Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-01-18
BURNED AT THE STAKE.
PRED sIExANDER TAKEN FRom
IAsa nv AN INFURIATED MOB
And Rurncst at she Stake &C the Scene
or HIS Grimes In Leavenworth,
Kspsns-Thc Uoor OF the Cell, Con.
tanning the Negro, BATTERED Down
by the Maddcned Nen-EfEht Thou.
sand People Witness the Lynchfng

evening attehpttu 10 ASSAULT MISS Eva
Roth and who was supposed TO have
assaulted and killed Pearl Forbes I'm
this city In November last. was taken
from the sherif;'s uard by a mob TO-
day and burned at the stake at the
scene OF his crimes, half a dozen blocks
from the center OF the city. Probably
5000 people witnessed the lynchang.
The negro was taken from mis- cell at
the State penitentiary at O'Clock this
afternoon. placed in a hack and brought
to town. Fifty deputy marshals sur
rounded him, and deputy sherif1s
Stance Myers and Thomas Brown sat
In the hack on either side OF him. FIJI
~ buggies and wagons followed the
mack. AT Fourth ard Olive strests the
police in the hack following, the one In
which Alexander was oonce aied. jump
ed out and chased several negroes. In
the excitement the prisoners hack was
frantically driven to the county jail
the mob reached the doors. The fail
doors were locked.
The crowd first attempted 10 gain ad.
mission by peaceful means. but Sherin
Everhardy refused 20 deliver the negro
Then the crowd pushed fts way to the
side door. end using one mEtp as a bs l.
terfng ram, the door wac fopced from
its hinges Then the crowd surged into
the corridors by the narrow doorway
A huge iron bar battered the iron door
of the cell room The door was finally
bent sufficiently for the men to climb
over 1t Several gained an entrance In
this manner. Meantime the orowd had
pushed down the side gate OF the
stockade, and a yelling pack appeared
In the jail yard The hinges OF the side
door. made Of heavy sheet iron, were
cut off with sledge-hammels and chis-
els and the door OF the cell room broken
down.
A man with sharp eyes espisd a
shapelesS mass crouched down in one
corner of the dark cell. Five minutes
work and the heavy lock on the cell
had been broken off. A yell OF terror is
sued from the CELL Strong men filed
the corridors with hystericai laughter
Outside the crowd was yelling itself
hoarse. Then into the cell rushed those
who were nearest the door.
The mob issued forth in a moment
dragging the negro by the coat collar.
He had been struck over the head with
hammer, but was still conscious.
Men fought to get at him. and. in
-furiated, struck savagely at him. Up
the hill into the courthouse yard they
dragged him. Confess before we harm
you," said they.
II am innocent. ! am dying for what
another man did. i see lots Of my
friends here: they know 1 did not do IT.
II had been guilty 1 would have said
so at the penitentiary and would have
stayed there for life. The warden told
me so. The policemen told me so.
Would not have told them If 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 a man who sees be-
fore him only certain death. A move
was made for a large cotton wood tree
In q corner OF the courthouse yard.
my God, men," cried the negro In
his agony, 'I have told you that I am
Innocent. 1 can't tell any more. I did
not do IT."
"He hes: burn him." cried the mob
.'sTake him where he committed the
murder" suggested one. Immediately
the crowd. carrying the negro, who was
thrown into a wagon, pushed on to-
wards Fourth street. At a quarter past
FIVE O'Clock Alexander was brought tc
the exact spot where Pearl Forbes, the
murdered girl, was found. and a semi
circle was formed. Alexander was
Brought up in wagon with a dozen
men. The leader called for silence. The
goar ceased and Alexander was showed
forward into full view of the crowd. A
howl went up, which was quickly hush
ed as the prisoner raised his shackle6
hands and began to speak. Twice the
crowd drowned his trembling voice.
You are going to kill me whatever
say" he said. "but you men are wrong
want to tell you right now. you have
got the wrong man. I did not do tha
and some day you men here will ruI
up against the man who did. 1 know 4
Sain't any use TO say so. for you arr
going to kill me, but I did not do 1T"
The men standing behind Alexande
then showed him from the wagon ant
tthe roar from the crowd drowned ever.
cthey sound. The negro was quickl,
driven down the embankment to tn
pile OF wood. with his hands still
shackled, and there bound to the stake
Many of the crowd carried rails ant
boards. Several seized railroad iron
and carried them 10 the ravine.
A railroad iron was planted uprigh
I'm the mud. This was made fast to eros
irons firmly bound to the upright iro
with wire. Around the improvised stalk
wood and boards were piled. To this tn
man was dragged and chained IN
standing position to the upright rail
road iron. Chains and irons were wrap
ped about him and with his hands sti
Coal oil was then poured over him. BE
fore the match was applied Joh
Forbes. father OF the murdered gir
setepped up to Alexander and said: "Al
sxou guilty of Numbering my daughter
''T don't know what you have me hei
ssor." said Alexander.
Forbes repiiedi For killing my 81
on this very spot"
Mr. Forbes, If that's your name, yc
have the wrong man." said the negr
"Burn him; burn him." cried Il
crowd.
Gentlemen. you have got lots
time" said Alexander. You are burr
fng sn innocent man. You took a.
vantage of me. You gave me no sho'
Can see my mother?" Alexand
again asked to see his mother. She ",
called for. but she was not in Il
Ncrowd.
AA,exander then said: "Will you
M shake hands with all my friends
~Ybu have no friends In this crowd, "
damned beast" said one Of the men
charge OF the negro. ''If you have an
ching to say. say It In a hurry"
Coal oil was then applied for the -
ond time. while Alexander called to .
uuaintances In the crowd and said goo
bye to them. He talked nationally un