The Topeka state journal., 1901-08-28
MAN HUNT BEGINS
so Missouri Farmers in Pur-
suit of a Negro.
He Assaulted and Murdered
White Woman.
SHE LIVED TO TELL
Murderer Killed a Horse That
Was Standing Near
To Prevent It's Possible Use by
PurSuerS.

Kansas City, Mo. Aug. 2s.-Near Co
lumbus, No. forty miles south of here,
Boss Francis, a negro farm hand. last
evening outraged and murdered Miss
Maud Henderson. at the home Of her
brother-in-law. W. c. Hyatt, on whose
farm the negro worked. Francis
escaped but is being pursued by posses
from Columbus and Warrensburg, and
will undoubtedly be lynched.
The crime was committed arts o'clock
The family We're away at the time. with
the exception of the victim, who had
remained to prepare supper The out
rage and murder occurred in the
kitchen and was not discovered until
the family returned an hour later The
negro used revAlver to kill the wo-
man and made his escape. A posse of so
men was raised at once and went in
pursuit of the negro. Owing to lack of
telephone facilities, Sheriff Koch was
not apDrised of the crime until mid
night when another posse was sent out
from Warrens burg. The excitement in
the vicinity of Columbus is intense and
if the negro is captured a lynching will
surely result.
Columbus. the nearest town to the
scene of the murder is situated in The
northwestern corner of Johnson cOun-
ty. 1t is off the railroad and difficult
of access Correspondents from War
rensburg, the nearest telegraph or tel
ephone point, have gone to Columbus,
but nothing definite can be learned un-
III tAeN return Johnson county lies III
one of the richest farming districts OF
this part of the county. and is thickly
populated There appears no possibil-
ity Of the negro escaping
DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR.
Kansas City. Mo, Aug. 2S--A special
TO the Star from Warrensburg, Mo.
says:
one Of the n ost dastardly crimes ever
committed within the borders of John
son county was perpetrated last night
at the little hamlet of Columbus, off
the railroad l6 miles north of here.
Miss Mary Henderson, aged 40 years
was murdered in cold blood by VIII
Francis. a 22-year-Old negro. after he
had assaulted ner. The crime was com
mitted at the farm house of W. G.
Hyatt, Miss Henderson's brother-in-
law, a prominent citizen and once a
member of the state Populist commit
tee. Francis, who worked on Hyatt's
farm, fled, but is believed to have been
surrounded in the woods near Holden
The whole country is up in arms, and
it is believed that the negro will be
burned al the stake.
Miss Henderson was m ember Of one
of the best families in the county, and
made her home with her brother-in-
law. Mr.. and Mrs. Hyatt had gone
away in the afternoon, leaving Miss
Henderson alone in the house, except
for francis, who mad been a trustY for
ten years. Upon their return about Z
o'clock in the evening they came upon
the body of the woman in the yard.
y DulEI IdQ pierced JIe Skull just
above the left ear; black marks We're
upon the throat and signs of d desper-
ate struggle Were apparent The alarm
was given Immediately, and the sheriff
a Warrensburg notified. posse' OF
determined men left for Columbus a
few minutes afterward. Francis had
fed before the deed was discovered,
and thereby proclaimed mis- guilt. Sur
rounding counties were notified. and
this morning q message came from In
dependence saying that a negro an
swering the description was being held
there A deputy was sent to Independ
ence to identify the prisoner. One
negro at Sedalia who answered the de
scription came near being lynched but
escaped by Intervention of the officers.
All the negroes of the country are
badly worked up and are keeping close
to their homes in fear of the whit IS
who are wrought up to a high pitch OF
excitement. one peculiar feature of the
case is that Francis shot horse, which
was standing in the yard, just after
committing the crime. presumably to
prevent its being used to follow him.
The very latest Information comes
from Holden. and is to the effect that
Francis has been surrounded in a dense