The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14
John Henderson, Roasted at the stake
After Contrasting Murder of Mrs.
Younger, a White Woman.
CHAINED TO AN IRON RAIL
OIL DASHED ON HIS CLOTHES AND
LIGHTED MATCHES APPLIED.
Helpless Victims Face Iashed by the
Husband OF the Dead
Composed of 1000 Persons.

CORSICANA, Tex, March 13.-John Hen
dersOn, the negro who assaulted and muir
dered Mrs. Conway Younger, was burned
at the stake by a mob in the courthouse
yard shortly before noon to-day in the
presence Of four thousand persons. Hen
derson was arrested several days ago and
placed in Jail at Waco. Later the negro
was spirited away TO Hillsboro. Last night
the officers, fearing mob violence, quietly
arranged to take the prisoner to Fort
Worth and at 8 o'clock they boarded u
train. At Itaska a dozen citizens from
Corsicana entered the car where the Of
hcers and their prisoner was seated and.
at the muzzles of revolvers. took the negro
and in a short time were on their way
overland to Corsicana.
Henderson reached here early this morn
ing and when he learned that he was 10
be executed by a mob made a full con-
fession. He told how Mrs. Younger had
bravely resisted the assault and how in
his frenzy he had butchered her before
the eyes Of her little girl. Later a COM
mittee secured the following signed con-
fession from Henderson, which was at
tested to by Justice of the Peace II. CT.
Roberts,:
l. OOIAA III SOHs COlOICu, WI
years OF age. murdered ar unknown white
lady, three miles north of Corsicana, on
the 9th of March, 1901. There was no one
present but myself. the woman and two
little children. L murdered her and left her
in the house without any intention of rob-
hing her. L don't know why | did il;
JOHN HENDERSON,"
In the meantime runners were sent TO
all parts of Navarro county to notify the
people that Henderson had been brought
to the scene of his crime and that he
would be executed during the day. Thou
sands of people poured into the city and
at 1920 o'clock the streets were swarming.
1t was given out that the negro would
be burned alive at 2 p. M, but a rumor
became current that a sheriffs posse was
being organized to rescue the prisoner and
the mob changed it's plans and announced
that the execution would take place i'm
mediately.
n railroad rail was sunk in the ground in
the middle of the courthouse yard and the
shlvering wretch, heavily chained, was
brought forward, followed by a clamor-
Gus crowd OF four thousand people. The
negro was securely chained to the iron
stake and heaps OF wood were piled about
him. Then quantities OF kerosene We're
poured on his clothing.
Just as the lighted matches were being
applied Conway Younger. the husband OF
his victim, jumped at Henderson and at
AARN1 ~ 80 AA1 tAAAC1 F1NAA - @0foO
knife, but only slashed the chained negro :
face. Henderson's struggles were fearful,
but his screams were rowned by the yeiis
of the frenzied mob. After ten minutes
in the flames Henderson's head dropped
forward, his struggles ceased and he was
To all appearances dead.
When the frightful tragedy was over
Lee French, q white man whose wife was
outraged and murdered near Corsicana by
Andrew Norris, a negro now in jail at
Dallas for safekeeping, climbed a tree and
addressed the Spmhl thousands. asking
them TO help him TO get the murderer and
burn him. The crowd yelled in response
that they would do ii. In q few minutes,
however, the crowd dispersed and Corsi-
cana was quiet.
At 1 o'clock to-day Justice Roberts held
an inquest over the remains of Henderson,
and gave the following verdict: Il find that
the deceased came to his just death at the
hands of the incensed and outraged feel
ings of the best people in the United States,
the citizens of Navarro and adjoining coun-
ties. The evidence, as well as the confess
sion of guilt by deceased, shows that his
punishment was fully merited and COM
mendable."