New-York tribune., 1901-05-30
NEGRO BURNED AT STAKE.
SUFFERED FOR ASSAULT AND MURDER
ON SPOT WHERE CRIMES WERE
COMMITTED.

Rartov Fla Nav 29-"Fred' Rochelle.
negro thirty-hve years of age, who at noon yes
terday assaulted and then murdered Mrs Rena
Taggart a we'll known and respectable white
woman of this city. burned at the stake
here early this evening in the presence or
throng of people. The burning was on the
scene of the negro's crime within one hundred
yards of the principal thoroughfare of this city.
The assault and murder was one of the bold
est crimes ever committed in Florida. At 10
o'clock yesterday morning. Mrs. Taggart, who
was born in this place and was woman of good
family and reputation. went fishing alone in a
small rowboat that she kept at the city bridge
over Piaco Creek. This is in full view of the
public thoroughfare. few minutes before
noon. desiring TO return home. she rowed her
boat to the bridge and made it fast negro
man was fishing from the bridge at the time
Mrs. Taggart started home and had proceeded
only few steps in the swamp toward the open
prairie and thence to the street when she was
approached by Rochelle who had been hiding in
the swamp He seized her and she broke loose
and screaming from the swamp into the
prairie, where he overlook her.
CUT HER THROAT FROM EAR To EAR
After the assault. while she prostrate he
held her with his hands and knees and. taking
his knife from his pocket. cut her throat from
walked to the 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 il where it was. but
heedful of this request. he took the bleeding
form in his arms and carried il back to the
swamp. threw it down and escaped into the in
terror of the swamp.
In a few minutes the crime had been reported
and in less than an hour practically the entire
city was in arms and a we'll armed posse was
moving in every direction in search of the
criminal Bloodhounds We're secured and all
night a fruitless search was continued This
morning trace of the negro had been Sc
cured and the people were becoming more de-
termined TO apprehend him as the chances for
his final escape seemed to grow. About noon
courier arrived announcing that the negro had
been captured by two other negroes three miles
south of the city Posses were Immediately on
the trail but the capturers evaded detection
and succeeded in getting their prisoner quickly
into the city and in turning him over 20 the
sheriff of Polk County.
PRISONER TAKEN FROM SHERIFF.
In less than ten minutes after the transfer
had been made the streets became cOngested
with people and the crowd, augmented as ii
marched moved on the Jail In spite Of the
Sheriff and a strong guard of extra deputies.
who made every 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 carried to the bridge. sur
rounded by great throns of persons of all
ages who reSOlute and determined but
quiet and orderly Scream after scream broke
from the WretChe's quiVerinS lips, followed by
grOans and prayers for mercy. AZ the bridge
the mob turned toward the prairie and then
into the swamp, 20 the scene OF the neSro's
crime. BY common consent burning was 10 be
the penalty There were ropes, no plans for
lynching by hanging.
The stake was the only suggestion as To the
proper expiation of the crime, and without or
ganized effort and yet with apparently unant-
nous understanding, a barrel was in readiness
and was placed by the stake on the very spot
where Mrs. Taggart was assaulted and muir
dered
IN BLAZING KEROSENE.
On this the negro was placed and chained 70
the stake. He pleaded for mercy, but in the
great crowd around him silence was the only
response There We're no jeers. no swearing. no
disorder. Before the chains around his body
had been made fast cans os kerosene oil were
passed TO the front. anG one of the leaders
stepped to the negro and slowly but deliberately
poured ii upon him until clothes and barrel were
we'll saturated. 1t was thea O'Clock The
crowd was growing and business in the city
had practically been suspended. When the
match applied the blaze quickly leaped sky
ward. The burning body could he seen only as
a dark object in the circle of a roaring flame.
came back in full view. but already the groans
had ceased and the only evidence of life in
the ContortiOnS of the muscles of the limbs.
For fifteen minutes the body burned. and in
the match only the charred bones We're left as
reminder of the negrOS crime and his fate The