The San Francisco call., 1899-04-24

their freedom. Knives We're quickly
produced and the body was soon dis
membered,
One of the men who lifted the can of
kerosene to the negro's head is said to
be a native of the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, His name is known to
those who were with him, but they re-
fuse to divulge 1t.
The mob was composed of citizens Of
Newman, Griffin. Palmetto and other
little towns In the country round about
Newman.
General Atkinson met the mob as he
was returning from church and ap-
pealed TO them to let the law take its
course.
A member of the mob was seen to
draw a revolver and take aim at Cen
eral Atkinson, who in speaking said
he would testify against the members
Of the mob, but he was disarmed.
Before being put to death the negro
stated that he had been paid $l2 by
Iige Strickland a negro preacher at
Palmetto, to kill Crawford. Tonight
mob Of citizens is securing the country
for Strickland, who has left his home
Sam Hose killed Alfred Crawford,
white farmer near Palmetto, and out
ragged his wife ten days ago. Since
that time business in that part of the
State has been suspended, the entire
population turning out in an effort TO
capture him. He successfully eluded
pursuit until discovered near Macon
Governor Chandler has been asked to
send troops here to preserve order for
q day or two, as it is feared the negroes
NAV wreak vengeance, many threats
to that effect having been made
Hose has been on the farm of Jones
Brothers. between Macon and Colum-
bus. since the day after he committed
his horrible crime. His mother is en-
ployed on the farm and he fed to her
cabin for refuge. The Jones brothers
were not aware of the crime until
few days ago and were not sure that
he was the much-wanted man. Sat
urday morning one Of the Jones boys
met Hose. and as he was talking 10
him noticed that his ginger face was
ebony black.
Convinced that Il negro had been
blackened to escape detection and that
he was the man for whom the authori-
ties had been securing the country,
they determined to arrest him. This
morning they brought the negro into
Macon anu put him aboard a train
with the intention of bringing him 10
Atlanta At Griffin some one recog-
nized Hose and sent word to Newman,
the next station, that the negro was on
the train.
When Newman was reached a great
crowd surrounded the train and pushed
into the cars. The Jones brothers were
told that the negro could be delivered
to the Sheriff of Campbell County
there and that it was not necessary to
take him to Atlanta. This was acceded
to and he was taken off the train and
marched at the head of a yelling,
shouting crowd of white people TO the
jail.
Here they turned him over to Sheriff
Brown, taking a receipt for the pris-
oner, thus making themselves sure Of
the $3.50 reward offered for his arrest.
Word was sent to Mrs Crawford az
Palmetto to come to Newman to make
sure of the identification. In some way
the news of the arrest leaked out and
spread rapidly. From every house in
the little city came the occupants, and
a good-sized crowd was soon gathered
about the Jail. Sheriff Brown was i'm
portuned to give UP the prisoner and
finally turned the wretch over to the
waiting crowd. a procession formed
quickly and Hose was marched at its
head to the public square.
The Sheriff informed Ex-Governor
Atkinson of Georgia, who lives in New
nan, and he came hurriedly on the
scene, and, standing in a buggy, i'm
pOrtuned the crowd to let the law take
its course.
The law will take it's course" said
he. and I promise you it will do so
quickly and effectively. Do not stain
the honor of the State with a crime
such as you are about to perform.
Judge a. D. Freeman, also of New
nan, spoke in a similar strain. The
assemblage heard the words of the two
speakers in silence. but the instant
their voices had died away shouts of
"On to Palmetto" Burn him. Think
of his crime" were heard on all sides
and the march was resumed.
Mrs. Cranford's mother and sister
are residents of Newman. The mob
was headed in the direction of their
house and in a short time reached
the MCElIOy uOlIlS. L he IcSiO Vas
marched in the gate ard Mrs. McElroy
called to the front door She at once
identified Hose, and her verdict was
agreed TO by her daughter.
ITO the sta e" was again the cry.
Several men wanted TO burn him in
Mrs. McElroy's yard. To this she OBJ
jected. and the mob, complying with
her wishes, started for Palmetto.
Just as they were leaving Newman
word was brought that the / o'clock
train from Atlanta was bringing 1000
people to Palmetto This was thought
to be a regiment of militia, and the
mob at once decided to burn the pris-
oner at the first favorable place rather
than be conn lied to shoot him when
the militia put in an appearance.
The mob, which now numbered near
ly 1900 people. hurried along the road
way A line of bU~~ies and vehicles of
all kinds, their drivers fighting for po-
sitions in line, followed the procession,
at the head of which, closely guarded,
marched the negro.
One and a half miles out of Newman
a halt was made A little to the side
of the road was a strong pine tree and
up to this the negro was marched, his
back placed to the tree and his face
to the crowd, which jostled closely
about him. Here for the first time he
was allowed to talk. He said:
II am Sam Hose. l killed Alfred
Crawford, but 1 was paid to do it. Lige