The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-01-16
NEGRO BURNED
AT The STAKE
-.-------
Alleged Murderer Of Pearl Forbes
Protested Innocence TO Last.
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CHARRED FLESH SOUVENIRS
LsaysnwOhh. Kansas, DIsEraesd by Barbsr.
Gus Mob Of Seven Thousand cIl.
lIeuS-0oyernor iadIguAnt
ai The Crime
CHARRED FLESH SOUVENIRS

LEAVENwoRTH, Kas.. Jan. To-
Fred Alexander the negro who assault
ed Eva Roth Saturday and was sus-
pccted Of asraultnR and numbering
Pearl Forbes, November 9th last. was
burned nt the stake shortly after
o'clock this afternoon
lie war brought from the pcnitendary
this Afternoon abou, i.3O O'Clock. Clu-
zena learned that he vas being brought
to the county jail and gathered In great
numbers. probably 1000 or 5000 people
and although the officers got him into
the jail. the mob secured heavy rail-
road iron and. bursung the JAIN loors
In. took Alexander 10 the scene Of the
Forbes murder about eight blocks from
he business portion OF the city aud
sticking a railroad rail In the ground.
fastened him TO 1t with chains. poured
coaloil on him and burned him 10 death.
Thc wretch protested his innocence TO
the last
After bnt,ering down the jall door
the mob rushed In and beat the negro
almost into insensibihty.
Cont hurt him they cried
Wen burn him. was the response
Confess before We harm you" said
they.
Il have nothing 10 confess" cried
Alexander. Il am Innocent; | am dy-
ing for what another man did. II
/ had been guilty would have said SO
at the penIttnuary and would have
stayed there for life The warden told
me. the police told me so. Would
not have told them " had been gull
yg"
"He lies: barn him. cried the mob
Take him where he committed the
murder" suggested one. The sugges'
ton met with instant approval and th'
ncgru was thrown into n wagon ant
taken TO the corner Of Lawrence ave-
nue. and Spruce street The exact
spot where the murdered girl was found
was located and there n semi-circl'
was formed.
A howl went up from the mob, which
was quickly hushed as the prisoner
raised his bound hands and began L
speak.
"You'N going TO kill me. whatever
say, he said, but you men are wrong
Il want 10 tell you right now you've
got the wrong man, did not do tina
and some day you men here will ruI
up against the man who did. know
II amt no use TO say so. for your
going TO XIII me, but did not do It,.
lie was then dragged down the EN-
bankmsnt to pile Of wood, with hi
hands stlll shaekled, and there boun,
to stake. coil oil was applied an,
John Forbes, father Of the murdere,
girl. lighted the match. Again Alex
ander wps asked to make confession
but the negro replied he had nothin
30 say.
As the llames leaped about him Alex
ander clasped his hands together an
began to swing TO and fro while III
crowd yelled, In less than ave min
utes he was hanging limp and llfeles'
There was a wild scramble to obtai
relies, bits OF charrod flesh, pieces 0
chain, scraps Of wood-everything tina
could possibly serve as a souvenir wa
seized with morbid avldity by the ga
ger people,
II was understood that yesterda
morning Governor Stanley inslructe
Warden Tomlinson, Of the penitentlar!
TO refuse to deliver Alexander to tn
sheriff and that he is highly incense
at the wardens failure TO obey h
Instructions.