The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-12
A NEGROES FEARFUL PUNISHMENT FOR
A FIENDISH CRIME.
DEATH PENALTY IN WORST FORM
Paid for the Assault and Murder of a
Iady-A Negro Taken From the Off,
Gers, Bound Ia q Tree and Ere OF
Faggots Built Around Him In Broad
Daylight, ~Unmasked, a Crowd of Men
xecut Vengeance on a Ffend I'm h
Outskirts of a Kentucky Town.

to the murder Of Mrs. James Lash.
brook, wife Of his employer. expiated
his crime in daylight today at the
hands of a mob, consisting of thou
sands of citizens, by burning at the
stake, after suffering indescribable
torturing.
The dreadful spectacle occurred on
the peaceful cricket grounds on the
outskirts of this city.
just two months ago Richard Cole
man, the trusted emplOye of Farmer
James Lashbrook, murdered the wo-
man who had been his benefactor.
Coleman had been left in charge of the
house. Mrs. LashbrOok had driven to
Maysville and returned, when Coleman
asked her to enter the cabin to look at
some work at which he had been en-
gagged. The negro locked the door on
the inside. Mrs. Lashbrook became
frightened and screamed. Coleman
struck her on the head. knocking her
down, but not stopping her cries. He
then seized a razor and cut her throat.
He picked up the bleeding body and
placed it on the bed. He then left the
ROOM, but returning, heard her still
SicoiilA5y LII Will oil dAe lit SlIuCk
her repeatedly IN the head until he
was sure she was dead. The negro
washed the blood from his hands and
clothing and went to where Mr.. Lash
brook 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 ar
rived that suspicion was directed
a UninGt (fn1nn1nn pIno1cnntc ho1 hDo~
found on his clothing, but he account
ed for that by saying that he had been
killing chickens. That night, however,
at Maysville, a partial confession was
obtained, and, knowing the result if
that fact should become known, the
officers quietly took him to C~ovington,
KY, for safe keeping. He was indict-
ed for the murder. Shortly after his
incarceration at C~ovington he made a
complete confession of his crime to the
jailor. The story of his crime, includ-
ing worse than murder, was told with
out any appearance of feeling by the
prisoner.
The trial was set for today. Sheriff
Perrine determined to leave Covington
by the train on the Chesapeake and
Ohio, which started at 1870 o'clock
Wednesday morning from Cincinnati
and C~OvingtOn. Coleman had been ap-
prised Tuesday night to prepare to re-
turn to the scene of his crime. He was
instantly stricken with fear and begged
p~1teOusly to be permitted to remain in
COVlnStOn until after his trial. He said
he expected to die, but he dreaded the
vengeance of a mob. When he was
handcuffed on leaving the Jail in Gov
ington he was almost paralyzed and
had to be assisted to the patrol wagon.
On entering the train he seemed I'M
able to sit down until one of the
guards forced him into a scat IF do
Veloped that in the crowd at Coving-
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 secret the
prisoner. Messages were sent here.
The prisoner with his escort arrived
at 1920 o'clock. Sheriff Perrine, while
. en- route to Maysville, had been in
formed that a mob was awaiting the
arrival of the train at the depot and
he hastily prepared for the swearing
in of deputy sheriffs.
AS the train puffed slowly into the
old station the mob formed on both
sides in two long huddled crowds.
Armed men stationed themselves at
the platforms of all the cars and warn
ed the f.ightened passengers to remain
quiet and not to interfere. The sheriff
and his assistants were strongly arm
ed and there was some resistance as
the leaders of the mob jostled roughly
against them, and demands were utter
ed from the outer fringes of the crowds
for the prisoner. Sheriff Perrine made
a bold movement and started walking
swiftly, but with no indications of
panic, from the car. A step behind
hin followed the officers with Coleman
in their midst, seeking to conceal him
self behind the brawny forms of his
protectors.
AS the officers proceeded the num-
bers of the mob were constantly swell
led by new arrivals and through the
downtown business streets to the court
house they We're closely followed. Hun
dreds of stones and other missiles were
thrown nd revolvers and rifles were
freely displayed. The prisoner was fire.
quently struck and he presented a
frightful appearance, the blood stream
ing from wounds on his face and head
At the court house a mob of 1900
men headed by James Lashbrook, the
husband, had been hastily formed. A
demand fOr the prisoner was made
There was a brief struggle in which
weapons were hastily drawn by the of
ficers, n sheriff and his assistants
were overcome by force of number
and the prisoner was seized by the lead.
ers of the m 70
The prisoner was dragged along by
ropes loosely attached to his body. HI
was the larger again or nunOredS o.
missiles and several times he sank hal
conscious to the ground, while t1t
crowd pressed forward, striking at hin
with clubs, sticks and whips, until hi.
a and body were scarcely %recogniz
able.
More dead than slfve, he was drag
ged along and forced to his feet. Scor
of women joined the men. The wretch
could be heard pleading for his life
but the cry OF the prisoner was ans
wered with an oath and a blow.
The place OF execution had been Sc
lected weeks ago and all the other de
. tails OF the programme mapped out b.
the leaders of the mob. The prisone
was strapped against a tree, facing tn
husband OF the victim. Large quaint
ties dry brush and larger bits Of woo'
We're yiuled around him while he wa;
praying for speedy death.
James Lashbrook, the husband of tn
victim, applied the first match to tn
brushWood. A brother of the victim
struck the second match. Some on
with a knife was vainQy slashing at tn
prisoners chest. Not a single shot wa