The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-20
EXTlRPATION
Pierce city, No., is in the
Hands of a Mob
Bent on Kidding the Town of
Negro Inhabitants
BURN THEIR HOUSES.
One Aged Negro Cremated in
His Home.
His Wife and Son Escaped
Through the Flames.
Mob Breaks Into the Arsenal
and PrOcures Arms.
TAKE TO THE WOODS.
Terror Stricken Blacks Flee in
All Directions.
Two Have Been Lynched, and
Others Are Threatened.
Trouble Started With Murder
of Young White Woman.
Mob Breaks Into the Arsenal
and PrOcures Arms.
TAKE TO THE WOODS.
Terror Stricken Blacks Flee in
All Directions.
Two Have Been Lynched, and
Others Are Threatened
Trouble Started With Murder
of Young White Woman.

Springfield Mo, Aug. 2O-Pieree City,
where Win oGdley and French Cooley,
his grandfather. were lynched last
night as a result Of the murder of Miss
Caselle Wild is today ia the hands Of
hundreds Of armed men who are intent
on driving all negroes from town. All
negro houses in the city are being fired
by the whites and one negro. Pete
Hampton. is said to have been cremated
in his home The mob today broke in
TO the arsenal of the local militia com
pany and is now in possession of i'm
proved rifles. So much excitement pre-
walls that it is almost impossible to Sc
cure a correct story of the situation
over the wires and correspondents have
left for the scene.
Most of the negroes have left Pierce
City abandoning their homes which
have been burned.
A report was sent out that two
negroes. in addition to Cooley and
French Cooley were Iynched early this
morning. but this is denied. George
Lark. a porter On the ST. Louis & san
Francisco railroad whom French God
ley. before he was shot to death. charged
with being Miss Villas murderer. was
arrested in Springfield this morning
and is in jail here. Lark declared his
innocence and says the man who COM
mitted the crime boarded with him and
fled Bloodhounds which started at the
scene of the murder went at once to
LarB's house.
that man named Flavors, who had
boarded with Lark. was the real cul-
prir. Flavors is said to be under arrest
at Tulsa, L T.. over the territory line
from here. and Barrett is under arrest
al Mount Vernon, 25 miles from Pierce
City F'lavors Will surely be lynched
if brought back It is not believed
that Barrett viii be molested
The excitement that attended and fol-
lowed the lynching of the Godleys con-
tinued all night and morning only
found the enraged white people more
determined than ever to rid the city
and vicinity of the negroes After
stringing young Cooley up to a pole
and riddhng his body with bullets the
mob went to the house Of French Cod
ley. the young mans grandfather. and
shot him TO death Then they bonn bard
ed Ike carriers house in which were
Pete and Robert Hampton. all negroes.
Pete Hampton, who was 75 years old.
was burned to death His wife and
Robert Hampton escaped through the
flames. The mob then marched from
place to place. burning negro houses
and firing into them. The negroes fed
In all directions. many taking refuge
In the woods, while others are coming
as far as Springfield to find places NJ
safety The officers telephoned to
Mone1t and Aurora. nearby towns for.
help At 10 o'clock this morning the
city was stin in the hands of the mob
which finally broke into the arsenal of
the Pierce City Militia company and
distracted all the state rifles ia ha
found there Every train to Pierce civ
Is bringing tn excited crowds that ada
70 the general confusion
The report sent out last night that
a boy was shot is denied today. and
the name of the man shot to death is
given as French Cooley instead Of
Gene Carter, as previously stated