Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-14
TEN MINUTES TORTURE
BUT NOT CRY Of PAIN.
JNO. HENDERSON, A BRUTAL NEGRO
MURDERER, BURNED IN THE
PUBLIC SQUARE
CORSICANA. TEXAS.
MADE A WRITTEN CONFESSION OF
HIS GUILT BEFORE THE TORCH
WAS APPLIED.

CCRSICANA, Tex. March 1s.-John
Henderson, colored, who brutally as
saulted and murdered Mrs. Younger. n
farmers wife, living just outside this
city, several days CO.. was burned to
death in the court house square here at
oon to-day.
A written confession of the crime, at
tested by Justice Robert. was secured
from the prisoner.
Five thousand people witnessed the
burning and business was practically
suspended for a time.
Henderson was captured yesterday
after a long chase. He was trailed by
blood hounds from the Younger home
stead many miles back and forth aeross
the country, and was finally captured
near Hillsboro. The officers took him
to the latter place and were impel.ed,
through fear of mobs, to start for Fort
Worth. When the train reached Itasca,
a party of Younger's friends oyerpow-
cred the guards and hustled Henderson
from the train. lie was conveyed
across the prairie, a distance of 45
miles, to Corsicana. where he was plac-
ed in Jail TO prevent the Infatuated cit
liens from tearing him to pieces.
A committee was appointed to see
and pass finally upon his guilt or IN
noeence. Finally he made a written
confession that he had murdered an
unknown white lady three miles north
of Corsicana, March 9Th There was no
one present, he said, but himself and
the woman's two little children. lie
said he did not know why he did II.
When it became public that Hender-
son had confessed people swarmed
around the Jail. II was decided to burn
the prisoner at the stake at 2 p. M,
but news was received that troops had
been started from Dallas and the exc
cution was hurried.
A railroad rail was driven into tho
ground In the corner Of the court
house square. Boxes and dry timbers
were piled around 1t and saturated with
oil. Just before moo about forty men
rushed from the Jail across the square
to the place where the rail had been
planted. In their midst was Hender-
son, handcuffed. The men formed a
circle, holding to a chain which sur
rounded the prisoner to prevent the
crowd from tearing him away. The
negro was fastened TO the rail with
wire and chains.
Cans of oil were emptied over his
clothing and dozens OF lighted matches
touched the infammable material. The
fire alarms were rung and the streets
of the city were deserted. as their oc-
cupants rushed 10 the square to wit
ness the burning.
Just as the pile was fred Conway
Younger. husband Of the murdered wo-
man. Jumped az Henderson and slash
ed him across the face with a knife.
Henderson gave no Indication Of pain
or suffering. lie rolled bis eyes 10 get
a glimpse Of the angry faces which
surrounded him and there was a slight
movement OF the hands.
In ten minutes Henderson was dead.
At no time did he make any outcry
other than an occasional groan.
When the frightful tragedy was over,
Lee French. a white man. whose wife
was outraged and murdered rear Cor
sicana by Andrew Norris. a negro now
In jail at Dallas for safe keeping.
climbed a tree and addressed the as
sembled thousands asking them to help
him to get the murderer and burn him.
The crowd yelled in response that they
would do 1t. In a few minutes. how
ever. the crowd dispersed and corsI-
cana was quiet.