Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-30
Horrible Fate Of Negro Fiiend
at Barlow, Florida.
Dragged from Jail, He Dies at the
Scene Of His Crime.
Groans and Prayers Tor Mercy Have No Effect
on Determined 1hrong.

barlow. Fla. May 29-Fred Rochelle
q negro. 20 years Of age, who at noon
yesterday. criminally assaulted and
then murdered Mrs. Rena Taggart, .
well-known and respectable white
woman of this city. was burned at the
stake here. early this evening, in the
presence of a throng OF people. The
Turning was on the scene of the ne
Sro's crime. within 100 yards of the
principal thorOughfare Of this city.
The assault and murder was one of
the most bold and cold blooded crimes
ever committed in Florida. At - O'Clock
Yesterday morning. Mrs. Taggart went
fishing alone in small row boat A
fo W minutes before noon, desiring to
return home, she rowed her boat to
the bridge in full sight Of the public
thoroughfare and made it fast. L.cay-
ing the boat she proceeded only n few
steps in the swamp toward the prairie
when she was approached by Rochelle
who had been hiding in the swamp. He
seized her but she broke loose and
screaming. ran into the prairie. where
he overlook her.
After the assault he held her with
his hands and knees and, taking his
knif" from his pocket cut her throat
from ear to ear, causing instant death
lie then walked to n negro who had
been fishing on the bridge and who
was thoroughly frightened. and asked
him what he should do with the body
He was told to leave it where il was
but he took the bleeding form in his
arms and carried ii back TO the
swamp, threw it down and escaped in
To the interior of the swamp.
In less than an hour practically the
entire city was in arms and q well
armed posse was moving in every di-
rection in search Of the criminal
Bloodhounds We're secured and all
night n fruitless search was continued
This morning no trace of the negro had
been secured and the people We're be
coming more determined To apprehend
him.
In spite of the sheriff and n strong
guard of extra deputies. the mob Sc
cured the prisoner and took UP the
march. Rochelle was half dragged,
half carried to the bridge. Scream af-
ter scream broke from the negro's
quivering lips followed by groans and
prayers for mercy AT the bridge the
inob turned toward tHe scene OF the
negro's crime. BY common consent
burning was to be the penalty. There
were no ropes. no plans for any other
death.
A barrel was placed by the stake, on
the very spot where Mrs. Taggart was
assaulted and murdered on this the
negro was placed and chained to the
stake. Rochelle pleaded for mercy but
silence was the only response. There
We're no jeers, no curses no disorder.
Before the chains around his body had
been made fast cans of kerosene oil
from many sources We're passed to the
front. One of the leaders slowly but
deliberately poured the oil over the
prisoner until clothes and barrel We're
well saturated. Then the match was
applied.
The blaze quickly leaped sykward
The burning body could be seen only
as a dark object in the circle of roar
ing flame. Then the fire slackened and
the writhing body came back in full
view. but already the groans had
ceased and the only evidence of life
seen was in the contortions of the mus
cles of the limbs.
In half hour from the minute of the
application of the match, only the
charred bones We're left as reminder
of the negro's crime and his fate. The
crowd dispersed and. at $50 tonight,
the city is quiet.