Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-11-22
AyAHFUL EXpIATION
Lou 81 Frost's MI derer Taken
u1m the Sher f by a Mob
The FiEyD BURIED At 1HG STAKE.


laiiroad rail set firmly in the ground,
en- tie exact spot where his iiendish
crime was committed, Preston Porter,
Dr., or as he was lamillarIy known,
John Porter. yesterday evening pad
terrible penalty for his deed, It was
G:O3 O'Clock when the father of the
murdered girl touched the match to
The fuel which had been piled around
the negro and 20 minutes later a last
convuIsiye shudder told that life was
extinct The exeeutioners who num-
bered about 300 citizens of Lincoln
county had not the least semblance
of the ordinary mob. Their every act
was deliberate and, during all the
preparations, as well as throughout
the suiferings of the negro, hardly
an unnecessary word was spoken.
Grimly they stood in a circle about
the fire until the body was entirely
consumed and then quietly they took
their way back to Limon from whence
they departed for their homes shortly
afterward.
Preston Porter did not seem to
realize the awful punishment that he
was destined to undergo. As he had
indifference to the cnormity
of his crime, SO he seemed to lack all
understanding Of its terrible conse-
quences. For more than an hour,
while preparations for his execution
were in progress, he stood mute and
sulIen among the avengers. When
was ready he walked to
the stake with Il firm step, pausng as
he reached the circle of broken boards
to kneel in prayer. He was allowed to
take his time. lie arose and placed
his back to the iron stake and half a
dozen men wound chains about his
body and limbs. Kerosene oil was ap-
piled to the wood after brief pause
by Richard W. Frost, the father Of
little Louise Frost, whose cruelty mu.
tiatcd body was found one week ago
on that very spot. The flames crept |
slowly upward on his clothing, the
sparks flew up in cloud of pale
smoke Porter turned his head and
a frightful expression changed his
tNce. With Il sudden eonvulsivc tug
gng, he stretched his head as far
from the rapidly increasing flames
rs possible ard uttered a cry Of pain.
'Oh, my Cod Let me go, men. I've
got something more to tell you.
Please let me go. Oh, my God, my
.'od'" In terrible screeches these
words, the first he had uttered aloud,
'1me from the negro. A terrible tug
cling ut the chains, succession of
lwTul groans and screams, the negro's
Iwful agony was at last breaking
Town his sullen composure. The
BODY afterwards fell away from the
ire, the head over than the feet,
still fastened to the rail. The cries of
he wretch were redoubled and he
begged to be shot. Some wanted to
throw him over into the fire, others
tried to dash oil upon him. Boards
were carried and large pile made
over the PROSTATE body They soon
were ignited and the terrible heat
and lack of air quickly rendered the
victim unconscious, bringing death
few moments later. This terrible
ceremony, out upon the rolling
prairie, concluded the second tragedy
upon that spot, the terrible avenglng
Of the first.
me train bearing the negro in Gus
Iody of Sheriff Freeman and his dep-
ltles arrived in Limon at BIAS D. m.
The cars were crowded with newspa-
per reporters and people who were
curious TO see, the negro executed.
H. W. Frost, the murdered girls
rather, was one of the passengers.
When the train stopped 16 men, who
had been selected by the vigilance
committee, entered the train and de-
handed the prisoner from the sheriff.
The officer protested in the name of
the law and asked the men to allow
him to take his prisoner to the coun-
y Jail at Hugo but his protests were
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