Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-16
BURNED AT STAKE.
Horrible Death of a Negro at
Leavenworth, Kansas.
Taken from Jail and Burned in Pres
ence Of 5000 People.
CHARGED With Murder and Attempted Assault
Identified by Latter Victim.

Lcavenworth, Kas.. Jan. 15.-F'red
Alexander, the negro who, Saturday,
evening attempted to assault Miss Eva
Roth. and who was supposed to have
assaulted and killed Pearl Forbes in
this city in November last was taken
from the sheriff's guard by a mob, to-
day, and burned at the stake at the
scerc of his crimes, half a dozen blocks
from the center of the city. Probably
5000 people witnessed the lynching.
The negro was taken from his cell
at the state penitentiary. this after
noon. and brought to town. Fifty dep
uty marshals surrounded him and dep
uty sheriffs sat in a hack on either side
of him. Fifty vehicles followed the
hack The trip to town was made qui-
city.
When the corner of Fourth and OIL
i've streets was reached the police who
were Ill the hacks following the one i'll
which Alexander was concealed jump
ed out and chased several negroes.
This created a diversion which attract
Cd the attention of everyone, and dur
inc the excitement the hack was fran
ticany driven to the county Jail where
the man was locked in IL cell just as
doors Of the Jail We're then locked
Sheriff Everhardy on demand refus
"a To deliver the negro. The side door
was forced from it's hinges and the
crowd surecd into the corridor. The
huge iron bar was secured and the iron
door of the cell room forced far enough
for men to climb over. Several gained
III entrance. In the meantime the
crowd had gained entrance to the
stockadc and there was Il yelling pack
in the jail yard.
The doors Of the cell room We're then
broken down. A man with sharp eyes
cSpicd q sh1peless mass crouched
Down in one corner OF the dark cell
ard yell of terror issued from the
cell. The tension by this time was 50
great that strong men filed the coiri-
doris with hysterical laughter outside
the crowd was yelling itself hoarse.
The negro was dragged into the open.
He had been struck over the head with
q hammer but was still conscious Men
fought to get at him and. Infatuated.
struck savagely at him, hitting only
| his captors. who guarded him well.
Don't hurt him now they cried.
Wen burn him
Up the hill into the courthouse yard
| they dragged him and there they
stopped. In reply to demands for a
confession the negro said:
Il am innocent. l am dying for what
| another man did. | see lots Of my
| friends here: they know | did not do
| it. If / had been guilty | 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 / have told them if / was
| guilty.
| At this one huge fellow struck Alex
ander in the forehead with his fist three
| times.
Alexander had spoken with the resg-
| nation of a man who sees before him
| only death.
When he had finished talking a move
was made for a large cotton wood
| tree in corner of the courthouse yard.
| The negro was backed up against it
and while a chain was sought Alex
ander was given another chance to
confess.
MY God. men," he cried in his
Continued on page 50