The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-03-16
NEGRO BURNED By A MOB.
Terrible Vengeance Melted Out by q
Texas Mob Upon Confessed
Negro Murderer.
JOHN HENDERSON WAS THE VICTIM.
The Scene of the Horrible Tragedy
was Corsicana, the People, Seem
angly, Having Turned to Wild
Animals in Their Thirst for the
Life of Their Victim.

Dallas, Tex, March 14.-The mob
at Corsicana has Just burned John
Henderson, a negro who confessed to
having committed the murder of Mrs.
Younger several days ago. An i'm
mense crowd was present. The offi-
GERS were powerless. Henderson's
death was much like that of fright
ened beast. lie lost all nerve.
The first train on the Cotton Belt
from Hillsboro was SO crowded that
it could carry 10 more. Runners
were sent over the county announcing
the arrival of Henderson here, and all
the morning people had been swarm
ing into the city to take part in or
witness the execution of the penalty
to be inflicted on the negro.
Decided to Burn Him.
After his confession it was decided
to burn him at the stake at two
o'clock, but news was received u
rangers and troops en- route from
Dallas, due here at ~ o'clock, and
hurried preparations were made TO
anticipate interference. A railroad
rail was driven into the ground in
the corner of the court house lot and
boxes and wood piled around it and
saturated with oil. The crowd had
increased to about 1000 at II o'clock
About forty made rush from the
iail across the street to the court
house.
brought Out the Victim.
In their midst was the negro, hand
cufYed, The men formed q circle, hold
ing onto a chain which completely
surrounded Henderson, to prevent an
attempt of the enraged people to get
at him and tear him to pieces. They
rushed to the pile of wood and pre-
pared for the fire and fastened the
negro to the iron rail with wire and
chains. Cans of oil were dashed over
his clothing and dozens OF lighted
matches touched the infammable ma
terial. At that time the fire alarm
bell was rung and the stores OF the
city were deserted and the streets
were full Of men rushing to the SQUIRT
house grounds to witness the burning.
Knitted by Conway Younger.
just before the pile was fired Con-
way Younger, husband Of the MUIR
dered woman, jumped at Henderson
and slashed him across the face with
a knife. As the flames encircled the
negro and ran over his clothing, the
crowd yelled and yelled, and Younger
again attempted to cut the murderer
with his knife. At no time during
the burning did Henderson give any
indication OF pain or suffering. He
rolled his eyes so as to get glimpse
Of the sea Of angry faces which sur
rounded him and his hands moved
slightly. II was about ten minutes
before he was dead, during which
time the movements Of his hands
WE'RE becoming feebler. At no time
did he make any cutlery other than
once groan.
Another Victim Demanded.
AT 1880 Lee French, husband OF the
victim Of the negro, Anderson Norris,
who beat her TO death with piece OF
iron pipe, last November, and who
was taken from the Jail here, last
week, by the officers and carried to
a place Of safety, climbed tree and
made an impassioned speech to the
crowd, asking them to help get the
murderer and deal with him as they
had just dealt with Henderson. The
crowd yelled back that they would
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