The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-30
AN ORDERLY LYNcHNG
Citizens Went About work ln
 Most Quiet Manner.
Prayers of Condemned Brute Fell 0n ,unheeding Ears-Had Been cap tured by Members of His
 Own Race.

Barlow. Fla, May 29.-Fred Rochelle q black negro. 35 years of age, who' a' noon yesterday, criminally assaulteo and then murdered Mrs. Rena Taggart' q well-known and respectable white woman of this city, was burned at the stake here this evening in the presence of a throng of people. The burning was on the scene of the negros crime' within one hundred yards of the prin- cipal thoroughfares of this city.
 The assault and murder was one or the boldest crimes ever committed III Florida. At 10 clock yesterday morn ing Mrs. Taggart, who was born ana reared in this place, and was woman of good family and reputation. went fishing alone in a small row boat. The fishing place was in full view or the public thoroughfare. A few minutes before noon, MES. Taggart, desiring to return home, rowed her boat to the bridge and made 1t fast. A negro man was fishing from the bridge at the time.
 The Assault and Murder.
 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 ap- preached by Rochelle. who had been hiding in the swamp. He seized her and she broke loose. and, screaming gan from the swamp into the prairie where he overlook her, overpowered her and assaulted her. After the assault, while she was prostrate, he held her with his hands and knees, and. taking his knife from his pocket, cut her throat from ear to ear. causing instant death. He then walked to the negro who had been fishing on tine bridge, and who was thoroughly frightened. and asked him what he should do with the body. He was told to leave It where it was, but unheedful of this request he took the bleeding form in his arms and carried it back to the swamp, threw it down and escaped in- to the interior of the swamp.
 Search for the Criminal.
 In a few minutes the crime had been reported and in less than an hour prae- tically the entire city was in arms and well armed posses were moving in ev- cry direction in search of the criminal Bloodhounds were secured and all night a fruitless search was continued. This morning no trace of the negro had been secured, and the people were be- coming more desperate in their deter imitation to apprehend him as the chances for his final escape seemed to grow.
 About noon a courier arrived an nouncing that the negro had been cap tured by two other negroes three miles south of the city. Posses were imme diately on the trail but the capturers evaded detection and succeeded in get ting their prisoner quickly into the city and in turning him over to the Sheriff of Polk County. In less than ten minutes after the transfer had been made. as if the news had been flashed instantly throughout the city and neighborhood, the streets became congested with people and the crowd, augmented as it marched. moved upon the Jail.
 Taken from the Sheriff.
 Tn spite of the Sheriff and a strong guard of extra deputies who made ev- cry 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 car ried to the bridge, enveloped by a great throng of people of all ages, who were resolute and determined, but quiet and oSderly. Scream after scream
 
 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 ne- ero's 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 expiadon of the crime, and without organized effort and yet with apparently unanimous understand ing, a barrel was in readiness and was placed by the stake on the very spot where Mrs. Taggert was assaulted and murdered.
 On this the negro was placed and chained to the stake.
 Louder and louder and more desper- ate grew hts pleadings to God and man fo1 mercy. but in the great crowd around him silence was the only re- sponse.
 Saturated With Kerosene.
 There were no jeers, no swearing, no disorder. Before the chains around his body had been made fast, cans of keF- osene oil from many sources were rassed to the centre and one of the leaders stepped to the body and slow AAlihGratAI~ rAas~AA it sA-~~ hi"--