The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-04-25
STRICKLAND STRUNG UP
Negro Preacher Named by Hose Is
Hanged by a Mob.
DIED PROTESTING HIS INNOCENCE

His Employer, Ex-senator Thomas, ,
Made an Appeal For the Negroes
Life, and Finally Secured n Pledge
which was Violated by the Mob.
Palmetto, Ca, April 25.-The body
Of "Lige" Strickland. a negro preacher,
who was implicated in the Crawford
murder by Sam Hose, was found swing
ing to the limb OF a persimmon tree
within a mile and a quarter OF this
place yesterday. Before death was al.
lowed to end the sufferings OF the
negro his ears were cut of and the
small finger Of his left hand was sew
cred at the second joint. These troph-
les are in Palmetto today. On the
breast of the negro was a piece OF blood
stained paper attached by an ordinary
pin. On one side of this paper was
written: I'VE must protect our la
dies" The other side OF the paper
contained a warning to the negroes
OF the neighborhood. II read as fol-
lows: Beware, all darkies; you will
be treated the same"
Before being lynched Strickland was
given a chance to confess to the mis-
deeds Of which the mob supposed him
to be guilty, but he protested his in
nocence to the last. 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 a
warning that death was in store for
him should he fail to confess his COM
plicity in the Crawford murder. Three
times Strickland proclaimed his in
&c
Ing, the mob pulled on the rope and
tied the end around the slender trunk
Of the persimmon tree. Not shot
was fired. Strickland was strangled
to death.
The lynching of Strickland was not
accomplished without a desperate ef-
fort on the part of his employer TO
save his life. The man who pleaded
for him is Major w. w. Thomas. an
ex-state senator, and one of the most
distinguished citizens of Coweta coun-
ty. He did all in his power to prevent
the lynching of the negro. Said he:
Gentlemen, this negro is innocent.
Hose said Lige had promised to give
him $50 to kill Alfred Crawford, and
/ believe Lige has not had 500 since he
has been on my place. l do not ask
you to liberate him. Hold him, and If
the courts adjudge him guilty, hang
him"
Mr.. Thomas called attention to the
fact that Strickland had voluntarily
told of having seen Hose on the night
Of the murder, and finally a vote was
taken, which resulted in a unanimous
decision to let him live. With the as
surance that Strickland would be
taken to Fairburn Jail the major re-
turned to his home. mile further on
the lynching took place.
The negro was tenant on the plan
tation of Major Thomas. When Sam
Hose, the murderer of Alfred Gran
ford and the assailant of his wife,
made his confession Immediately prior
to his burning, he implicated Lige
Strickland, Hose contending that he
had been offered money by Strickland
to kill Crawford. 1t was known posi-
lively, however, that Hose had made
false statements in his last confession,
and many of those who aided in his
burning were disposed to disregard his
statement in regard to Strickland.
Late Sunday night about Is men
went to the plantation of Major Thom-
as and took Strickland from his little
cabin in the woods, leaving his wife
and five children to wait and weep
over the fate they knew was in store
for the negro. Their cries aroused Ma
jor Thomas, and that sturdy old gem
tleman followed the lynchers in his
buggy, accompanied by his son, Will
lam Thomas, determined to save, II
possible, the life of his plantation
darkey. AS detailed above his efforts
we're futile.
A ooroner's jury held an inquest
over the body last evening and render
ed the usual veridct-death at the
hands of unknown parties.
Another mob is hunting the country
for Albert Sewell, who has made him
self obnoxious by remarks concerning
the treatment given the negroes by the
whites. There is not much prospect OF
his capture, however.
Does Tnis Strike Yop7
Muddy compilations, Nauseadng breath