The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-08-10
NUMBER ).
BURNED AT THE STAKE
Negro Brute Cremated by a Mob
in Alabama.
Run Down by Bloodhounds-Wheep When
Confronted by His Victim and Con-
fesses His Guilt.

BRMGNGHAM. Ala, Aug. With
agonizing screams and his eyes bula
ing from his head, John Wesly PEN
nington. a negro, was burned at the
stake near Enterprise, Ala, before a
crowd of 500 enraged and determined
citizens of Coffee county this morn
ing. The assemblage was composed OF
both whites and blacks, and though
the suffering wretch plead for mercy
and frantically endeavored to break
the chains that bound him, not trace
of sympathy was shown on the faces
that peered at him through the flames.
Pennington had committed a brutal
assault upon Mrs. J. c. Davis, wife
Of one of the most prominent farm
ers Of Coffee county, and confessed
his guilt. The crime was committed
yesterday evening while Mrs. Davis
was gathering vegetables in her gar
den. She was STOPPING over plucking
tomatoes when Pennington slipped up
behind her and threw her to the
ground. He choked the woman into
insensibility accomplished has pur-
pose and fed TO the woods near by.
As soon as she regained her senses
Mr.. Davis crawled to the house and
told her husband what had happened.
a large posse was quickly organized.
and with bloodhounds they chased the
negro until early in the morning,
/ when he was captured in d swamp.
Pennington was bound hand and foot
and taken back 10 the Davis home
/ for Identification. Word Of the as
sault had been sent by runners for
miles around Enterprise, and every
farmer in the neighborhood had left
his plow to join in the search. Some
Of them were too late to join the pur-
suers and went TO the Davis home and
quietly awaited their return. There is
not a telegraph Office in Coffee county.
but the messengers quickly travelled.
and when tho posse arrived this morn
ing with Pennington there were at
least 500 persons gathered near the
Davis residence. A great shout went
up when the prisoner was seen by the
crowd. but at a signal the men with
drew to the woods and quietly await
tA INC 4tSAAA VI NAAt LAFtAluS bt7
tween Pennington and Mrs. Davis.
Mrs. Davis Immediately recognized
him. and the negro broke down and
wept. He admitted having committed
the assault, and plead for mercy, but
he was dragged from the house and
into the woods. where the crowd had
gathered. Evidently expecting the
confession. Several of the citizens had
already driven a stake in the ground.
and as the men appeared with Pen
nington. both whites and blacks were
piling brushwood around the iron
pipe
The negro saw his doom, and with
an awful scream of terror fell to the
ground in faint. He was quickly
revived and dragged to the stake,
while the crowd stood silently by. The
frightened man was limp and had to
be held up while the chains were
fastened around his neck and body.
When all was ready the word was
given. and the crowd stood back. A
match was applied TO the pile, and
with oil to feed upon the tiny flame
soon burst into a roaring fire.
The terrified negro again pleaded
for mercy in the most agonizing tones.
and prayed to God that those around
him might perish. He then called up
on the Maker for forgiveness. and as
the flames leaped up and encircled his
neck an unearthly Shrek was heard
and the mans eyes had almost bulged
out of the sockets. BY this time the
fire had gained such Roadway that
nothing could be seen except a wriggl-
: ing motion in the center of the circle
. of fire. A deathly silence enveloped
, the awful sight, and in a few minutes
the flames had sufficiently subsided to
see that Pennington's head had fallen
forward and hung limp over the iron
chain. The body was quickly con-
sumed and all OF Pennington tuat re-
mained was pile of ashes. The crowd
then quietly dispersed