The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-11
NEGRO LYNCHED
NEAR WETUMPKA
Victim Charged With Attempted
Criminal Assault,
CLEVER RUSE OF THE MOB
Two Men Appeared at Jail With Fake
Prisoner and Gained Admittance
Terrible Warning Pinned
on Brute's Breast
CLEVER RUSE OF THE MOB

Age-Herald Bureau, Clancey's Hotel,
Montgomery September 1O.-tSpecial)-
News reached this city this morning of
lynching at Wetumpka last night. Zeb
Floyd, a negro was strung for an attempt
ed assault upon Miss Pierson, one of the
most popular young ladies residing near
Electric. fourteen miles from Wetumpka.
The coup by which the crowd secured
Floyd was shrewdly planned and fault
lessly executed. So quietly was it managed
that not three persons in Wetumpka knew
that a lynching was in progress.
Zeb Floyd, the negro prisoner, was ar
rested near Electric Saturday. His offense
was a most serious one He was accused
of entering the room of young lady with
a most dastardly purpose.
The crime was committed Friday night.
The scene was the home of Mr.. ]. T.
Pierson, living near Electric. fourteen
miles from Wetumpka. A daughter of Mr..
Pierson, young lady held in the highest
esteem was awakened by a grasp upon her
arm. A burly negro was at her bedside.
She screamed, and the brute ran from the
house.
He was gone before Mr.. Pierson could
get to him.
The negro was seen by Mr.. Pierson as he
disappeared through the window.
His tracks mute, yet eloquent evidence
against the intruder led to and from the
house.
The Negro Arrested
Zeb Floyd, a negro living in the neigh
borhood, was arrested and carried to We
tumpka- There seemed to be no danger of
fho4 h.
given a trial before the law At Electric.
however, the feeling was intense
At midnight last night the county TAILOR
at Wetumpka was aroused. In the darkness
he saw three men, The man in the center
was securely bound.
The other two explained that he was a
prisoner from the upper part of the county.
They showed a mittimus regularly made
out, which purported to be from a justice
of the peace, Mr.. j. p Edwards 1t is said
to have been a forgery.
The jailor unlocked the great steel door.
The fake prisoner was led in by his guards.
At that instant nine or ten others rushed
from the darkness into the Jail The bonds
of the willing prisoner were quickly cut.
Zeb Floyd, half asleep, was hurried from
the Jail.
Not a sound had disturbed citizen of
Wetumpka. Silently the party had come
into town. AS silently they rode out But
there was one with them who had not rid
den In with the party.
Tailor Chase Immediately ran over to the
home of Sheriff Robbins. The sheriff was
aroused, but the avenging party had by that
time left the town behind them.
Iifo;ess so~yrc n
Sheriff Robbins this morning early fol-
lowed the trail of the men. At Cain Creek
the lifeless body of Zeb Floyd was found
hanging to a tree, two miles from town.
There Was no mark of violence on the body.
On the negro's breast was pinned this
pacard:
warming is hereby given that all ne
groes who perpetrate his crime will meet
his punishment"
The entrance was made into the young
ladies' room In the room were Miss Katie
Pierson, aged 10, and a younger sister 10.
Miss Kate was awakened by hand upon
her person. She thought 1t was a cat, but
saw the crouching figure of a negro and
screamed. The intruder ran out the door.
The window of the room was open. On the
outside underneath was a chair.
Tuesday five negroes were arrested for the
crime. Their preliminary hearing was be-
fore Justice Edwards. All were discharged
but Floyd. Miss Person expressed the be-
lief that he was the man. The dogs belong
ing to the State were put upon the trail,
but did not follow It, The tra cks correspond
ed exactly with Floyd's.
This morning as soon as the body was
Coroner r. j. Williams, to investigate the
lynchinS. The coroner's jury was composed
of the following gentlemen: Messrs. T. J.
Britt, w. P. Ward. Sam Williams, j. HI.
Parker and P. A. Wade. At o'clock they
had reached no verdict.