The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-11-20
HIS VICTIM WAS A CHILD
Previous to Murder She Had Been
Criminally Assaulted.
THE ARREST OF JOHN PORTER FOLLOWED
He With His Brother and Father Was Placed in
Jail at Denver, Where He Confessed
the Crime and Gave the
Details.
(By the Associated Press.)

I4lrnOn, 1ClO., NOV. 1U.--CIdllcu " 81
railroad rail set firmly in the ground on
the exact spot where his crime was COM
mitted, Preston Porter, Jr., or as he was
Familiarity know, John Porter, this even
ing paid a terrible penalty for his deed.
1t was 6:23 o'clock when the father of
the murdered girl touched the match to
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 suf-
fered while the flames shriveled up his
flesh could only be guessed from the ter
rible contortions of his face and the cries
he gave from time to time.
The eXecutiOners, who numbered about
three hundred citizens of Lincoln county,
had not the least semblance Of the or
binary mob. Their every act was DELHI
crate and during all the preparations. as
we'll as throughout the sutferings 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, whence they depart
ed for their homes shortly afterwards.
FLAME AROSE.
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 it's terrible consequence. For more
than an hour while preparations for his
execution were in progress, he stood mute
and sullen among the avengers. When
everything was ready he walked to the
stake with a 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 hack
to the iron stake. and half a dozen men
wound chains about his body and limbs.
Kerosene oil was applied to the wood,
and after a 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 a
match. For n moment but a little flick
ering flame arose. Then the oil blaZed
up, sparks flew into the air and the wood
began to crackle. Almost instantly the
Negroes trousers caught fire. Even
though the flesh must have been scorched,
he did not utter a sound. The flames
crept slowly upward OF his clothing. the
sparks flew up in a cloud of pale smoke
Porter turned his head and a frightfuI
expression changed his face. With a sud
den convulsive tu2ging he stretched his
head as far from the rapidly increased
flames as possible and uttered a cry o
pain. "Oh, my God, let me go, men
I've got something more to tell you
Please let me go. Oh, my God, my God.
SCENE OF sICKENING HORROR.
In terrible screeches these words, tn,
first he had uttered aloud, came from
the negro. A terrible Juggling at tn
chains, a succession of awful grOans an
screams, the negro's agony was at las
breaking Town his sullen composure. No
an oath escaped him., but he begged an,
pleaded to be shot. Suddenly, the rop
I holding his hands burned through. The,
arms, head and shoulders slipped throug
the chains. For an instant the body stoo
erect, the arms were raised in %supplica
, ton while burning pieces of clothin
| dropped from them. The body then fe
c away from the fire. the head lower tina
l the feet. still fastened to the rail. Thi
G was not expected, and for a few minute
| those stOlid men were disconnected; the
feared that the only remaining chat
would give way. If this had occurred til
partly burned human being would hay
: dashed among them in his blazing ga
; ments, and not many would have care
to capture him again. But the chain he
fast. The body was then in such a pos
ton that only the legs were in the fir
The cries of the wretch were redouble
and he again begged to be shot. Son
wanted to throw him over into the fir
Others tried to dash oil on him.. Boart
60 were carried and a large pile made ov,
j. the PROSTATE body. They soon We
ct ignited and the terrible heat and lack
re air quickly rendered the victim uncol
If scious, bringing death a few momen
of later. This terrible out up
40 the rolling prairie concluded the secol
rh tragedy upon that spot, the terrib
or avenging of the first.
u THE AVENGERS GO HOME.
Through the entire affair but little W
said. AS they had calmly prepared f
the avenging so the people Of the caste
. part of the State carried out their pl
- cOolly and deliberately. There was n
. a hitch in the entire proceedings. Not
. weapon was drawn; there was no ane
discussion. After the fire had burned do,
they told each other good night and tn
went home. They did not stop to disc,
the affair.
NEGRO TAKEN FROM SHERIFF.
The train bearing the negro in custc
} of Sheriff Freeman and his deputies,
rived N Limon at 3:45 p. M. The c;
tn were crowded with newspaper report
ON and people who were curious to see
az negro executed. r. w. Frost, the M
nd dered girls father, was one of the %
ap- sengers. When the train stopped sixt,
lat men, who had been selected by the Wis
ance committee, entered the train
OBJ demanded the prisoner from the shel
led Their every action was marked by cal
ness and determination. The officer y
Tested in the name of the law and as