River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-10-02
MET AN AWFUL FATE.
Colored Murderer of a White Wom-
an Burned at the Stake.
Revolving Affair Occurs at COrinth,
Miss.-Victim Confesses His Crime
Admits He Deserves His
Punishment.


| Corinth, Miss, Sept. 29.-Writhing
| in the flames of burning fagots, piled
| high by hundreds of citizens, Tom
| Clark, alias Will Gibson, young ne
| gro, was burned at the stake here at
Late hour Sunday, after having con-
fessed to one of the most atrocious
crimes in the history of north Missis-
| slppl the assault and murder of Mrs.
Carey Whitfield on August 10 last.
Before the torch was applied Clark
| stated that he deserved his fearful
| fate.
His Awful Crime.
Last August Mrs Whitfield, the wife
of well-known citizen, was found
dead in her home. Investigation
showed that the woman had been as
saulted, and her head was practically
severed from her body, a razor having
been used in the bloody work. After
long and fruitless search 1T became
known on Monday last that Tom Clark,
negro living near here, had had trou-
BILE with his wife, and the latter threat
ened to disclose the secret of crime.
Officers apprehended the woman, and
she told enough to warrant the be-
lief that Clark had murdered Mrs.
Whitfield. Clark was arrested and
on Saturday was brought before the
committee of ~ in Corinth.
He Confesses.
The negro finally confessed to the
murder and also told of other crimes
that he had committed. He said that
several years ago he killed two men
on an excursion train in Mississippi.
He told of an outrage perpetrated by
himself upon a negro woman and also
of theft of 81 500 from physician at
French Camp, Miss. Clark said that
he had never been suspected OF COM
uniting any of these crimes, and had
covered up his tracks in way to
deceive the officers of the law. After
hearing the confession the committee
decided that the negro should be
hanged from a telegraph pole in the
street Clark said he deserved death,
but asked that the execution be de-
layed until Sunday, SO that he could
have a farewell interview with his
mother and brother, who lived in Mem
phis. The request was granted,
and the two relatives were tele-
graphed for, but it was learned that
they were in Mississippi.
Decide ON Death by Burning.
Meanwhile the news of the Negroes
arrest and confession spread rapidly
over the surrounding country and Sun
days incoming trains brought hun
dreds 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 announcement was made that it
had been decided to burn Clark at $3.50
o'clock in the afternoon. This state
ment caused much excitement and
surging crowds of people began to
gather about the place selected for the
enactment of the awful tragedy. At
two o'clock pine faggots 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 readiness.
At three D. m. Clark was taken from
the Jail by a posse of armed men and,
followed by large and excited crowd
of men and boys, was led to the east
gate of the negro cemetery, which is
situated in the western part of the
city. Faggots and wood had been piled
high around the stake, and the negro
was securely fastened to the iron rod.
~ I, / L.
a statement. He again said that he
deserved the fate prepared for him,
and asked that letter be delivered
to his mother and brother. He APP
pealed to his brother to raise his
children properly. admonishing them
to beware of evil company. Finally
all was in readiness and the word
was given to fire the funeral pile.
Applied the Torch.
The husband and brother of Clark's
victim stepped forward and applied
torches, and, in a moment the flames
leaped upward, enveloping the trem-
bling 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 piteously at this juncture, and
the agonizing look upon his face told
of the awful torture he was undergo
ing Finally his head fell forward upon
his breast, and in a few moments all
was over. The flames were fed by the
crowd until the body was burned to
a crisp. Then the gathering, in an or
derby manner, dispersed, and the town