The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-20
NEGRO BRUTE
PAID THE PENALTY.
Sheriff Took Him to Meet a
Colorado Mob.
FUNERAL PYRE WAS BUILT
And the Prisoner Roasted to Death-airi's
Father Lighted the Fagot-Dying
Wretch Screamed Wildly Dur
Ing the rortures.

blnlOn, Col, NOV. l1.-CndlHeu to
railroad rail set firmly in the ground, on
the exact spot where his fiendish crime
was committed. Preston Porter, Jr., or
as he was beSter known. John Porter,
who, on his arrest on Thursday had
confessed to assauting and then kill
ing Louise, the little daughter of II.
w. Frost, last evening paid terrible
penalty for his deed.
1t was 6:23 o'clock when the father of
the murdered girl touched the match
&c the fuel which had been piled around
the negro, and twenty minutes later a
last convulsive shudder told that life
was extinct What agony the doomed
boy suffered while the flames shriv-
eled up his flesh could only be guessed
from the terrible contortions of his
face and the cries he gave from time to
time.
The eXecutioners, who numbered
about 800 citizens of Lincoln county.
had not the least semblance Of the or
d- ary mob. Their every act was de-
liberate, and during all the prepara-
tions, as well as throughout the suffer-
ings of the negro, hardly an unneces-
sary 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
Iimon. from whence they departed for
their homes shortly afterwards.
Preston Porter did not seem to realize
the awful punishment that he was des-
tined to undergo. AS he had exhibited
indifference to the enormity of his crime
so he seemed to lack all understanding
of its terrible consequences For more
than an hour, while preparations for
his execution were in progress, he stood
tla ~ 1par
When everything was ready he walked
to the stake with firm step. pausing as
he reached the circle of broken boards
to kneel in prayer. He was allowed to
take his time. He arose and placed his
back to the iron stake, and half dozen
men wound chains about his body and
limbs. Kerosene oil was applied to the
wood and after brief pause Richard
w. Frost the father of little Louise
Frost. whose cruelty mutilated body
was found one week ago on that very
spot. applied match.
DIED IN AGONY.
For a moment but little Pickering
fame arose. Then the oil blazed up
sparks flew into the air and the wood
began to crackle. Almost instantly the
negroS trousers caught fire. Even
though the flesh must have been
scorched he did not utter sound. The
1ldmeS CTtDI SLOWLY up"dTu OH
clothing. the sparks flew up in cloud
of pale smoke. Porter turned his head
and frightful expression changed his
face With a sudden convulsive tug
glng he stretched his head as far as
possible and uttered cry of pain. "Oh,
my God. let me go. men. I've got some
thing more to tell you. Please let me
go. oh, my God, my God"
In terrible screeches these words. the
first he had uttered aloud, came from
the negro. A terrible tugging at the
chains, a succession of awful groans
and screams, the negro's agony was a
last breaking down his sullen compo-
sure Not an oath escaped him, but he
begged and pleaded to be shot. Sud
denly the rope holding his hands burned
through. Then arms. head and should
ers slipped through the chains. For an
instant the body stood erect. the arms
were raised in supplicatlon while burn
ing pieces of clothing dropped from
them. The body then fell away from
the fire. the head lower than the feet,
still fastened to the rail. This was not
expected and for few moments those
etolid men We're disconnected They
feared that the only remaining chain
would give way. If this had occurred
the partly burned human being would
have dashed among them in his blazing
garments. and not many would have
cared to captured him again. But the
The body was then in such a position
that only his legs were in the fire. The
cries of the wretch were redoubled and
he again begged to be shot. Some
wanted to throw him over in the fire,
others tried to dash oil upon him
Boards Were carried and a large pile
made over the PROSTATE body. They
soon were ignited and terrible heat
and lack of air soon rendered the victim
unconscious. bringing death few mo-
ments later. This terrible ceremony
out from the rolling prairie, concluded
the second tragedy upon that spot, the
terrible avenging of the first.
Through the entire affair but little
was said. AS they had calmly prepared
for the avenging, SO the people of the
eastern part of the state carried out
their plan coolly and deliberately
There was not a hict in the entire pro-
ceeding. Not a weapon was drawn:
there was no angry discussion. After
the fire had burned low they told each
other good night and they went home
They did not stop to discuss the affair
The train bearing the negro In GUS
fody of Sheriff Freeman and his depu-
ties arrived in Limon at 3:45 D. m
The cars were crowded with newspaper
reporters and people who were curious
TO see the negro executed. r. W. Frost
the murdered girls father. was one of
the passengers. When the train stopped
sixteen men who had been selected by
the vigilance committee entered the
train and demanded the prisoner from
the sheriff. Their every action was
marked by calmness and determine
fiOn. The officer protested in the name
Of the law and asked them to allow him
TO take his prisoner to the county jaiI
at Hugo. but his protests were disre-
garded.
One man carried a rope, on which
had been formed q hangman's moose
This was slipped over the negro's neck
It was at first announced that the ne
sro was to he executed by hanging
+ Many, including the father of the ne
. grp's victim, protested that such a death
would be too easy. and II was finally
decided to leave the method of death tc
the OUTRAGED father. He decided upon
burning at the stake.
The train was then allowed to proceed
ana at Lake Station, about miles
] from Limon, and near the scene of fhc