The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1902-10-03
NEGRO CONFESSED 70 CR|ME|
HE WAS BURNED TO THE STAKE.
will Gibson, Negro of Corinth.
Miss, Confessed to Three Murders
and Said He Deserved His Fearful
Fate-Crowds Come to See Him
Wither Up-AufuJ Torture.

in the flames OF burning fagots piled
high by the citizens, Tom Clark.
alias Will Gibson, a young negro, was
burned at the stake here at late hour
after having confessed to one of the
most atrocious crimes in the history Of
North Mississippi, the assault and muir
der of Mrs. Carey Whitfield on August
10 last. Before the torch was applied
Clark stated that he deserved his fear
full fate. - X
:. . Last August Mrs. Whitfield, the wife
of well known citizen, was found
dead in her home. Investigation showed
that the woman had been assaulted and
her head practically severed from her
body with razor. Both Whitfield and
his wife We're related to several of the
most prominent families in the south
and indignation of the people knew no
bounds.
Corinth and the surrounding country
were secured in an effort to apprehend
the murderer, but diligent search failed
to disclose his identity.
Finally a committee of 10 citizens
was called to continue the search. On
Monday last it became known that
Tom CLARK, q negro living near ',ere,
had had trouble with his wife, and the
latter threatened to disclose the secret
of crime. Officers apprehended the
woman and she told enough to warrant
the belief that Clark had murdered
Mrs. Whitfield. Clark was arrested and
brought before the committee. The
negro confessed to the murder and also
other crimes that he had committed
among them the killing of two men on
an excursion train in Mississippi.
The committee decided that the me-
gro should be hanged from telegraph
pole in the street. Clark said he de-
served death, but asked that the execu-
tion be delayed until today so that he
could have farewell interview with his
mother and brother, who lived in Mem
phss. The request was granted, and
the two relatives were telegraphed for,
but it was learned that they We're in
Mississippi.
Meanwhile the news of the negro s
arrested and confession spread over the
surrounding country, and the incoming
trains brought hundreds of people into
the city to witness the execution.
The crowds became SO great that at
midday the main street of the town
was ordered cleared and the announce
ment was made that it had been de-
cided to burn Clark at $3.50 in the after
noon. This statement caused intense
excitement and surging crowds began
to gather about the place selected for
the enactemnt Of the tragedy.
At2 O'Clock pine fagots and larger
pieces of wood were carefully laid
about an iron rod which was driven
deep into the ground and half an hour
alter it was announced that all was in
readiness. At O'Clock the prisoner,
heavily manacled, was taken from the
Jail by a posse of armed men, followed
by large and excited crowd of men
and boys, and led to the east gate of the
nergo cemetery, situated in the western
part of the city. Fagots and wood had
been piled around the stake and the
negro was securely fastened to the iron
rod.
Clark was asked if he desired to make
statement. He again said he deserved
the fate prepared for him and asked
that letter be delivered to his mother
and brother. He appealed to his bro
ther to raise his children properly, ad-
monishing them to beware of all evil
companions.
Finally all was in readiness and the
word was given to fire the funeral pyre.
The husband and brother of Clark Is
victims stepped forward and applied
the torches and in a moment the flames
leaped upward, enveloping the trem'
bling nergo 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 negre
moaned piteously and the agoniz1ng
look upon his face told Of his awful
torture he was undergoing.
Finally the head fell forehead upon
his breast, and in a few minutes all
was over.
The flames werefanned by the crowd
until the body was burned to crisp.
The croxrd disparSed and the town