Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-03-20
NEGRO OILED and BURNED.
JOHN HENDERSON PAYS AWFUL PENALTY
FOR ASSAULTING MRS. YOUNGER.
HUSBAND OF THE VICTIM SLASHES
Burning Negro with Knlfe-Thousands Gather
at Corslcana 10 Witness the Lynchng.

Burning Negro with Thousands Gathe
at corslcana TO Witness the Lynchlng.
Corsicana, Texas, March 13.-Joh1
Henderson, colored, who brutal,
assaulted and murdered Mrs
Younger, farmers wife, living jus,
outside this city, several days ago
was burned to death in the Cour
House square here at noon to. day
A written confession of the crime
attested by Justice Roberts, was
secured from the prisoner. Five
thousand people witnessed the burn.
ing, and business was practically sus.
pended for a time.
Henderson was captured yesterday
after long chase. He was trailed
by bloodhounds from the Younger
homestead many miles back and
forth across the country, and was
finally captured near IIillsboro. The
officers took him to the latter place
and were impelled, through fear OF
mobs, to start for Fort Worth. When
the train reached Itasca a party OF
Younger's friends overpowcred the
guards and hustled Henderson from
the train. lie was conveyed across
the prairie, a distance of forty-fivc
miles, to Corsicana, where he was
placed in Jail to prevent the infuri-
ated citizens from tearing him to
pieces.
A committee was appointed to see
him and pass finally upon his guilt
or innocence. Finally he made a
written confession that he had "mur-
dered an unknown white lady three
miles north Of Corsicana on March
9Th" There was no one present, he
said, but himself and the woman's
two little children. He said he did
not know why he did it.
HURRIED THE CREMATION.
When it became public that Hen
derson had confessed people swarmed
around the Jail. 1t was decided to
burn the prisoner at the stake at 9
p. M, but news was received that
troops had been started from Dallas
and the execution was hurried.
a railroad rail was driven into the
ground in the corner of the Court
llouse square. Boxes and dry tim
Der were piled around it and satu-
rated with oil. Just before noon
about forty men rushed from the
jail across the square to the place
where the rail had been planted. In
their midst was Henderson, hand
cuffed. The men formed circle,
holding to chain, which surrounded
the prisoner, to prevent the crowd
from tearing him away. The negro
was fastened to the rail with wire
and chains.
Cans of oil were cmptied over his
clothing and dozens of lighted
matches touched the inflammable
material. The fire alarms were rune
and the stores of the city were de-
serted, as their occupants rushed to
the square to witness the burning.
Just as the pile was fired Conway
Younger, husband Of the murdered
woman, jumped at Henderson and
slashed him across the face with a
knife. Henderson gave no intima-
ton of pain or suffering. lie rolled
his eyes to get a glimpse of the angry
faces which surrounded him, and
there was a slight movement of the
hands. In ten minutes Henderson
was dead. At no time did he make
any outcry other than an occasional
groan.
HOW THE NEGRO WAS TAKEN.
Henderson was brought to the city
this morning at o'clock and landed
in Jail for safe keeping. Six Of the
leading citizens of this county effected
the capture, acting on behalf of the
citizens of Navarro county. Hen
derson had been confined in Bolton
junction and officers were taking
him to Fort Worth. Sheriff Baker,
of Waco, refused to receive him.
The telegraph wires had been tapped
at lllllsborO and the citizens posse
was constantly informed of the move
mcnts of the officers with Ilcndcr-
son. The train was boarded at Hills
boro and no attempt made to cap
turc Henderson until near Itasca.
When the party started to enter the
conductor tried % prevent them and
tried to run to Fort Worth without
stopping. He was treated roughly
and the men entered the car and
secured the prisoner and officers in
charge. A Johnson county officer
pulled a revolver on the committee,