Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-08-29
ANOTHER LYNCgING.
FoiioWs Assault and Murder of a Pc.
spectacle White Woman

Chattanooga, Special-A special TO
Inc Times FROM Winchester, Tenn.
says: Henry Noles, the negro who
criminally assaulted and shot to death
MIS-. Chas. Williams, wife of a proni.
nent farmer near Winchester. Tenn
last Friday, was captured early Sun
day at Water Tank, near Cowan
Tenn. He was carried to Winchester
by his captors and placed in the coun-
ty Jail Sheriff Stewart attempted to
Darf1cade the Jail and protect his
prisoner. a mob Of several hundred
gathered about the jail. Assistant At
torney General Matt n. Whitaker ap-
peared at the Jail and made a speech
TO the infuriated citizens. He appealed
to the citizens to assist him in allay-
ing excitement and upholding the ma
Jesty Of the law. He promised to re-
convene the grand jury tomorrow to
promptly indict the negro and have
him speedily tried at the present term
OF court, assuring the crowd that his
conviction and legal execution was
foregone conclusion. This appeal was
supplemented by Judge J. J. Lynch,
Foster Ramsay and others. No sooner
had their appeals been made than sew
eral hundred citizens Of the neighbour
hood where the crime was committed
came up and augmented the crowd to
thousands. They swept forward
upon the Jail, CVerpoWercd the sheriff
and his deputies, secured the prisoner
and started for the scene Of the crime,
Il miles distant, at 1915 a. m.
The mob was orderly but deter
mined. 1t semed that the whole pOpu-
latlOn for miles around had turned out
to see the fate of the wretch. A pro-
cessiOn marched to the Williams
home. Arriving at a point in sight OF
the crime, the negro was placed on a
stump and given a chance to make
statement. He mounted the stump
stolidly and laughed as he began his
statement. He said:
Tell all my sisters and brothers to
meet me in glory. l am going to make
that my home. Tell my mother to
meet NE where parting will be no
more"
He was then asked a number OF
questions. lnterrogated as to Wheth-
er or not any one else was implicated
in the crime. NOleS stated emphati-
cally there was no one implicated but
himself.
why did you kill Ms. Williams?"
was asked.
Il just done that because I had
nothing else to do
He was taken from the stump, car
ried to a tree nearby, bound to the
tree by chains and his body saturated
with oil. At 1:40 p. m. a match was
applied and instantly the quiVering
body was enveIoped in flames. Rails
were pitched about the burning body
and soon life was extinct. The negro
made no Outcry at any time and died
as stolidly as a stole. There were no
disorderly scenes about the burning
body At least 5000 people witness
cd the horrible fate Of the negro.
Many remained until nightiall, aug
menting the blaze until the body was
completely consumed, They then de
parted for their homes quietly.
Lying on the floor Of the family
room with her face splashed with
clOtted blood and the Oaken plankS
stained with the same drops, Cha5.
Williams found his young wife Friday
afternoon when he returned from
marketing his wheat in the little town
of Maxwell. A bullet had crashed
through her head and life was COM
pletely extinct Two baby children
witnessed the crime alone. The old
est boy, aged 5. told what had occur
red. The young mother had been
shot and killed By Henry Noles,
negro hand upon Williams place. AS
the mortaIly wounded woman sank To
the floor, NOles fired again, barely
grazing the child's head. The negro
fed to the woods. On receipt OF the
news the sheriff departed with blood
hounds A posse Of determined c1tl-
zens, we'll armed and provided with
a rope was also on NOlcs' trail. 1t is
reported that the motive was robbery
and $40 was obtained by the murder
Mr.. Williams is a farmer, Welto-do,
and one Of the most prominent resi-
dents of his section of Franklin coun-
ty. The dead woman was q member
of one of the oldest and most respect
ed families in the county.