Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1901-07-26
MOB LYNCHFP N'''
Elkins, West
Avenged Pc
Death-Mob cauaht 70.


Way to Prison.
Ell1ins, w. Va, July 23.-To-day the
dead body of William Brooke, colored,
swings from the limb of a tree in the
city park here, and Chief of Police
Robert Lilly lies dying in a Cumber-
land, Nd, hospital, from the effects
of bullet wound inflicted by the coll
Ored man.
Yesterday afternoon word was
brought to the police station that
William Brooks, a well known col
ored man, was creating trouble in
the lower end of town and asking for
| the aid of an officer to subdue him.
Chief Of Police Robert Lilly said he
would go himself and bring the man
In. When Brooks saw the officer com
Ing he started to run for the house,
and by the time Lilly came up to
the house, which had a good sized
crowd surrounding it, and ordered the
man to come ont, Brooks came to the
window Of a front room armed with a
gun. Officer Lilly ordered him to
surrender and come peacefully to the
go peaceably or any other way. Lilly
ran into the house for the black man.
The crowd outside made no offer to
help, and the officer faced the des-
perate negro alone.
Sounds of a fierce struggle could be
heard, and the crowd that had gath
cred ran to the house to help. When
the room was gained both men we're
found on the floor In mortal combat
The negro was shouting that he would
never be taken alive, and the officer,
silent and grim, held him with death
grip.
Suddenly the negro worked his right
arm free from the grasp Of the officer
and, catching up a revolver that had
fallen to the floor in the struggle, fired
point blank at the officer. Lilly fell
to the floor, shot through the bowels.
/, When the officer released the negro
he broke from the room and ran, fol-
: lowed by a big crowd. For several
I squares he kept ahead of the crowd.
/, Finally, after a chase of half a mile,
|, Brooks was overtaken and captured.
> He fought desperately, but could not
get away. Other officers came to the
rescue, and with small ceremony
q Brooks was handed over to the sheriff
3 to be taken to the county Jail. Just
= as the sheriff reached the prison doors
i and ordered the prisoner to walk into
the Jail, mob of men, at least 400
}; strong, surrounded the officer and de-
: manded the prisoner. The sheriff and
,. guards refused and made desperate re-
sistance, but to no avail.
& Brooks was seized, rushed through
the streets, half walking and half fall
1t ing along, toward the city park. When
lie the park was reached the men who
to were leading Brooks told him TO wall
:. up under big shade tree in the centre
n of the park and prepare to die. The
~ negro could not speak and seemed al
At most insensible to what was going on
IS The rope was drawn up, and in a few
he minutes the body Of William Brooks
le swung from the tree, lifeless.
as Then the mob dispersed, the mel
IN going to their homes, and the women
: many of whom had followed to witness
n the terrible tragedy. walked to thei
SO homes with white faces and terrified
hearts. officer Lilly's wounds are ia
he tai. He is unable to talk, and can giF,
is but small explanation Of the trouHl,
es that led to the shooting.
Sc The body of Brooks still hangs II
~ the park.