The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-01-23
.THlssasiitll N KANSAS g
Nsgrp BARRED at THE Stake In
sassssanwSra'hthr ssa, aa'hth,, Ne
PRoIssFspA,s IMP llaIspcENce.
satu4 ssst IA eeal OH and strap.
pda "a 81. from Pest Min
taEoss Rlsd Around q III & y \
Him..


burned at the stake in little town in
Colorado, aud on Tuesday Of last week
auotheS was;burned at the stake in the
very heart OF the city of Leavenworth,
Kansas In both cases the negroes
. were charged with the samo crime The
last negro burned was Fred Alexander,
VINO attempted to assault Eva Rothes,
In Leavenwertb, Kansas, on Saturday
evening, Jan. IL, and who is supposed
70 have assaulted and murdered Miss
Pcarl Forbes In Leavenworth in Novem-
Der last. He was taken from the
sherifs guard by mob and burned ut
the stake at the soene Of his crime, half
o dozon blocks from the centre of the
city: Probably s, 600 people witnessed
the lynohins.
Tho negro was taken from his cell at
the State pepitentiary Tuesday after.
noon, Jan. 10, and carried to L,aven-
worth. Fifty deputy mars shals surround
ed him and Deputy Shenffs Stsnce
Miers, and Thomas Brown sat in the
hack on either side Of him. Fifty bug.
eles and wagons followed the hack. AT
Fourth and Olive streets the police in
hack following the one in which Alex
ander was concealed, jumped out aud
chased several negroes. In the excite
ment the prisoners hack was frantioally
driven to the county jail, where he was
locke d In cell just as the mob reached
the doors. The Jail door were then
Locked.
The crowd first attempted to gain ad.
mission by peaceful means, but Sheriff
EVerhardy refused to deliver the ne
gro, Then the crowd pushed its way 10
the side door, and using one man as o.
battering ram, the door was for ced from
Its hinges. Then the crowd sureed
into the corridor by the narrow door
way. A huge iron bar fastened the
iron door Of the cell room. The door
was finally bent sufficient for the men
to climb over 1t. Several gained an
entrance in this manner. Meantime
the crowd had pushed down the side
gate OF the stockade, and yelling pack
appeared In the Jail yard. Tho hinges
OF the aide door made of heavy iron,
were cut of with sledge hammers and
ehlsels and the door of the cell room
broken down.
n shapeless man was croHehed down
In one corner of the daik cell. Five
minutes work and the heavy Look on
the cell had been broken off A yell Of
rstrors issaed from the Jeii. StfoI.c.
men .ssfJNs the corridors with hysterical
laughter. Outside the crowd was Yell
ing itself hoarse. Then into the cell
rushed those who were nearest the door.
The mob issued forth in 3 moment
dragging the negro by the scoat collar.
he had been struck over the head with
hammer, but MAS still conscious. Men
foughtto get at him, and, infuriated,
struck savagely at him.
Up the hill into the court house yard
they dragged him.
Confess before We harm you," said
they.
II AN INNOCENT"
y! am innocent. / am dS ing for what
another man did. | see lots of my
friends here; they know l did not do il.
Ii had been guilty would have said
so at the penltenuary and would have
stayed there for life, The warden told
me SO. The policemen told me SO.
Wouid not l have told them if l vas
guilty :"
You lie" they cried, and one huge
fellow struck Alexander in the fore.
head with his fist three times.
de spoke with the resignation of
man who sees before him only certain
death.
A move was made for large cotton
wood tree in corner of the court house
yard.
My God, men," cried the negro in
his agony, Il have told you that 1 am
Innocent. l can't tell you any more. l
did not do it,"
He lies; burn him." cried the mob.
Take him where he committed the
murder, suggested one.
Immediately the crowd, carrying the
negro, who vas thrown into a wagon.
pushed on towards Fourth street. At
o'clock Alexander was brought to the
exact spot where Pearl Forbes, the
murdered girl, was found, and a semi
CIRCLE was formed. Alexander was
brought up in wagon with q dozen
men. The leader called for silence
The roar ceased and Alexander was
showed forward into full view of the
crowd. A howl went up which was
quickly hushed as the prisoner raised
his shackled hands and began to speak.
Twice the crowd drowned his trembling
voice.
You arc going to kill me whatever
say, he said, but you mon are wrong.
want to tell you right now, you have
got the wrong man. | did not do that
and some day you men hero will rup
up against the man who did. l know
1t amt any use to say so, for you arc
going to kill me, but didn't do it,"
The men standing behind Alexander
then showed him from The wagon and
the roar from the crowd drowned every
other sound. The negro WAS quickly
driven down the embankment 70 the
pile of wood, with his hands still
shAckled, and there bound. to the stake.
Many OK the crowd carried rails and
boards. Several seized railroad irons
and carried them to the Iavine.
A railroad iron was planted upright
in the mud. This was made fast to
GROSS iron firmly bound to the upright
iron with wire, Around the improvisod
stake wood and boards were piled. To
this the man was dragged and chained
in standing position to the upright
railroad iron. Chains and irons were
wrapped about him and with his hands
shAckled, no was made fast to tho post.
Coal oil was then poured over him.
Before the n atch was applied John
Forbes father Of the murdered girl,
stepped up to Alexander and said:
"Afeeyou guilty Of numbering my
dGughttr2"
II don't know what you have me here
for" tsid Alexander. su
l-4Borbes replied: g.. a.