New-York tribune., 1901-01-16

Leavenworth, Kan, JAN 15-Fred Alexander,
the negro who on Saturday evening attempted
to assault Miss Eva Roth. and who was sup
posed to have assaulted and killed Pearl Forbes
in this city IN November last, was taken from
the Sheriff's guard by mob to-day and burned
at the stake at the scene of his crimes, half a
dozen blocks from the centre of the city. Prob
ably eight thousand people witnessed the burn-
ing.
The negro was taken from his cell at the state
Penitentiary at 5 o'clock this afternoon placed
in hack and brought to town Fifty deputy
marshals surrounded him. and Deputy Sheriffs
Stance Myers and Thompson Brown sat in the
hack on either side of him.
The crowd first attempted to gain admission
by peaceful means, but Sheriff Everhardy re-
fused to deliver the negro. Then the crowd
pushed its way to the side door, and, using one
man as a batterng ram, the door forced
from its hinges. Then the crowd surged into
the corridor by the narrow doorway. A huge
iron bar was secured and the iron door of the
cellroom was attacked This finally bent so
that it could be forced far enough back for
men to climb it. Several gained
trance in this manner, and then man with
sharp eyes espied a shapeless mass crouched
down in corner of the dark cell and shouted,
He is here; we've got him.
The mob issued forth in a moment. dragging
lne negro by the coat collar. he naQ Deen
struck over the head with a hammer. but
still conscious. Men fought to get at him, and,
infuriated, struck savagely at him, hitting only
his captors who guarded him well.
Don't hurt him. they cried. Wen burn
him.' was the response.
Take him where he committed the murder"
suggested one.
The suggestion met with instant approval and
the crowd. carrying the negro, pushed on toward
Fourth-st. There were many wagons standing
ABOUT and into of these they threw him.
The wagon was started for the neighborhood OF
crowd.
The standing behind Alexander then
showed him from the wagon, and the roar from
the crowd drowned every other sound. The
negro was quickly driven down the embank-
ment to the pile of wood with his hands still
shackled, and there bound to the stake.
Long before the wagon containing the doomed
man arrived at the place a crowd had gathered.
Many carried rails and boards. Several seized
railroad irons and carried them TO the ravne.
The spot chosen for the stake was the exact
place at which Pearl Forbess body was found
on the morning of November T.
The first thing done plant a railroad
iron upright in the mud This was made fast
to cross irons firmly bound to the upright iron
with iron. Around the improvised stake wood
and boards were piled. To this the man was
dragged and chained in a standing posture TO
the upright railroad iron. Chains and irons
were wrapped about him, and. with his hands
still Shackled he made fast 10 the post.
Coal oil was then poured over him.
Before the match was applied John Forbes,
ander and said: Are you guilty of numbering
my daughter"
Il don't know what you have me here for"
said Alexander.
Forbes replied: For killing my girl on this
very spot
Mr. Forbes. if that's your name you have
the wrong man. said the negro.
Burn him. burn him! cried the crowd.
Gentlemen, you've got lots of time" said
Alexander. You're burning an innocent man.
You took advantage Of me. You gave me no
show. Can L see my mother?
A man in the crowd called for the mother, but
she was not there.
Alexander then said: "Will you let me shake
hands with all my friends"'
You have no friends in this crowd, you ID
beast!' said of the men in charge Of the
negro.
IF you have anything to say, say it in
hurry
Another man thea stepped up and said to
Alexander: Make your peace with your God,
niger, for you will surely die"
Coal oil was then applied for the second time,
and while it was being done Alexander called
to acduaintances in the crowd and said goodby
TO them He did not seem to realize that he was
TO be burned the stake. and talked nationally
until John Forbes, the father of the murdered
girl, lighted the match. Again Alexander was
asked to make a confession, but he replied that
he had nothing to say
AS the flames leaped about him, Alexander
turned & CHASTITY hue. and, clasping his hands
together, began to sway to and fro, while the
crowd yelled.
In five minutes the negro hanging limp
and lifeless by the chains that bound him. AS
soon as the crowd saw that life extinct 1t
began to disperse slowly. Hundreds, however.
stayed to the last.
Men kept piling on wood all the time until
about o'clock, when the flames were allowed
TO die down. From to O'Clock there was
continuous stream of people going to the scene
of the burning. These were persons VINO had
been unable 20 get away from their work In the
afternoon, and who were determined not to miss
seeing the awful spectacle When the fire had
died down sufficiently to allow the crowd TO ap-
proach the remains of Alexander there a
wild scramble to obtain relics. Bits of charred
flesh pieceS of chain, scraps OF WOOd-eVerythlng
that could possibly a souVenir-were
seized on with morbid eagerness