Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-04-27


wretch met hs fate WINS torn up and
disposed Of as souvenirs.
Palmetto, Ga, April 25.-The body
Of Lge Strickland, the negro preach.
err who was implicated In the Gran
ford murder bby Same Hose, was
found swinging 10 the limb OF a per-
simmon tree within a mile and q quar-
ter OF this place early Monday. BE.
fore death was allowed to end the suf-
ferlngs OF the negro, his ears were cut
Off and the small finger OF his. loft
hand was severed at the second Joint
These trophies are In Palmetto. On
the chest OF the negro was a scrip OF
bloodstalned notepaper attached with
an ordinary pin. On one side OF this
paper was written:
"New York Journal-We must pro-
tect our ladies. 4.23-'99."
The other side Of the paper contain.
ed "a warning TO the negroes OF the
nelghborhOod, II read as follows;
Beware, all dNrkies. You will be
treated the same way"
Before being lynched Strickland
was given chance to confess TO the
mlsdeeds OF which the mob supposed
Aim to be guilty, but he protested his
innocence until the end,
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 warnings that
death was In store for him should he
fail TO confess his completely in the
Crawford murder. Three times SlrlcC
hand proclaimed his innocence, until
weary of useless torturing, the mob
pulled on the rope and tied the end
around the slender trunk Of the per-
simmon tree. Not a shot was fred by
the mob, Strickland was strangled 10
death.
The lynchlng OF Lige Strickland was
not accompanied 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. die did all in his power to
prevent the lynching Of the negro,
and did not discontinue his efforts UNI
til he had been assured by the leaders
OF the mob that the negro would be
taken to Jail at Falrburn. One mile
from where this promise was made,
bige Strickland was hanged
The negro was a 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
Mge Strickland, Hose contendlng that
he had been offered money by Strlck.
land to kill Crawford 1t was known
positively, however, that Hose had
made false statements In his last con.
fession and many of those who aided
in his burning were disposed to dlsre'
gard his statement In regard to
Strickland.
Late Sunday night about fifteen
men went to the plantation OF Major
Thomas and took Llge Strickland
from the little cabin in the woods that
he 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 gentle
man followed the lynchers in his bug
gy, accompanied by his son, w. NJ
Thomas, determined to save, II posi-
BILE, the life of his plantation darby.
He overlook the lynchers with their
victim at Palmetto and then ensued
with only the moonlight to brighten
the face Of those grim men, the weird
est and most dramatic scene this SEQ
ton has ever known.
Lige strickland was halted directly
opposite the telegraph office. The
moose was adjusted around his mech
and the end of the rope was thrown
over a tree. Strickland was told hi
had chance before dying TO confess
his completely in the crime. He re
piled:
II have told you all / know, gentle
men. You can kill me il you wish
but know nothing more ITO tell"
The negroes life might have beer
ended then, but for the arrival Of Ma
ior Thomas, who leaped from his bug
gy and asked for hearing. He asked
the crown to give the negro a chance
for his life here ON the streets of Pal
metto, and said: E
Gentlemen, this negro is innocent
Hose said Lige had promised to give
him $40 TO kill Alfred Cranfeld, and
believe Lige has not had $40 since h,
has been ON my place. He has never
done any OF you amy harm, and nov
1 want you to promise me that yoT
will turn him over to the bailiff o.
this town in order that he may b,
given hearing. l do not ask thar
you Hibernate him. Hold him, and Il
the courts adjudge him guilty, hani
him."
To this the mob replied that Strick
land had inAamed the negroes in tn,
neighborhood and had bad reputa
Hon, having been run away from East
Point several years ago. Major
Thomas reminded the mob that tn,
negro had voluntarily told OF seeing
Hose on the night OF the murder. A
member Of the mob replied tina
Strickland had done this in the Gun
uingness of his guilt, to establish hi,
own Innocence. There were some
however, who agreed with Majoi
Thomas, and after a discussion a yota
was taken which was supposed II
mean life or death to Lge Strickland
rIvt,, ,.~tm A. Ia 1s,,, Ire rinn. 49,, nu.a