target of hundreds N
II missiles. and several times he sank
lalf conscious to the ground, whilo
he crowd struck at him with clubs,
ticks and whips until his head and
'ody were scarcely recognizable. More
lead than alive. he was dragged along Fl
nd forced to his feet. Scores of wo-
nen Joined the men. High above the
oise the wretch could be heard plead
lg for his life.
The place Of execution had been se-
acted weeks ago. AL the cricket
rounds the prisoner was strapped
gainst tree and large quantities Of Il
ry brush and wood piled around him,
'hilo he was praying for speedy death.
ames Lashbrook, the husband of the
ictim, applied the first match to the
rushwood, and as a brother of the
ictim struck the second match some
ne was Blashing at the prisoners
hest with knife. Not a single shot Il
'as fired, the purpose seeming to be
} give the wretch the greatest possible
mount and duration of torture. Pep
er was forced into his eyes after he,
ad been tied.
As the flames arose Coleman's hor-
ors increased. and he made vain eff
,rts to withdraw his lambs from the
re, all the time begging for drink
f water. The ropes were burned "
nd his body finally fell forward on the
urning pile, Even then, although It "
as not certain whether he wAs living n
dead, the crowd used rails and long
oles to push his body back into the
ames. 1t is not certain how long
fe lasted w
AT the end of three hours the body
as practically cremated. Members OF \;
le family of Mrs Lashbrook had re- ~
aimed to keep up the fire and keep the n
,dy in position where it would "A
'ntinuo to burn. SiX-year-old chill
'an aided In feeding the fire. IA
There was not a single effort made to Y;
sguise or conceal identity All the
aders of the mob are well known,
I'd there are hundreds of witnesses
ho can testify to their participation
the tragedy. They are leading citi-
ms in all lines of business, and many n
q members of churches.
County Judge Harbeson will empanel VI
special grand jury at once to make
speedy investigation and return in
ctments against the leaders, The MA
atement that Governor Bradley pro-
'ses to Hffer a reward for the ap-
ehensioL Of members Of the mob
YES not excite much fear that the re- q
ard will be claimed There Is strong
cling that no punishment will result.
The body was left lying in the ashes, y
Id relic hunters took away teeth. N
mes and flesh and everything from
e body that they could lay hands on.
The coroner held an inquest on the "a
arred remains and rendered the III
nplo verdict: Death at the hands n
mob"