The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-30
DESERVED HIS FATE
NEGRO RAPIsT DIES At TIRE STAKE
AT BARTON, FLA.
A MOST DlAB0LICAL CRIME.
CITIZENS DID NOT aEST UNTIL
CRIME WAS AVENGED.

Mrs. TagSart, n respected Lady cE
Barlow, WAS Returning From a
Fishing Trip When WnyIaid and
Assaulted by Fred ROcheIIe-After
Making the Assault the Negro De-
IiberateIy Drew His knife and Cut
His Victims Throat-Thc Body
Thrown Into the Swump-Capturcd
by Two Negroes and Turned Over
to the Shcrin-The Mob Promptly
Took Possession and Executed It's
just Vengeance.
Barlow. Fla. May 29-Fred Rochelle.
black negro, S5 years of age, who at
noon yesterday criminally assaulted and
then murdered Ms. Rena Taggart, a well
known and respectable white woman OF
this city, was burned at the stake here
early this evening in the presence of
throng of people. The burning was on the
scene of the negros crime. within 100
yards of the principal thoroughfare of
this city.
The assault and murder was one of the
boldest and most cold-blooded crimes ever
committed in Florida. At 10 o'clock yes
terday morning Mrs. Taggart. who was
born and reared in this place. and was a
woman of good family and reputation,
went fishing alone in a small row boat
that she kept at the city bridge over
Piaco creek. This is in full view of the
public thoroughfare. A few minutes be-
fore noon Mrs. Taggart. desiring to re-
turn home, rowed her boat to the bridge
and made II A maj Ash
ing from the bridge at the time Mrs.
Taggart started home, and had proceeded
only a few steps in the swamp toward
the open prairie and thence to the street
when she was approached by Rochelle
who had been hiding in the swamp. He
seized her. and she broke ioose and
screaming, ran from the swamp into the
prairie, where he overlook her. over
powered her and assaulted her. After the
assault. while she was PROSTATE. he held
her with his hands and knees and taking
his knife from his pocket and cut her
throat from ear to ear, causing instant
death. y He then walked to the
negro who had been fishing
on the bridge and who was thoroughly
frightened and asked him what he should
do with the body. He was told to leave
it where il was, but unheedful of this re-
quest he took the bleeding form in his
arms and carried II back to the swamp,
threw 1t down, and escaped into the inte-
rior of the swamp.
A few minutes afterwards the crime had
been reported, and in less than an hour
practically the entire city was in arms
and well armed posses were moving in
every direction in search of the criminal
Bioodhounds were secured and all night a
fruitess search was continued. This
morning no trace of the negro had been
secured, and the people were becoming
more desperate in their determination to
apprehend him as the chances for his
final escape seemed to grow
The Demon Captured.
About noon courier arrived ANNOUNCE
ing that the negro had been captured by
two other negroes, three miles south Of
the city. Posses were Immediately on the
trail, but the capturers evaded detection
and succeeded in getting their prisoner
quickly into the city and in turning him
ONti " tit Eucii III VI IOlk COuDty.
In less than ten minutes after the trans
fer had been made as If the news had
been flashed voluntarily throughout the
city and neighborhood, the streets became
congested with people. and the crowd,
augmented as 1t marched moved upon the
Jail. In spite of the sheriff and a strong
guard of extra deputies who made every
effort to protect him from mob violence,
they secured the prisoner and took up
the march to the scene Of the crime. He
was half dragged, half carried to the
bridge, enveloped by great throng of
people of all ages. who were resolute and
determined, but quiet and orderly. Scream
after scream broke from the wretch s
quivering lips, followed by groans and
prayers for mercy. At the bridge the
mob turned toward the prairie and then
into the swamp and to the scene of the
negros horrible crime BY common con-
sent burning was to be the penalty There
were no ropes, no plans for lynching by
hanging.
The stake was the only suggestion as
to the proper expiation of the crime. and
without organized effort and yet with ap-
parently unanimous understanding a bar
rel was in readiness and was placed by
the stake on the very spot where Mrs.
Tageart was assaulted and murdered.
His Plea for Mercy Unheeded.
On this the negro was placed and chain
ed to the stake Louder and louder and
more desperate grew his pleadings to God
and man for mercy. but in the great
crowd around him silence was the only
response. There were no jeers. no swear
ing. no disorder Before the chains
around his body had been made fast. cans
Of kerosene oil from many sources were
passed to the center, and one OF the lead
ers stepped to the body and slowly but
deliberately poured It upon him and his
clothes until clothes and barrel were
we'll saturated. IL was then
O'Clock The crowd was growing
business IN the city had practically been
suspended, and all eyes were turned to-
ward the scene. In an instant the match
was applied. As II by explosion the blaze
quickly lea3ed skyward in volume. The
burning body could be seen only as a dark
object in the circle OF a maddened. roar
ing flame. Then tho fire lessened I'm speed
and the writhing body came back In full
view. but already the groans had ceased,
and the only evidence Of iife was IN the
contortions OF the muscles Of the limbs.
For fifteen minutes the body burned. and
in a half hour from the minute Of the APP
p,ication OF the match only the chsrred
bones were left as a reminder OF the ne
gros horrible crime and his fate. The
crowd dispersed o. orderly as u had gath
cred, and at $50 o'c.oek tonight the city
is Quiet