The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-21
EVERY NEGRO DRIVEN FROM THE
LITTLE TOWN OF PIERCE
CITY, MO.
HANGED, SHOT AND BURNED
Mob of Thousand Armed White
Men Clears the Place of Its
COIored POpuIa-
ton,
THE SEQUEL TO A MURDER

PIERCE CITY, Mo, Aug. 2O.-For near
ly fifteen hours today this town of 8 coo
has been in the hands of mob of armed
whites, determined to drive every negro
from its precincts. In addition to the
lynching last night of Will Cooley, ac-
cused of the wanton murder of Miss
Gazelle Wild, and the shooting - death
of his grandfather, French Cooley, the
mob today cremated Pete Hampton, an
aged negro, in his home, set the
torch to the houses of five blacks and
with the aid of state militia rifles. stolen
from the local cOmpany's arsenal, drove
dozens of negroes from town. After noon
the excitement died down, the mob grad
ually dispensing, more from lack of ne
groes upon which to wreak their hatred
than for any other cause. Many of the
negroes who fled the city are hiding in
the surrounding woods, while others have
gone greater distances in seeking safety.
Every negro has left the town except
few railway porters known to be re-
spectacle, but VINO must also lsave. The
citizens of Pierce City say that as
negroes have committed several such
crimes in the last ten years none shall
live there in the future The same feel
ing already existing at Monnett, four
miles east of Pierce City and the end of
the Frisco passenger division. it may
>
porters in Springfield hereafter.
1t is now believed that tae man, VIII
Cooley lynched, was not the real culprit
A negro named Starks. under arrest at
Tulsa, I. T., across the border from here,
tallies exactly with the description OF
the murderer. He is held there await 'ng
Identification. Unless the man is brought
back here, it is believed there will be no
further trouble. If returned here he will
surely be lynched. Another suspect, Joe
Lark, is under arrest in Springfield, Mo.
Eugene Barret, also known as Carter,
in a confession while rope was around
his neck today, accused Joe Lark, a
Frisco railroad porter, of being implicat-
ed in the crime and Lark was arrested
today at Springfield. This afternoon
Lark gave a detailed statement as to his
whereabouts Sunday and he is not be-
Heved to be guilty. 1t is not likely that
either suspect will be taken to Pierce
City while the excitement runs hign.
Some here think that Barrett told any
story in order to save his life.
The funeral of Miss Wild took place to-
day and was witnessed by several
thousand people.
Pierce City is near the junction Of four
railroads ana trains from all directions
brought in large numbers of armed men
today, bent on bloodshed if necessary.
When the mob went to the section of the
city occupied by the negroes, some one
in the cabins opened fire. but no one was
hit The mob then destroyed the five
houses, but the financial loss is small.
Reckless firing broke several plate glass
windows and a train was fired into. None
of, the passengers was hurt. The rifles
taken from the Pierce City militia COM
pany, it is expected will all be returned.
Members of the company themselves
were out hunting for the escaping
negroes with rifles and this suggested the
idea of taking all the guns. The local
hardware stores sold out their arms
early, but several applications from
negroes were refused.
The mob was composed of 1000 or more
and no masks were used. Thirty negro
families were driven from their homes.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME.
New elements in the murder on Satur-
day afternoon of Miss Wild developed
today. 1t appears sne started home from
church alone, her brother lingering be-
hind. About one mile from town the
brother found her with her throat cut,
lying lifeless near a culVert under which
her assailant mad attempted to drag her.
Evidence of terrible struggle was
shown. A copper-colored negro was seen
sitting on the bridge short time before
the tragedy occurred. 1t is supposed that
the negro sprang upon her when she was
passing and attempted to force her be-
meath the bridge. She fought with such
desperation that he could not accom-
plish his purpose, and cut her throat in
the struggle. Her body was not violated.
Monday bloodhounds were taken to the
scene and the girls bloody handkerchief
was laid before them. They Immediately
caught the trail and ran at full speed
to the home of Joe Lark, where, on be-
ing admitted, they rushed into his bed.
room and sprang upon the bed. 1t is be-
licN ed that the man under arrest at
Tulsa, who boarded with Lark, the
Springfield suspect, slept upon this bed.