Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-16
PROCLAIMED INNOCENCE
WITH HIS DYING BREATH.
CHAINED TO A STEEL RAIL, IN THE
MIDST OF HIS FUNERAL PYRE,
HE Still. PROTESTED.
BEGGED TO SEE HIS MOTHER.
BUT THE MOB WOULD NOT WAIT. so
ANOTHER BAPTISM OF OIL
WAS FOLLOWED
BY A BAPTISM OF FLAMES
AND SOON THE CRAZED AND HYS-
TERICAL MOB WAS SATED
WITH SCENES OF TORTURE.

LEAVENWORTH, Kans., January
15.-Fred Alexander, the negro who on
Saturday evening attempted to as
sault Miss Eva Roth and who was
supposed to have assaulted and killed
Pearl Forbes in this city, in Noveln-
Der last, was taken from the sheriff.
guard by mob to-day and burned at
the stake at the scene of his crimes,
half dozen blocks from the center of
the city. Probably 5000 people wit
messed the lynching.
The negro was taken from his cell
at the State penitentiary at o'clock
this afternoon, placed in a hack and
brought to town. Fifty deputy mar
shals surrounded him, and deputy
sheriffs Stance Myers and Thomas
Brown sat in the hack on either side
Of him.
There were fifty buggies and wagons
in the procession which followed the
hack. The trip to town was made
quietly and there was no attempt 70
create a disturbance on the road.
When the corner OF Fourth and
Olive streets was reached. the police
who were in the hack following the
one in which Alexander was conceal
cd, jumped out and chased several
aegroes.
This created a diversion which at
sracted the attention of every one and
during the excitement the hack in
which Alexander was concealed was
ffanlicaIIy driven to the county jail
where he was locked in cell just as
the mob reached the doors. All the
doors of the Jail were then locked.
The crowd first attempted to gain
admission by peaceful means. but
Sheriff Everhardt refused to deliver
the negro. Then the crowd pushed
it's way to the side door and using one
man as battering ram the door was
forced from its hinges. Then the
crowd surged into the corridor by the
narrow doorway.
A Huge Iron Bar Was Secured
and the iron door of the cell room at
tackled. This was finally bent so that
it could be forced far enough back for
men to climb over it. Several gain
ed an entrance in this manner In
the meantime the crowd had pushed
down the side gate of the stockade,
and in a moment there was a yelling
pack in the Jail yard.
The side door which was made of
heavy sheet iron, was the next object
of attack Several men had provided
themselves with sledge hammers and
cold chisels and it was the work OF
only a few moments before the hinges
were cut from inside and off came the
door. More men pushed inside, the
iron bar was again called into play
and the doors of the cell rooms broken
down.
Then the cry went up: "He is not
here; he has escaped"
Search the court house; there is a
tunnel between and he has been taken
out that way.
Then a man with sharp eyes espied
a shapeless mass crouched down iE
one corner of the dark CELL An exul-
tant cry went up
He is here; we've got him; bring
the keys"
Several keys were found lying around
the corridors and those were passed
into the crowd. They would not work
Then again sledge hammer was call
ed into action and in five minutes the
heavy lock had been broken off. A
yell OF terror issued from the cell. The
tension at this time was so great that
strong men filed the corridors with
historical laughter. Outside the crowd
was yelling itself hoarse. Then into
the cell rushed. those who were near
est the door.
The Mob ISSUED Forth in n Moment
dragging the negro by the coat collar.
He had been struck over the head with
hammer, but was still conscious. Men
fought to get at him, inIuriated. struck
savagely at him, hitting only his cap
tors. who guarded him well.
Don't hurt him. they cried.
We'll burn him." was the response.
Outside the stockade the crowd surg
ed.
Alexander and his captors were sur
rounded by a solid wall of human
flesh. Across Third street and I'D the
hill into the court house yard they
dragged him. Then they stopped still
Confess before we harm you" said
they.
1 am innocent. I am dying for
what another man did. | see lots of
my friends here; they know | did not
do it. Ii | had been guilty | would
have said SO at the penitentiary 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 huge
fellow struck Alexander in the fore
head with his fist three times. This
seemed not to have the slightest eff
feet on the negro. When he talked
his voice was steady. He spoke with
the resignation of man who sees