Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-10-12
BURNED AT STAKE.
HORRIBLE CRIME OF A MOB DOWN
IN ALABAMA.
LEAVE WORK TO HUNT MAN
wingfield Townsend, Alias Floyd, is Al
legged to Have Assaulted Mrs. Lonnie
Harrington, Near Eclectric, ABOUT
Fifteen Miles From Wetumpka-An'
other Negro Gave the Alarm

Wetumpka, Ala. Especially Winfield
Townsend, alias Floyd, negro, was
burned at the stake in the little town
of Eclectic, fifteen miles from Inis
place, half-hour after midnight. Inc
crime with which he was charged was
an attempted assault upon Mrs. Lon
ME Harrington, whose husband SET nre
to the brands which reduced lo"h-
sends body to ashes.
About one o'clock the negro,
nephew of the negro Floyd, who was
hanged in the Wetumpka jail week
before last for attempted assault, at
tempted to outrage Mrs. Harrington.
Mr.. Harrington was engaged at
cotton gin in Eclectic, and lives one
mile out of town. The negro came 10
the house and told Mrs. Harrington
that her husband had sent him to get
twenty cents from her. She told MIN
she had no change. Then the negro
left, but returned in about. ten MIN
utes. The woman's screams were
heard by Bob Nichols, another negro,
who was passing along the road at the
time. He ran to the house IN time
to see the negro escape. AS soon as
Mrs. Harrington was brought back TO
consciousness Nichols gave the alarm
The news spread rapidly. All tho
stores in Eclectic were closed; all the
gins and sawmills shut down; the peo-
pie left their wagons in the road, ano
their plows in the field, and gathere9!
for a pursuit of the negro. The crowd
divided, some securing the woods near
the scene of the crime and others went
to the penitentiary for bloodhounds.
The dogs were not brought to the
scene until nearly dark. They were
taken to where the negro's tracks dis
appeared, and an exciting chase en-
sued. The dogs stopped finally at a
tree in front Of Odion's store, on the
outskirts of the town. The crowd COM
ing up soon discovered the negro Sit
ting on a limb. He was brought down
! at once and taken to the scene OF his
crime. There he was confronted by
his victim, who positively identlned
| him. Word was sent to the Otner
searching parties that the negro mad
been found, and about eleven O'Clock
a crowd of several hundred was In the
little village. The negro, shiverlng
with fear, was then taken to the edge
of the village and surrounded by the
mob. The preparations for death were
suuickly made. A rope was flung over
the limb of a big oak, and hundred
stood ready to lend hand at the rope.
Then a halt was called, and the man
ner of death discussed by the mob. 10
decide the matter vote was taken.
and the ballot showed majority OF
the crowd to favor death at the stake.
The stake was prepared, and the
negro bound to it with chains. Pine
knots were piled about him, and the
flames were fired by the husband OF
the negro's victim. AS they leaped to
the wretch's flesh his wild cries upon
God for mercy and help could be hearo
for miles. The crowd looked on deal
to his cries, and in an hour the negro
was reduced to ashes.
Townsend before being bound con-
fessed the crime, and said he was also
implicated with Alexander Floyd, VINO
was hanged two weeks ago for an at
tempted assault on Miss Kate Pearson
in the attempt at that time.