Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-01-24
A DEVILISH DEED.
A Kansas Mob Burns Negro at
the Stake
Fred Alexander, who was Charged
with Murder n and Criminal Assault
Dies at LcavenNOrth I'm the
Midst of Flames Pro-
tested His Innocence.

Leavenworth, Kan, Jan. 16.-Fred
Alexander, the negro who on Satur-
day evening attempted to assault
Miss Eva Roth, and who was sup
posed to have killed Pearl Forbes in
this city in November last, was on
Tuesday taken from the sherff's
guard by Il mob and burned at the
stake at the scene of his crimes, half
a dozen blocks from the center of
the city. Probably 5000 people wit
messed the lynching.
The negro was taken from the
state penitentiary at p. m, placed
in hack and brought TO town. Fifty
deputy ma rshals surrounded him.
Alexander was locked in a cell in
the county Jail just as the mob
reached the doors. All the doors of
the Jail were then locked. The
crowd first attempted to gain admis-
sion by peaceful means, but Sheriff
Everhard refused to deliver the me-
gro. Then the crowd pushed its
way to the side door and the door
was forced from it's hinges. Then
the crowd surged into the corridors.
A huge iron bar was secured and the
door of the cell room attacked. This
was finally bent so that it could be
forced far enough back for men to
climb over it. Several gained an en-
trance in this manner.
The side door. which was made of
heavy sheet iron, was the next OBJ
iect of attack. Several men had
provided themselves with sledge ham
mers and cold chiselS and in a few
moments the hinges were ctt and off
came the door.
The mob issued forth in moment,
dragging the negro by the coat col
lar. He had been struck over the
head with a hammer, but was still
conscious. Men fought to get at
him. and struck savagely at him,
hitting only his captors.
Across Third street and up into the
court house yard they dragged him.
Then they stopped.
Confess before we harm YOU"
said they.
81 am innocent / 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 peniten-
tiary and would have staid there
for life. The warden told me so. The
policemen told me so. Would not l
have told them if | was guilty."
"You lie," they cried, and one fell
low struck Alexander in the forehead
with his fist three times. This seemed
not to have the slightest effect on
the negro.
Alexander was brought to the
scene of the murder of Pearl Forbes,
at the corner of Lawrence avenue
and Spruce street. The exact spot
where the murdered girl was found
was located, and there a semi-circle
was formed. Alexander was brought
up in Il wagon with a dozen men. The
wagon was stopped in front of the
ravine, and the leader of the men
who held Alexander called for ST.
lence. The roar ceased and AleXan-
der was showed forward into full
view of the crowd. The prisoner
raised his shackled hands and began
10 speak.
you are going to kill me what
ever | say" he said, but you men
are wrong. | want to tell you right
now, you've got the wrong man. |
did not do that and some day you
men here will run up against the man
who did. | know it amt any use
to say so, for you're going to kill me,
but | did not do it."
The first thing done was to plant
railroad iron upright in the mud.
This was made fast to cross irons
firmly bound to the upright iron with
wire. Around the improvised stake
L Il u T.. H..
was dragged and chained in stand
ing position to the upright railroad
iron. Chains and irons were wrapped
about him, and with his hands still
shackled. he was made fast 20 the
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:
Are you guilty of numbering my
daughter?"
Mr.. Forbes, if that's your name,
you have the wrong man" said the
negro.
Coal oil was then applied for the
second time and while it was being
done Alexander called to acquaint-
to them. He did not seem to realiz
that he was to be burned at the stake
and talked nationally until John
Forbes lighted the match. Again
Alexander was asked to make a con-
fession, but he replied that he had
nothing to say.
In five minutes the negro was
hanging limp and lifeless by the
chains that bound him. AS soon as
| the crowd saw that life was extinct,
it began slowly to disperse.
After Alexander's arrest he was
| taken before Miss Roth, who identi-
| fed him. Since then mob has sur
rounded the penitentiary day and
| night. Yesterday the crowd became
so formidable that Gov. Stanley or
| dered two companies of militia to be
in readiness to start for Leavenworth
| ~,