The Portland daily press., 1901-01-16
Oil and Matches Then
Applied.
Man Protested His Innocence to
Last.

1
Alexander, thu negro who on Saturday
evening attempted TO assault Miss Eva
Roth, and who was Supposed to have as.
sauited and killed Pearl Forbes In this
city In November last, was taken from
the sheriff's guard BY mob today, and
burned at thu stake at the scene OF his
crimes, half dozen blocks nom tha CEN
tire OF the city. Probably 5000 people wit
messed tie lynching.
The negro was taken from his cell at
the state penitentiary this afternoon and
brought to town. Fifty deputy marshais
surrounded him ana deputy sheriffs In
the hack on either side OF him. Fifty
vehicles followed the hack. The trip TO
tha town was made quietly.
When the corner of Fourth and Olive
streets was reached, the police, who were
in the hack following the one in which
! Alexander was oonosaied, jumped out and
chased several negroes,
This created diversion which attract
ed the attention OF every one and during
the excitement the hack was frantically
driven to the county jail where the man
was looked in cell just as the mob
reached the doors. All the doors OF the
Jail were then looked. Sheriff Everhardy
on demand refused to deliver the negro.
The side door was forced from its hinges
and the crowd surged into the corridor.
A huge iron bar was secured and the
iron door of the cell room forced far
enough for men to climb over. Several
gained an entrance. In the meantime
the crowd had gained entrance to the
stockads and there was yelling pack
in the jailyard. The doors of the cell
room were then broken down. Asman
with sharp eyes espied shapeless mass
crouched down In one corner OF the DARK
cell and yell of terror issued from the
cell. The tension as this time was so
great that strong men filled the corri-
dors with hysterical laughter. Outside
the crowd was yelling itself hoarse.
The negro WAS dragged into the open.
He had been struck over the head with
hammer, but was still conscious. Men
fought to get nt him and, infuriatsd,
struck savagely at him, hitting only his
captors, who guarded him well.
"Don't hurt him now" they cried.
"we'n burn him."
Up the hill into the courthouse yard
they dragged him and there they stopped,
In reply to demands for confession,
the negro said:
81 am innocent, I am dying for what
another man did. see lots of my
friends here, they know did not do 1t.
II / had been guilty 1 would have said
so at the penitentiary and would have
stsid there for life. The warden told me
so. The policemen told me SO. Would
not have told them IL was guilty?"
At this, one huge fellow struck Alex
ander In the forehead with his fist three
times.
Alexander had spnken with the resig-
nation OF man who sees before him only
death.
When he had finished talking move
was made fer large cotton wood tree
in a corner OF the courthouse. The me-
gro was backed up against 1t and while
a chain was sought, Alexander was given
another chance to confess.
"My God, men," he cried In his agony.
~ have told you that / am innocent. i
can't tell you any more. did not do
it,
The suggestion to take the man to the
place OF the murde met with instant ap-
proval and the crowd, carrying the
negro, pushed on towards Fourth street.
He was thrown into wagon which
ftarted for the vicinity OF Lawrence and
spruce streets. followed by the crowd.
at quarter past five o'clock Alexander
was brought to the ecene of the murder
Of Pearl Forbes at the corner-of Lawrence
avenue and Spruce street, snd there
ssmi-cirole was formed. Alexander was
brought up in wagon with dozen