The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-25
On the other the Significant Warm
ing. "Beware. All Darkies, You VIII
De Treated i'm the Same Way"
STRUNG UP THREE TIMES
URGED To CONFESS. hut DIED FRO
TESTING HIS INNOCENCE.
FruitIcss Efforts Of His Courageous
Negro Chase6-What Georgians Say.

<
PALMETTO, Ca. April 24.-The body Of
Lige Strickland. the negro preacher who
was implicated in the Crawford murder by
Sam Hose. was found swinging 10 the limb
OF a persimmon tree within a mile and
quarter of this place early to-day. Before
death was allowed TO end the sufrerings OF
the negro his ears were cut of and the
small finger OF his left hand was severed
at the second joint. These trophies were In
Palmetto to-day. On the chest of the negro
was scrap OF bloodstained note paper. at
tached with an ordinary pin. On one side
Of this paper was written:
New York Journal-We must protect our
ladies, 23-99."
The other side OF the paper contained a
warning to the negroes of the neighbor-
hood. IL read as follows:
Beware, all darkies. You will be treated
the Same way"
Before being finally lynched Strickland
was given chance TO confess to the mis-
deeds OF which the mob supposed him 10 be
guilty. but he protested his innocence to
the end Three times the moose was placed
around his neck and the negro was drawn
| up off the ground. Three times ne was let
down with warnings that death was in store
| plicity in the Crawford murder. Three times
Strickland proclaimed his innocence, until
weary of useless torturing. the mob pulled
| on the rope and tied the end around esae
slender trunk of the persimmon tree. Not
| a shot was fired by the mob. Strickland was
strangled to death.
The lynching of IAge 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 distinguished citizens OF
| Coweta county. He did all in his power
| prevent the lynching Of the negro and did
not discontinue his efforts until he had been
| assured by the leaders Of the mob that the
negro would be taken to jail at Fairburn.
| One mile from " here this promise was made
Lige Strickland was hanged. The negro was
| q tenant on the plantation OF Major
Thomas. When Sam Hose, the murderer Of
| Alfred Crawford and the assailant of his
wife, made his confession, Immediately prior
| 10 his burning, he implicated Lige Strick-
| land, Hose contending that he had been
offered money by Strickland to kill Gran
ford. 1t was known positively, however.
that Hose had made false statements in
his last confession and many of those who
aided in his burning were disposed TO dis
regard his statement in regard TO Strick-
| land
Late Sunday night about fifteen men went
! TO the plantation OF Major Thomas and took
| Lige Strickland from the little cabin In the
woods ;hat ne called home, leaving his wife
and five children to wall and weep over the
fate they knew was in store for the negro
Their cries aroused Major Thomas. and that
sturdy old man followed the lynchers in his
buggy, accompanied by his son. w. NJ
| Thomas. determined TO save. IL possible. the
| life of his empoye. He overlook the lynch
ers with their victim at Palmetto and then
! ensued. with only the moonlight to brighten
the faces of these grim men. the weirdset
and most dramatic scene this section has
| ever known
KNEW NOTHING TO TELL.
| Lige Strickland was halted directly oppo-
| site the telegraph office. The moose was ad-
| justed around his neck and the end OF the
| rope was thrown over tree. Strickland
was told he had chance before dying To
confess his completely in the crime lie re-
Piled
Il have told you all know, gentlemen.
You can kill me IL you wish. but know
| nothing more 10 tell"
The negro's life might have been ended
| then but for the arrival OF Major Thomas.
who leaped from his buggy and asked for A
| hearing. He asked the crowd TO give the
negro chance for his life here on the streets
of Palmetto and said: Gentlemen. this
negro is innocent. Hose said Lge had prom
| ised to give him So 10 kin Alfred Crawford.
and L believe Lige has not had so since he
| has been my place. He has never done
any Of you any harm and now l want you
| to promise me that you will turn him over
TO the bailif OF this town in order that he
may be given hearing. j do not ask that
| you liberate him. Hold him and IL the courts
adjudge him guilty hang him.
To this the mob replied that Strickland
had infamed the negroes I'm the neighbor-
hood and had bad reputation. having been
| run away from East Point several years
ago.
Major Thomas reminded the mob that the
negro had voluntarily told OF seeing Hose
| on the night OF the murder. member OF
the mob replied that Strickland had done
| this In the cunningness of his guilt TO estab-
| lish his own innocence There were some
however. who agreed with Major Thomas
and after a discussion vote taken
which was supposed 10 mean life or death
10 Lge Strickland. The vote TO let him
live was unanimous.
Major Thomas then retired some distance
and the mob was preparing 10 send Strick-
land in a wagon TO Newman. when some-
body cried out: I'VE have got him here;
| let's keep him" This again aroused the
| mob and messenger was sent TO Major
! Thomas 10 leave Palmetto for his own good
| but the old man was not frightened. lie
drew himself up and said emphaticallyi
| II have never before been ordered 10 leave
/ town, and 1 am not going 10 leave this
one" And then the major. uplifting his