The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-08-31
SENTENCED FOR LIFE.
Quick Justice Melted to the Negro
Who Caused the Akron Riots.
Hustled on 90 Columbus, where lie
l. Locked IN, safe From the
Mob-DetRils OF the Rapid
rrIr aud Trial.

Akron, o.. Aug. 25.-Lewis Peek, the
Negro who raped the little Mas girl
and caused the Akron riots. had JUS
tice melted out To him az quite a
rapid rate. Prison Keeper Washer,
of this city. went TO Cleveland and
had conference with Peek. The
prisoner was willing To plead guilty
10 attempted assault. the penalty Cor
which Is 20 years Washer said no;
that II he would not plead guilty 10
criminal assault the penalty for
which il life Imprisonment, he would
bee takcn TO Akron for trial. Lewis
shuddercd az the very thought. but
finally agreed 10 plead guilty 90 Grim
inal assault and accept life sen.
tence.
In the meantime a grand jury here
indicted Peck on the charge of erin
inal assault.
After Pcck's agreement 20 plead
guilty 90 criminal assault he was
taken TO the depot. where a train
was taKcn for this place.
just after leaving Cuyahoga Falls.
while thNtrain was en route from
Cleveland TO Akron. Peck begged
Prison Keeper Washer To shoot him
instantly la the event mob was
awaiting az Akron.
The train arrived here at $3.50. \
carriage WIS waiting az the railway
station aud the streets 90 the court
house were patrolcd by the state mi-
litia. Peek wa hustled into car
riogc aud m three minutes the court
house was reached.
Few who glanced at the rapidly
driven carriage suspected that IL con-
tanned the man the furious mob Of
"Wednesday night wanted 20 lynch.
Peck was taken In az the rear door
OF the courthouse. There was c stir
among the soldiers crowding 90 the
rear Of the court room. Judge d. ).
Nye. OF Elyria. presided. lie had ar
rived Ia Akron az noon. Two min
utes after Peck reached the court
Deputy sheriff I'd Hershey read the
indictment. Peck stood up with
manacled hands. lie pleaded guilty
in a firm voice. His worn eyes shifted
aervously about the room. Then he
sat down. an Prosecutor wanama-
ker whispered with him briefly.
Then Judge Nye said; "Mr. Peek.
you have heard the indictment read
charging you with rape. You have
pleaded guilty. Have you anything
10 say?"
y ~ have oothing 90 say except that
I throw myself on the mercy OF the
court" replied Peck.
Judge Nye then said: "In crimes
such as that TO which you have plead
ed guilty there is but one penalty
provided. That Is Imprisonment for
life. IL II the Judgment Of the court
that you bc confined in the peniten-
tiary for life. You must pay the
costs OF this proceeding. and that for
the first 20 days OF your imprison.
ment you shall be placed in solitary
confinement
After Peck had been sentenced he
was az once taken In u closed carriage
to the Center street crossing Of the
Cleveland. Akron a Columbus rail-
way anu pia'N on "'oiN A"' A'"'" 80
charge of sheriff Kelly and taken on
to the state penitentiary at Column
bus. So quickly and quietly was Peek
brought into the city. sentenced and
sent 10 Columbus that but very few
people knew what had transpircd.
There was no crowd az the railway
either when the train arrived or de-
parted.
Columbus. O.. Aug. 25.-Peek ar
rived al the penitentiary in the GUS
tody OF the sheriff OF Summit county
az s:45 O'Clock. lie felt greatly re-
lieved when the heavy iron gate
closed behind him and he realized
that was safe from mob violence.
lie had little 20 say and was quickly
conducted 90 a cell.