The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-10-04
BURNED AT A STAKE.
Negro Criminal Killed by an
Angry Mob.
CRIES FOR MERCY PASS UNHEEDED.
Eclectic. Ala, Scene of the shocking
Spcctncle-Thc Criminal Com
fesscd Attempted Assault
and other Crimes.

WETUMPKA, Ala, Oct. 3.-Winfeld
Townsend, alias Floyd, II negro. was
burned at the stake in the little town of
Eclectic, 10 miles from this place, yes.
terday. The crime with which he was
charged was an attempted assault upon
Mrs. Lonnie Harrington, whose husband
set fire to the brands which reduced
Tuwnsend's body to ashes. Monday aft
ernoon about 1 O'Clock the negro neph
ew of the negro Floyd who was hanged
N the Wetumpka Jail week before last
for attempted assault, attempted to out
rage Mrs. Harrington. Mr. Harrington
was engaged at cotton gin in Eclectic
and lives one mile out of town.
The negro came to the house and tolo
Mrs. Harrington that her husband had
sent him to get 20 cents from her She
told him she had no change. Then the
negro left, but returned in about ten
minutes. The wOman's screams were
heard by Bob Nichols, another negro who
was passing along the road at the time
lie ran to the house in time to see tn,
negro escape. AS soon as Mrs. Har
rington was brought back to conscious
ness Nichols gave the alarm.
The news spread rapidly. All the stores
in Eclectic were closed, all the gins and
sawmlls shut down, the people left theii
wagons in the road and their plows in the
field and gathered for pursuit of the
negro. The crowd divided, some scour
ing the woods near the scene of the
crime and others going to the pcniten
tiary for bloodhounds. The dogs were
not brought to the scene until nearly
dark. They were taken to where the
negro's tracks disappeared, and an ex.
citing chase ensued.
The dogs stopped finally at n tree in
front of Odion's store on the outskirts of
the town. The crowd coming up soon
discovered the negro sitting on limb.
He was brought down at once and taken
10 the scene of his crime There he was
confronted by his victim, who positively
identified him.
Word was sent to the other searching
parties that the negro had been found.
and about II o'clock crowd Of several
hundred was in the little village. The
negro was then taken to the edge of the
village, and, surrounded by the mob. he
shivered with fear. The preparations
for death were quickly made. A rope
was flung over the limb of big oak and
hundred stood ready to lend hand at
the rope.
Then halt was called and the man
ner Of death discussed by the mob To
decide the matter vote was taken. and
the balloting showed n majority of the
crowd to favor death at the stake.
The stake was prepared, and the negro
was bound to it with chains. Pine knots
were piled about him, and the flames
were started by the husband of the ne
gros victim. AS they leaped to the
wretch's flesh his wild cries upon God for
mercy and help could be heard far away.
The crowd looked on deaf to his cries,
and in an hour the negro was reduced to
ashes.
Townsend, before being bound, confess
ed the crime and said he was also impli-
Gated with Alexander Floyd, who was
hung a couple of weeks ago for an at
tempted assault on Miss Kate Pearson,
in the attempt at that time. He said he
and Floyd had planned for other crimes
of like character, but that Floyds being
hung put n stop to them.