The age-herald., 1901-08-09
Victim Was a Negro Desperate of the Worst Type Commit
 ting Several Grimes
MRS. DAVIS IS IMPROVING
First Reports Sent Out Were Slightly tnaccurate-Determ Citizens Let Nothing Deter Them From
 the Work of Vengeance.

Elba tvia Ozarl1), August S.-(Speciall- Mrs. v. D. Davis, who was assaulted by the negro, Lon Pembleton WestIey, Is slowly recovering from her injuries. The unfortunate woman's condition is very serious and for a time it was thought she would not survive her frightful ex- perience.
 The first story sent out was inaccurate to some extent. but the horrible details were not colored one whit too much. At that time the dastardly career of the dead negro was not known to the one or two newspaper correspondents here. By the reading of the true story of the negro's crime or crimes one can understand how the peaceful farmers of Coffee County became so enraged that no power could stay the hand of vengeance.
 An Escaped Convict.
 Wesley was a short time ago convicted of burglary and sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. He was also ac- cused of burning the store of Henry McGee at Hintonville. On last Friday he escaped from the guards at Tender son and Boyd's lumber mill at Brocton. The moment he gained his liberty he seemed possessed of devil Making his way across the country he reached Chancellor, where he committed his first outrage.
 He burglarized the home of a negro, se- curing few dollars In silver, a double barreled shotgun, a pistol and a razor. The wife of the negro he criminally as- saulted after beating her into insensi- bility.
 The blacks In the vicinity were at once aroused They pursued the fiend, but lost trace of him within three miles of Enter prise. He was next heard of when he committed the outrage upon Mrs. Davis.
 The woman lives about three miles south of Enterprise, near the saw mill of Adams & Sharp Bros, where her hus- band Is employed. She was in cornfeld probably a quarter of mile from home when the brute confronted her. Laying the gun down which he had stolen short while before, he brandished a ra- zor threateningly.
 Sneered at Her Headings.
 Mrs. Davis was game and fought till choked and beaten into unconsciousness She begged for mercy as long as she had breath to articulate. Then she offered money; anything to turn the beast from his hel1ish designs.
 But her pleadings were only met by a scoffing sheer and with brutal delibera- tion the passion-crazeu devil continued to torture the poor woman It would be cruel to describe her condition when found by her husband.
 There are no telephone or telegraph lines in this county, but the news was carried by messengers on horseback. As the word reached each house a gun was taken from the rack reloaded and an- other member added to the pursuing par ty.
 The chase continued all night In the morning Wesley was surrounded in a swamp about one mile from from Enter prise. He showed fight and was wounded several times before being captured. He was stin armed with the gun, pistol and razor he had stolen.
 Mrs. Davis Identifies Him.
 Mrs. Davis identified him as her assail- ant the moment he was carried before her. There was but one verdict-guilty- death. With the disclosure of more of the shocking details came the decision that burning at the stake was none too good.
 The wretch kept up his nerve remark ably well as he was carried to the scene of torture. At an open place in the woods near a saw mill he was bound to a tree with heavy logchains. Fagots were gath cred and placed about him, and then he was asked if he had anything to say.
 He declared that he was not guilty; that he had stood in the field and watched the assault committed by his partner, Oliver Thomas. He said that they were hunt ing watermelons. Again he said he knew nothing of the crime, evidently forget ting his previous statement He protested to the end that he was Innocent.
 There was a brief barley among the leaders. The five hundred men discussed his statement in whispers. There was that solemnfty about the scene that char acterizes a legal execution. It was proven that Westiey had been seen several times during the past few days, and all wit nesses agreed that there was no one with him. A decision had evidently been reached. All but dozen members of the mob moved back from the tree to which the negro was chained.
 The Torture Begins.
 There was hardly a sound. Some one struck a match. Flames leapt up around the black form. The woods resounded with soul-piercing shriek. followed by another and another, then a muttering sound which might have been dying appeal to his Maker, and the negro's head fell limp on his breast. As the lighter fuel was exhausted. rails were brought from a convenient fence to feed the fire.
 The assembly dispersed by ones and twos. Only few stayed to see crema- tion complete. When all had departed only tiny pile of ashes remained.
 Tn the crowd were both whites and blacks with a number of boys under fifteen years of age Contrary to the us- ual custonm the negro was not mutilated for souvenirs.
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