The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-16
Death AT THE STAKE
....s MOB DEALS WITH ALLEGED
NEGRO RAPIsT.
wu D SCENE IN LEAvENW0RTH L
,, noORS BATTERED DOWN AND
NEGRO DRAGGED OUT.

80, nil and the Match Applied.
,.rbt Thousand People, Out of
,epyorth's 10000, Witnessed
- Awful Sfght-AIexander Pro-
.ad BiS Innocence TO the Last.
,.aysnworxh, Kan. Jan. 15.-Fred Alex
do, the negro who on Saturday even
=. .ttampted to assault Miss Eva Roth,
- uho was supposed to have assaulted
= tuled Pearl Forbes in this city. in
>,,,ember last, was taken from the sher-
,rs1usrd by mob to-day, and burned
the stake at the scene of his crimes,
half dozen blocks from the center of
.,s ctv. Probably 5000 people witnessed
the ynthins.
Tho negro was taken from his cell at
che slate penitentiary at O'Clock this af-
,srnnon placed in a hack and brought to
,,un Fifty deputy marshals surrounded
\ him and Deputy Sheriffs Stance Myers
and Thomas Brown sat in the hack on
efber side of him.
Fifty bug2ies and wagons followed the
hack At Fourth and Olive streets the
police in the hack following the one in
which Alexander was concealed, jumped
out and chased several negroes. In the
excitement The prisoners hack was fran
ucaly driven to the county Jail, where
he was locked in a cell just as the mob
reached the doors. The jail doors were
then locked
The crowd first attempted to gain ad-
mission by peaceful means but Sheriff
Everhardy refused to deliver the negro
Then the crowd pushed it's way to the
side door and using one man as a bat
terng ram. inc door was forced from It's
n hinges Then the crowd surged into the
corridor hv The narrow doorway. A huge
q iron bar battered the iron door of the
4 cell room The door was finally bent suf-
N fcently for the men to climb over it,
Several gained an entrance in this man
ner Meantime the crowd had pushed
n down the side gate of the stockade, and
Ayellmg pack appeared in the Jaii yard.
The hinges OF the size door, made of
i heavy iron, were cut off with sledge ham
ners and chisels aud the door of the cell
room broken down.
man with sharp eyes espied shape
less mass crouched down in one corner
Of the dark celL Five minutes work and
the heavy lock on the cell had been brok-
en- off. A yell Of terror issued from the
cell Strong men filed the corridors with
hysercal laughter Outside the crowd
was yeinng Itself hoarse. Then into the
cell rushed those who were nearest the
door
The mob issued forth in a moment drag
4 Pins the negro by the coat collar. He
had been struck over the head with a
hammer, bur was still conscious. Men
fought to get at him. and. infuriated,
struck savagely at MIN.
Declared His Innocence.
Up the hill into the courthouse yard
They dragged him.
Confess before we harm you,' said
/ they.
Il am innocent. I am dying for what
another man did. / see lots of my friends
here; they know l did not do it. If l
had been guilty l would have said so at
the penltentiary and would have stayed
there for life. The warden told me So
The policemen told me so. Would not 1
have told them if l was guilty?"
You lie,' they cried, and one huge
fellow struck Alexander in the forehead
with his fist three times.
He spoke with the resignation of
man who sees before him only certain
/ death
A move was made for large cotton
wood tree in corner of the court house
yard.
My God, men," cried the negro in his
agony, Il have told you that L am inno-
cent | can't tell you any more. l did
/ not 90 It,"
He lies; burn him" cried the mob.
Take him where he committed the
murder suggested one.
Immediately the crowd, carrying the
negro who was thrown into a wagon,
pushed on towards Fourth street. At 5:15
o'clock Alexander was brought to the ex-
d5t spot where Pearl Forbes, the murder
10 girl was found and a semi-circ1e was
Iorned. Alexander was brought up in q
wagon with a dozen men. The deader
yaled for silence. The roar ceased
eDa Alexander was showed forward into
@ @.uli view of the crowd A howl went up
"H'cn was quickly hushed as the prisoner
ssseo his shackied hands and began to
.Pdh. Twice the crowd drowned his
trembling voice
lou are going to kill me whatever
~ he said but you men are wrong.
want TO tell you right now, you have
a. uIe wrong man. l did not do that
a." some day you men here will run up
~ any use TO say so for you are going
mn mn me, but ] didn't do it,"
h men standing behind Alexander
rosr owed MIN from the wagon and the
/ San, ''l me crowd drowned every other
4 dor. ne negro was quickly driven
~ W." embankment to the pile of
U" WITH his hands stin shackled. and
A. pound 10 the stake.
toa-5' ol The crowd carried rails and
car-I several seized railroad irons and
'''eo them 20 the ravine.
mound to an Iron Cross.
,ba railroad iron was planted Upright in
i,o mud This was made fast 10 cross
v,I Nrmy bound to the upright iron
Woo5 VIZ Around the improvised stake
:bs uN" boards were piled. To these
stat5i.'" was dragged and chained in
ro1 r position to the upright railroad
ebo,, "e 'haiuS and irons were wrapped
sbacLt.g YUM and with his hands sull
Coal at, ne was made fast to the post
Ra,on' was then poured over him.
Forbeg 'ne match was applied John
bed w. IAther of the murdered girl. step
a. 10 Alexander and said:
tera., You guilty Of numbering my daugh-
for'o u9n know what you have me here
r,. said Alexander
.Soroes replied.
"Mr HT'.lhs my girl on this very spot"
have ~ ''oes' II that's your name, YOU
Burn b,.- Lehs man." sad the negro
'Gentlsrs.' Surn him" cried the crowd
ssid Alev,., you have got lots Of time"
nocer, lander You are burning an in
Yop man. You took advantose % ~
noths,,s.' me no show. can see my