The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-10-01
BURNED AT THE STAKE
MOB CREMATES A
NEGRO IN PRESENCE OF
HUNDREDS.

Prisoner Admitted That he De.
served the Fate That Had Ov-
ertaken Him.-Flames were
Famed by the Crowd.
Corinth, Miss, Sept. 23.-Writh.
ing in the flames of burning fagots
piled high by hundreds of citizens.
Tom Clark, alias William Gibson,
a young negro, was burned at the
stake here~at late hour today, af-
ter having confessed to one of the
most atrocious crimes in the histo-
ry of North Mississippi, the assault
and murder of Mrs. Carey Whit
field on August 19 last. Before the
torch was applied, Clark stated that
he deserved his fearful fate.
Last August, Mrs. Whitfield, the
wife of well-known citizen, was
found dead.in her home. Investi-
CATION showed that the woman had
been assaulted and her head prac-
tically severed from her body with
a razor. Both Whitfield and his
wife were related to several of the
most prominent families in the
South, and the indignation of the
people knew no bonds. Corinth
and the surrounding country was
secured in an effort to apprehend
the murderer, but diligent search
failed to disclose his identity. FL
nally a committee of IL citizens
was called to continue the search.
On Monday last it became known
that Tom Clark; negro living
near here, had had trouble with his
wife and the latter threatened to
disclose the secret of a crime. Of
ficers apprehended the woman, and
she told enough to warrant the be-
lief that Clark had murdered Mrs.
Whitfield. Clark was arrested yes
terday and brought before the COM
mittee. The negro confessed to the
murder and also to other crimes
that he had committed, among them
the killing of two men on an excur-
.iontrain in Mississippi. The COM
mittee decided that the negro should
be hanged from a telegraph pole in
the street. Clark said he deserved
death, but asked thatssthe execution
be delayed until today, so that he
could have farewell interview with
his mother and brother, who lived
in Memphis. The request was grant.
ed and the two relatives were tele-
graphed for, but it was learned that
they were in Mississippi.
Meanwhile, the news of the ne
gro's arrest and confession spread
rapidly over the surrounding coun-
try, and today incoming trains
brought hundreds of people into the
city to witness the execution. The
crowds became so great that at mid.
day the main street of the town was
ordered cleared, and the announce
ment was made that it had been
decided to burn Clark at $3.50 in
the afternoon. The statement caus-
ed intense excitement, and surging
crowds began to gather about the
place selected for the enactment of
the tragedy. At2 o'clock pine fag-
OTIS and larger pieces of wood were
carefully laid about an iron rod
which was driven deep into the
ground, and half.an hour later it
was announced that all was in read.
mess.
At 8 o'clock the prisoner, heavily
manacled, was taken from the Jail
by a posse of armed men, and, fol-
lowed by large and excited crowd
of men and boys, led to the east
gate of the cemetery, situated in the
western part of the city. Fagots
and wood had been piled high a.
round the stake, and the negro was
securely fastened to the iron rod.
Clark was asked if he cared to make
a statement. He again said that
he deserved the fate prepared for
him, and asked that letter be de-
livered to his mother and brother.
He appealed to his brother to
raise his children properly, admon-
ishing them to beware of evil COM
panions. Finally all was in readi-
ness, and the word was given to fire
the funeral pyre. The husband
and brother of Clark's victim step
ped forward and applied the torch
es, and in a moment the flames
leaped upward, enveleping the
trembling negro in smoke and fire.
The clothing of the doomed man
was soon ignited, and as the flames
grew hotter, the skin began to
parch. The negro moaned piteous-
ly, and the agonizing look upon his
face told of the awful torture he was
undergoing. Finally the head fell
forward upon his breast, and in a