The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-03-28
TEXANS BURN NEGRO
SatErate His Body With Oil And
Chain Him TO Stake.
CONFESSED TO A FOUL MURDER
Scene Was Horrible and Unusu-
ally Observation-Disclosures
of Crime Witnessed by
Thousands.

At Corsicana, Texas, John Hender'
son, colored, who brutally assaulted
and murdered Mrs. Younger, a farm
er's wife, living just outside the city,
several days ago, was burned to death
in the court house square at noon
Wednesday. A written confession OF
the crime, attested by Judge Roberts,
was secured from the prisoner. Five
thousand people witnessed the burn
ing and business was practically sus-
pended for time.
Henderson was captured Tuesday
afternoon after long chase. He was
trailcd by bloodhounds from the
Younger homestead many miles back
and forth across the country, and was
finally captured near Hillsboro. The
officers took him to the latter place
aud were impelled, through fear Of
mobs, to start for Fort Worth. When
the train reached Itasca a party OF
Younger's friends overpowered the
guards and hustled Henderson from
the train. He was conveyed across
the prairie a distance of forty-fve
miles, to Corsicana, where he was
placed in Jail to keep the infuriated
citizens from tearing him TO pieces.
A committee was appointed to see
him and pass finally upon his guilt or
innocence. Finally he made written
confession that he had murdered an
unknown white lady three miles north
of Corsicana, March g." There was
no one present, he said, but himself
and the wo,nsn's two little children.
he said be did not know why he did
it.
When it became public that Hender-
son had confessed people swarmed
around the Jail. It was decided to
burn the prisoner at the stake at 2 p.
m, bat news was received that troops
had been started from Dallas and the
execution was hurried.
A railroad rail WAS driven into the
ground in the corner of the court
house square. Boxes and dry timber
were piled around around it and sat-
urated with oil. Just before noon
about forty men rushed from the jail
across the square where the rail
had been planted. In their midst was
Henderson, handcuffed. The man
formed a circle, holding to chain
which surrounded the prisoner to pre-
vent 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 inhammable material.
The fire alarms were rung and the
stores of the city were deserted, as
their occupants rushed to the square
to witness the burning.
Just as the pile was fired Conway
Younger, husband of the murdered
woman, jumped at Henderson and
slashed him across the face with q
knife. Henderson gave no indication
of pain or suffering. He rolled his
eyes to get glimpse of the angry
faces which surrounded him and there
was slight movement of the hands.
In ten minutes Henderson was dead.
At 10 time did he make any outcry
other than an occasional groan.
The negro made full confession
after arriving at Corsicana, telling how
he went to the Younger home and at
tempted to assault Mrs. Younger, how
she fought for her honor, how finally
angered at her resistance be attacked
her with his knife, how the two chill
dren screamed in fright when they
saw their mothers lite blood crimson
ing the floor, and how Mrs. Younger
fell across the doorsteps. He then
fed, but looking back saw his victim
staggering down the road aimlessly,
falteringly; she fell and lay still, then
he turned and ran.