The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-25

Palmetto, Ga., April Z4.-1He pouy VI
Lige Strickland, the negro preacher VINO
was implicated in the Crawford murder
by Sam Hose, was found swinging TO
the limb of a persimmon tree within
a mile and a quarter of this place early
to-day. Before death was allowed to
end the sufferngs Of the negro, his ears
were cut off and the small finger of the
left hand was severed at the second
Joint These trophies We're in Palmetto
to-day. On the chest of the negro was
a scrap of blood-stained paper, fast
ened with an ordinary pin. On one side
Of this paper was written:
New York Journal: We must pro-
tect our ladies. 2S-99."
The other side of the paper contain
ed a warning to the negroes of the
neighborhood. It read as follows:
Beware all darkies. You will be
treated the same way" r-.-4
Before being finally lynched, Strlck-
land was given a chance to confess to
the misdeeds of which the mob suppos-
ed him to be guilty, but he protested his
innocence until the end.
Three times the moose was placed
about his neck and the negro was
drawn up and three times he was let
down with warnings that death was
in store for him should he fail to con-
fess his completely in the Crawford
murder Three times Strickland pro-
claimed his innocence, until, weary of
useless lettering, the mob pulled on the
rope and tied the end around the slen-
der trunk of the persimmon tree. Not
a shot was fired by the mob. Strick-
land was strangled to death. Tine
lynchng of Lige Strickland was not ac-
! complished without a 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 exstate
senator and one Of the most dis.in-
guished citizens of Coweta county. He
did all in his power to prevent the
| lynching of the negro and did not dis
| continue his efforts until he had been
assured by the leaders of the mob that
the negro would be taken to Jail at
Fairbury One mile from where the
promise was made Lige Strickland was
| hanged. The negro was a tenant on
the plantation of Major Thomas.
When Sam Hose, the murderer of AL
fred Crawford and the assalant of his
wife, made his confession. Immediate
ly prior to his burning, he implicated
Lige Strickland, Hose contendng thai
he had been offered money by Strick
land to kill Crawford. 1t was knowr
positively, however, that Hose hat
made false statements in his last con-
fessions and many of those who aided
in his burning were disposed to disre
gard his statement in regard to Stricl1
land.
Late Sunday night about Is men wen
to the plantation of Major Thomas ant
took Strickland from the little cabin il
the woods that he called home, leaving
his wife and five children to wait ant
weep over the fate they knew was il
store for the negro. Their cries arous
ed Major Thomas and that sturdy OLE
gentleman followed the lynchers in hi
buggy, accompanied by MS son, w. Nj
Thomas, determined to save, if possible
the life of his plantation darkey.
He overlook the lynchers with .hei
victim at Palmetto and then ensueG
with only the moonlight to brighter
the faces of these grim men, the weird
est and most dramatic scene this sec
ton has ever known.
Lige Strickland was halted directl.
opposite the telegraph office. The noos
was adjusted around his neck and tn
end of the rope was thrown over
tree. Strickland was told he had
chance before dying to confess his com
plic.tv in the crime He replied:
Il have told you all l know, gentle
men, You can kill me if you wish. bu
l know nothing more to tell"
The negro's life might have been end
ed then but for the arrival of MajO
Thomas, who leaped from his bugs,
and asked for a hearing. He asked tn
crowd to give the negro a chance 70