The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-07-25
MOB LYNCHED NEGRO.
Elkins, West Virginia, Crowd
Avenged Police Chiefs Murder.
coLoREo MAN CAUSED TROUBLE.

coLoREo MAN CAUSED TRoUBLE.
pefied Chief Of Police to Arrest Him.
Terrible Struggle Ended In Officials
peath-Mob Caught Negro On His
Way to Prison.
Elkins, w. Va. July 23.-To-day the
dead body Of William Brooke, colored.
swings from the limb Of . tree In the
city park here. and Chief Of Police
Robert Lilly lies dying In Cumber-
land, Md, hospital, from the effects
of a bullet wound inflicted by the col.
ored man.
Yesterday afternoon word was
brought to the police station that
William Brooks, we'll known COL
ored man, was creating trouble in
the lower end Of town and asking for
the aid Of an officer to subdue him.
Chief of Police Robert Lilly said he
would go himself and bring the man
in. When Brooks saw the officer COM
ing he started to run for the house,
and by the time Lilly came up to
the house, which had a good sized
crowd surrounding it, and ordered the
man to come out, Brooks came to the
window Of front room armed with a
gun. officer Lilly ordered him to
surrender and come peacefully to the
lookup. Brooks said he would not
" or
ran into the house for the black man.
The crowd outside made no offer to
help. and the officer faced the des.
perate negro alone.
Sounds OF fierce struggle could be
heard, and the crowd that had gath
cred ran to the house to help. When
the room was gained both men were
found on the floor in mortal combat.
The negro was shouting that he would
never be taken alive, and the officer.
silent and grim held him with death
grip.
Suddenly the negro worked his right
arm free from the grasp Of the officer
and, catching up a revolver that had
fallen to the floor in the strug-la, fired
point blank at the officer. Lilly fell
to the floor, shot through the bowels.
Whom the officer released the negro
he broke from the room and ran, fol-
lowed by a big crowd. For several
squares he kept ahead Of the crowd.
Finally, after a chase of half mile.
Brooks was overtaken and captured.
He fought desperately, but could not
get away. Other officers came to the
rescue, and with small ceremony
Brooks was handed over to the sheriff
to be taken to the county Jail. Just
as the sheriff reached the prison doors
and ordered the prisoner to walk into
the Jail, mob of men, at least 400
strong. surrounded the officer and de.
manded the prisoner. The sheriff and
guards refused and made desperate re.
sistance, but to no avail.
Brooks was seized. rushed through
the streets. half walking and half fall
ing along toward the city park. W an
the park was reached the men who
were leading Brooks told him 10 walk
up under n Dig Shade tree III centre
of the park and prepare to die. The
negro could not speak and seemed al
most nsensible to what was going on.
The rope was drawn up. and in few
minutes the body of William Brooks
swung from the tree, lii",ess.
Then the mob dispersed, the men
going to their homes. and the women,
many Of whom had followed to witness
the .,yihe tragedy, walked to their
homes with white faces and terrified
hearte. Officer Lillys wounds are ia.
tai TIE Is unable to talk, and can give
bur ew''l explanation of the trouble
that 'o} 70 the shooting
Tha body Of Brooks still hangs in
the n0rk