The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-16
BURNED AT STAKE
BY FURIOUS MOB
Fred Alexander, Colored,
Met Horrible Fate.
TAKEN FROM JAIL.
Mob Battered Down Doors and Sc
cured Their Victim.
THOUSANDS WITNESSED SCENE.
At the Scene of His Crime, Only o
Short Distance from the Center
of the City. the Negro WAS
Burned Alive While
5000 Persons
Looked On.
THOUSANDS WITNESSED SCENE.
fBy Associated Press.)

{By Associated Pres3
LEAyENWORTH, kAS.. Jan. 15.-Fred
Alexander, the negro Mtlo, on Saturday
evening, attempted 20 assault Miss Eva
Roth, and who was supposed 10 have as
saulted and killed Pearl Forbes. il this
city, in November last, was taken from
the sheriff's guard by mob to-day and
burned at the stake at the scene OF his
crime, half a dozen blocks from the center
of the city.
Probably $500 people witnessed the
lynching The negro was taken from his
cell at the state penitentiary at o'clock
this afternoon, placed in hack, and
brought to town. Fifty deputy marshals
surrounded him, and Deputy Sheriffs
Stance Myers and Thomas Brown sat In
the hack on each side of him. Fifty bug
sles and wagons followed the hack. At
Fourta and Olive Streets the police IN
the hack following the one in which
Alexander was concealed jumped out and
chased several negroes. In the excite
ruent the prisoners hack was franticaliy
driven to tue county Jail, where ne was
locked in a cell just as the MOB reached
the doors.
BROKE DOWN DOORS
The iau doors were locked The crowd
first attempted to gain admission by
peaceful means, but Slerin EVerhart re-
fused to deliver the negro. Then the
crowd pushed its way TO the side door,
and using one man as a batterins ram,
the door was forced from its hinges
Then the crowd surged into the corridor
by the narrow doorway. a huge iron bar
battered the iron door of tue ceil-room-
The door was finally bent sufficiently for
the men TO climb over it. Several gained
ar. entrance in this manner.
Meantime the crowd had pushed down
the side gate of the stockade and yell
ing pack appeared IN the Jail yard. The
hinges of the side door. made of heavy
sheet-iron, were cut Off with Sledge-
hammers and chisels, and the door of the
cell room broken down. a man with
sharp eyes espied a shapeless mass
crouched down in one corner of the dark
cell. Five minutes work and the heavy
lock on the cell had been broken Off n
yeil OF terror issued from the cell Strong
men filled the corridors with hysterical
| laughter. Outside the crowd was yelling
| itself hoarSe. Then into the cell rushed
| those who were nearest the door.
The mob issued forth in a moment,
| dragging the negro by the coat collar. He
| had been struck over the head with a
| hammer but was still conscious Men
| fought to get at him, and infuriated,
! struck savagely at him. Up the hill into
| the courthouse yard they dragged him.
PROTESTED INNOCENCE
| Confess before we harm you, said
| they.
Il am innocent I am dying for what
| another man did. I see lots of my friends
| here. They know I did not do it. If L
| had been guilty I would have said so at
| the penitentiary and would have stayed
there for life. The warden told me so.
| The policemen told me so. Would not I
| have told them if I was guilty.
| You lie they cried. and one huge fel-
| low struck Alexander in the forehead
| with his fist three time He spoke with
| the resignation of a man who sees before
| him only certain death.
\ move was made for a large cotton
wood tree in a corner Of the courthouse
| yard.
| my God men," cried the negro in his
! agony, II have told you that I am inuo-
cent. I can't tell you any more. didn't
do it,
''He lies: burn him" cried the mob.
Take him where he committed the mur-
| der suggested one
| Immediately the crowd, carrying the
negro. who was thrown into q wagon,
| pushed on towards Fourth Street. At a
! quarter past five o'clock Alexander was
| brought to the exact spot where Pearl
/, Forbes. the murdered girl, was found,
| and a semicircle was formed Alexander
| was brought up in a wagon with 4 dozen
! men The leader called for silence. The
| roar ceased and Alexander was showed
| forward into full view OF the crowd A
| howl went up which was quickly lushed
| as the prisoner raised his shaking hands
and began 10 sreaS.
| Twice the crowd drowned his trembling
| voice.
! .sYou are going to kill me, whatever
| say he said. "but you men are wrong.
| T wart to tell you right Now. You nave
| got the wrong man. I did not do that. and
| some dav YOU nnan here will run up asaiast
| tha man who did it. know II amt anv
use 10 say so. for you are going to XIII
me, but didn't do it.
STAKE ERECTED.
| The men standing behind Alexander
then showed him from the wagon and the
! roar of the crowd drowned every other
! sound. The negro was quickly drlVen
| down the embankment TO the pile of
| wood. with his hands still shackled, TO be
! bound to the stake. Many of the crowd
| carried rails and boards. several seized
| railroad irons and carried them to the
! ravine \ railroad iron was planted up
| right in the mud This was made fast to
! cross irons firmly bound TO the upright
! iron with wire Around the lmproVlSed
| stake wood and boards We're piled To
| this the man was dragged and chained
| in standing position TO the upright
| railroad iron. Chains and irons were
| wrapped about him and with his hands
| still shackIed. he was made fast to the
J post Coal oil was then poured over him.
/ Before the match was applied John
( Forbes father of the murdered girl.
| stepped up to Alexander and said:
~ vo,1 gritty of numbering INV
/ daughter?"
Il don't know what you have me here
j for said Alexander.
Forbes replied: For killing my girl
! on this very spot,
j .tMr. Forbes. If that's your name. you