The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-25

fsl Means to Protect wensn.
PALMETTO. Co, April sA-The body Of
Iage Strickland the negro preacher rho
was implicated in tho ~.ranfard murder by
Sam Hose, was fouai swinging TO the limb
of a persimnaon tree within rnile and
quarter OF this place eaTsy today. Before
death was allowed TO end the suffcriaSs az
the negro his ears were cut OF and the
small finger OF ths left hand was severed
at the second joint. The trophies weic In
Palmetto today. On the chest az the negro
was a scrap OF blood affirmed paper. fas-
tened with an ordinary pin. On one side
OF this paper Was written:
...... ........... ......
New York Journal: We must pro-
tect our ladies. p r:
:.... ........... ,.,...-...... s.-s.:
The other side Of the paper contained
warning To the negroes OF the neighb0r-
hood. IL read as follows:
... -..-.-...... ..-...s.+.... ........... .....s
"Beware all darkies: you viii -
treated the same way"
:..-.. ...-..-...... ..-.s:
Before being finally lynehcd Strickland
was given a chance To confess to the mis-
deeds OF which the mob supposed him to
be guilty, but no protested his Innocence
until the end.
Three times the moose was placed around
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 confess Ids completely In
the Crawford murder. Three times Strick-
land proclaimed his innocence. until.
weary OF useless torturins. the mob pulled
the rope and tide the end around the
slender trunk OF the persmmon tree.
Oaly One Friend In the MOI.
Not a shot was fired by the mob. strick-
land was strangied to deata. The lynch
ting was not accomplished without n des-
perate effort on the part os his employer 10
save his life. The man who pleaded for
the negro is Maj. w. w. Thomas. an ex-
senator. one OF the most distinguished
citizens OF Coweta county. He did all in
his power to prevent the iynching OF tho
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 Fairbury. One mile from where
the promise was made Strickland Was
hanged. The negro Was a tenant on the
plantation OF Maj. Thowas.
When Sam Hose, the mur iersr cf Alfred
CRAWFORD, and the assailant OF his wife.
made his confession Immediately prior to
his burning. he implicated Strickland.
Hose contending hat no had been offered
money by Strickland 10 Kill Crawford. it
was known positively. however. that Hosc
had mate false statements In his last
confession. and many OF those who aided
In his burning were disposed to disregard
kss statement as To Strickland.
Again Declares His Innocence.
Late Sunday night about fifteen men
went to the plantation Of Nal. Thomas
In the woods that he called aoula leaving
his wife and five children - wait and
weep over the fate that they knew was in
store for the negro. Their cries aroused
Maj. Thomas. and that sturdy old gentle
man followed the lynchers IN his buggy.
accompanied by his son. w. RI. Thomas.
determined 10 save. II possible the life II
his plantation darkey 'fe overlook tic
lynenara ssith their victim n Palmetto
and then ensuef. with only the moon 10
Eghtfn TIE races n' lHlsS EtttH men, inc
welrdes; and most dramatic ycene this
secfion has ever known. Strickland T4s
halted directly opposite the telegraph of-
fee. The moose was ABUSED around his
neck and the end % the rope was thrown
oyer A tree Strickland WIS told he Rad
a chance before dying TO confess his COM
plicity in the crime. lie tepiei:
II have told you all know. xeaflsnsa.
You can kill ne ~ you wish, out know
nothing n.ore 70 tell
Nal Thomas Pleads for the Ne9re.
The nesros life might have been enf*~1
then h1t for the arrival OF MAJ Triuuss
wao iesp~i frcgm his buggy ana asked for
a hearing. He asked the crowd 10 give
the negro n chance Cor his life and said
gentlemen. this man Is innocent. Hoss.
said I-ige promised 20 give bsrn S31 20 kin
Alfred cranfor1 ard believe Lise has
not sFstf sss since Ae has baen sn my place.
He has never GeIse aBy og sos any harm.
ard now ] want spss 10 promises rse that
you will tnrg higTa ever 20 the baIlIg az
this town, Ia gvgser that he may b~ given
hearing ! 30 not ask tnat you stber-
ate BIN Hold him. and II the courts a1-
judge him guilty. hang him..
TO tssis the mob r.piied that Strickland
had lnnarneG fEe negroes II, the n.sghbor-
hooa and had 4 had reputation having run
a~ay from Eass Point several years ago.
MAI Thomas rsfrsneed the nion shAs the
rexrs rad voluntarily scla ~ seeSnx Hose
on sfc night Of t.e murder A nassnhee %
the nob replied thai Strickland had done
.kts d, sta -~ssM. st. .~&.st>