Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-05-30
BURNED AT TIE STAKE.

BURNED AT TIE STAKE.
Frederick Rochelle, a negro, 30
years of age, who at noon Tuesday
crlminslly assaulted and then murdered
Mrs. Rsns Taegart, 8 wellknown and
respectable white woman of Barlow.
Fla, was burned at the stake there
| early yesterday evening in the presence
of tbroDg Of people. The burning
was on the scene of the negro's crime,
within 100 yards Of the principal
thorough fare OF Barlow.
The assault and murder was one of
the boldest crimes ever committed
in Florida. At 10 o'clock Tuesday
morniug Mrs. TsRgsrt, who was born
and reared in Barlow went fishing
alone in small rowboat that she kept
at the city bridge over Place creek.
This is 10 full view OF the public
thorougbfare. A few minutes before
noon she rowed to the bridge and made
her boat fast. A negro man was fish
ing from the bridge at the time. Mrs.
Tsggart started home and had pro-
oeeded only few steps 10 the swamp
toward the open prairie al d thence to
the stree, when che was approached by
Rochelle, who had been hiding in the
swamp. He se I'd her and she broke
loose and, screaming, ran from the
swamp into the prairie, where he over
look her.
While she was PROSTATE he held her
vita his bands and knees, and, taking
ais kniie from his pocket, cut her throat
from ear to ear, causing Instant death.
q then walked TO the negro, who had
'eea fishing on the bridge and who wac
thoroughly frightened, and asked him
What he should do with The body. He
was told to leave 1t where it wac, but,
needless OF this request, be took the
bleeding form In his arms and carried
It back to the swamp, dropped 1t and
escaped into the interior OF the swamp.
Ia few minutes the crime had been
reported and in less than an hour prsc-
rically the entire town was In arms and
a posse was searching 10 every direction
for the criminal. Bloodbounds were
secured snd oil night the search was
continued.
About noon a courier arrived an
uouncing that the negro had been cap
tured by two other negroes three miles
south of Barlow. Posses were immed-
lately on the trail, but the captors
evaded detection and succeeded 10 get.
ting their prisoner into town and 10
turning him over to the sheriff OF Polk
county In lees than 10 minutes after tie
transfer mad been made the streets be.
came congested with people, and the
crowd, Augmented as IL marched, NOV
cd on the j,il. 10 spite OF the sheriff
and strong guard Of extra deputies.
the crowd secured the prisoner and took
up the march to the scene oil the crime.
He was half dragged, hali-carried to
The bridge, surrounded by great
throng of people of all ages. Scres m sf'
ter scream broke from the wretch's
QuIvering lips, followed by Rroans and
prayers for mercy. A. the bridge the
mob turned toward the prairie and
then into the swamp and to the scene
OF the crime.
By common consent burning was to
be the penalty. The stake was the
only suggestion as to the proper expis-
ton of the crime, and, without organic.
ed effort and yet with apparently unsn-
imous understanding, barrel was
In readiness and was placed by the
stake on the very spot where Mrs. Tsg-
CART was assaulted aud murdered.
On this the negro was placed and
chained to the stake. He pleaded for
mercy but in the great crowd around
him silence was the only response. Be-
fore the chains around his body bad bet n
made fast cans of kerosene oil from
many sources were passed to the front
aud one of the leaders stepped TO the
negro and slowly but deliberately pour.
ed it upon him and his clothes until
clothes and barrel were we'll satuated
1t was then 6 o'clock. The crowd was
then growing and business In the city
had practically been suspended. When
the mstch was applied the blaze quick.
| " lesped skywsrd. The burning body
could be seen only ss dark object II
the circle of roaring fame. Then The
| fire slsckened and the writhing body
came back 10 full view, but already the
groans had ceased, and the only evi
dence or life was 10 the contortions o
the muscles OF the limbs. For Is min
utes the body burned, and 10 half az
hour from the minute OF the application
of the match only the chsrred bones
we're left. The crowd dispersed.