The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-30
But the Black Slayer of Miss Hender-
son Could Not BE Found and
the Mob Disbanded.
THREE NEGROES STRUNG UP
UNTIL THEY GAVE A CLEW TO THE
COURSE TAKEN BY FRANCIS.
Missouri Sheriff Held to BE RespOn-
sible for the Lynching of
Three Innocent Negroes.

KANSAS CITY, Mo, Aug. 2-"Bossie'
Francis. the murderer of Miss Mary Hen
derson at Columbus, Mo. on Tuesday
evening has thus far eluded his pursuers,
and tonight the large posse that has been
searching for him partially disbanded dis
couraged over the failure of their efforts
after having been. they supposed at
the point of capturing the negro. a pack
of bloodhounds was obtained to-day from
Manhattan, Kan. and taken TO the Hyatt
farm the scene of the murder They
found the trail of Francis readily and fol-
lowed it straight to the coal mine at Black
water. owned by a negro. John Hardin,
whose wife is an aunt of Francis. The
posse, composed of two hundred men, felt
sure that Francis was hidden in the mine
shaft. but as he was known to have two
pistols none of the men ventured to go
down. Finally A. w. Rice, owner of the
bloodhounds, entered the mine, taking the
dogs with him, but failed to find Francis
after a thorough search. Late this after
noon Deputy Sheriff Temple, of Warrens-
burg, called a council of the posse. and
after discussing the situation the men de-
cided to disperse for the night leaving a
few of their number on guard at important
morrow by a large number of men. Chas
w. Hyatt, brother-in-law of the murdered
woman, will offer reward for the arrest
or body Of Francis, and this is expected
to stimulate the efforts of the volunteers.
The first information as to the where
abouts of Francis was obtained by string
ing up three negroes who lived near
the Hyatt farm, at Columbus The
mob spent the entire night searching
for the negro. Finally, after midnight, IL
came on Emmet Davenport, Charles Brisco,
who lived near Columbus, and Bud" Fran
els, a brother of the murderer, between
Columbus and Holden. The men acted
ing of Francis's whereabouts. To make
them talk it was decided to string all
three up. A rope was placed about Brsco' s
neck, but he would say nothing, and atten-
tion was turned to Davenport. After Da-
venport had dangled at the end of rope
for few moments he became terror
finally cried:
Let me go, and I'll tell you where he is.
He is in a coalbank over here. and III
Hes lying" shouted the mob.
mo, I'm not" insisted Davenport.
Davenport said that Bud" Francis had
told him he was to meet the murderer last
night at the Porter Murray coal mine, six
miles north of Holden, when he was to give
"Bossie" SIS that Brisco owed him. Bud
Francis had, Davenport said. taken Daven-
port and Brisco with him and made them
go into the mine TO find the murderer He
declared they had not found Francis
Davenport with Brisco and Bud Francis
were hurried before the mob to the place
indicated by Davenport. The negro led
them TO a coal bank several miles away
The mob worked hard and long, but to no
avail, and only gave up when relieved at
daybreak by hundreds of other armed men,
who took up the hunt where the night
shift had left off.
The three negroes were finally sent to
WarrenSburg and placed in jail for safe
limo
for bloodhounds The three negroes are In
no danger.