The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-13
DEATH BY FIRE.
A Negro Burned to Death by a
Texas Mob.
officers in Charge of Him We're
OVerpoWered.
MADE 1T A HOLIDAY.
Five Thousand People Witness
the Horrible Affair.
Come From NeighbOring Towns
by the Carload.
FOR THE USUAL CRIME
Victim Makes a Signed Confess
sion of Guilt.

St Louis. March ia special to the
Post-Dispatch from Corsicana, Texas
says:
John Henderson. the negro who as
saulted and murdered Mrs. Younger Sow
eral days ago after making a compile te
confession. was burned to the stake this
afternoon by mob in the presence of
more than 5000 persons
Henderson had been taken to Hills
boro in fear of the mob that gathered
in this city soon after his arrest.
Last night the officers in charge Of the
negro started to take him to Fort Worth
for safety. When the train reached
Itasca the officers were overpowered and
the negro taken from them by citizens of
the county who had gone there for thai
purpose.
Henderson was then brought here.
When confronted with proof of his guilt
he confessed the crime Preparations
were at once made to put him to death
by fire The town was filled with peo-
pie, most of them armed The sheriff
could do nothing against their will. Sew
eral carloads of people came from En-
mis-. Texas. Several citizens made strong
appeals to the multitude to let the law
intervene and assured those clamorinE
for the negro's quick execution that he
would be punished. These appeals avail
ed nothing
At 10:45 a. m. an iron pole was erect
ed in the court house yard. in fun view
of 5000 people who had assembled there
abouts.
4 committee that had been appointed
to see the accused secured the following
confession from Henderson, which was
signed and attested by Justice of Sla
Peace H. 6. Roberts.
Il John Henderson, cOlored. % years
ola, murdered an unknown white lady
three miles north Of Corsicana the 9th uf
March, 1901. There was no one present
but myself, the woman and two little
children 1 murdered her and left her in
the mouse without any inter tion of rob-
bing her L don't know why 1 did it.
JOHN j HENDERSON.
The first train this morning on the
Cotton Belt from Hillsboro was so
crowded that it could carry no more.
Runners We're sent over the county an
nOUncing the arrival Of Henderson here.
and all the morning people had been
swarming into the city to take part in
or witness the execution Of the penalty
TO be inflicted on the negro. After his
confession it was decided to burn him
at the stake at o'clock. buc news was
received Of rangers and troops en- route
from Dallas, due here at Y o'clock, and
hurried preparations were made to an
ticipate Interference A railroad rail was
driven into the ground in the corner of
piled around it and saturated with oil.
The crowd had increased to about 1000
at II O'Clock. About forty made a rush |
from the Jail across the street TO the !
court house. In the midst was the negro |
handcUffed. The men formed a circle !
holding on to a chain which completely |
surrounded Henderson to prevent an at |
tempt Of the erraged people To get at /
him and tear him to pieces They rushed /
to the pile of wood and prepared for the /
fire and fastened the negro to the iron (
rail with wire and chains Cans of oil 4
were dashed over his clothing and doz- |
ems of lighted matches touched the in /
hammable material. At that time the \
fire alarm bell was run and the stores /
Of tine city We're deserted and the streets 4
were full of men rushing to the court /
house grounds to witness the burning
Just before the pile was fred Conway
Y Younger. husband Of the murdered WO- /
man, jumped at Henderson and slashed |
him across the face with a knife As /
the flames encircled the negro and ran \
over his clothing the crowd yelled and i
Younger again attempted to cut the /
with his knife. AT no time |
during the burning did Henderson give
any indication Of pain or suffering He !
rolled his eyes so as to get a glimpse of
the sea of angry faces which surround L
ed him and his hands moved slightly
1t was about ten minutes before he
was dead during which time the move
nents of his hands were becoming
feebler. At no time did he make any
0utcry other than once a groan.
AT 11:30 Lee French, husband Of the
victim Of the negro Anderson Norris
who beat her to death with 4 piece of
ron pipe last November. and who was
taken from the Jail here last week by
the officers and carried to = place Of
safety. climbed a tree and made an i'm
Dassioned speech to the crowd asking
hem to help him get the murderer and
ieal with him as they had just dealt
With Henderson. The crowd yelled back
hat they would assist.
The north-bOund Central train arrived
lere at y o'clock. and was crowded with
people from the southern part of the
county. who expressed appointment
1t being too late There was no militia
IN the train.