Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-03
Rope and Bullets Avenge
Attempted Assault of
Young Student of
Shorter.


an electric light pole, in front of the Gen.
tral hotel. in the very heart OF the city,
Nearly al Rome witnessed the lynch
ing and as the negro was strung up 10
the pole a fusIlade Of bullets was fired
into his writhing body. He was literally
torn into shreds BY the storm Of bullets.
The excitement in this city Is intense
and mere trouble may follow.
One OF the most exciting affairs of the
whole crime was the firing at the Negro
hy Capt. A B. s. MOseley. while the ne
gro was being held in the police station.
awaiting further naturalization. As soon
as he was partially Identified, Captain
Moseley, an uncle Of Miss Adamson. drew
his revolver and fired three shots at the
negro. only one OF the shots doing any
damage. however.
The negro broke away. from the men
who were holding him. sprang through
window. and made for the river. where he
concealed himself IN the water until he
was dragged out and again taken TO the
prison
The crime for which the negro was
lynched was attempted in the heart OF
Rome at O'Clock last Monday evening.
The negro was caught by the detectives
a. o'clock yesterday. and taken TO the
city prison. where he was identified by
AIRS. Burns, who had seen him rushing
away from the scene OF his attempted
crime
It was then that Captain Moseley fired
AZ him. and he escaped He was soon re-
captured. and taken 70 the county jail
from which he was taken by the mob
and lynched-
Miss Blossom Adamson IS. the daughter
OF y. j.. AdamsOn. a well known Rome
man, who travels for Boston shoe
house. She IS the niece Of Hon. SeabOrn.
Wright. member OF the legislature from
Floyd county Miss AdamsOn. who is the
youngest Of I'VE daughters. is fifteen
.
freshman class Of Shorter college. The
Adamson family Is one OF the most prom
fnent IN this section of the state and
all the girls are remarkably pretty.
About O'Clock Monday afternoon Miss
Adamson was walking on East First
street. about block and a half from her
house. She was accOsted BY Alien, who
told her that dressmalIer I'm a nearby
house wished 70 see her. The negro point
ed out the house. and the young lady,
suspecting nothing, Immediately entered,
not knowing the negro was following her.
she saw that the first room OF the house
vas vacant and started 20 leave. The ne
-. told her rhat~fhe l.. r>-she wished 60
sc her was III the back OF the house. and
thither the young lady went. followed BY
the negro
she saw that there was no one in the
house, became frightened and tried TO
leave but the negro seized her about the
throat and chOlzed her.
The blood rushed from the Eoung ladies'
nose and ears. but she rOuEnJ desperately
20 protect herseir from the clutches OF
the brute.
she fought and screamed until her
strength gave way. and she became in
sensible.
Mrs. Burns. who lives nearby. heard the
girls screams. and started 10 the house.
Allen heard her approaching and seized
Mss AdamsOn's purse and fed He was
49, 49, a
As soon as she was able Miss Adamson
went, to the home OF her uncle, Captain
A 81 s. Moseley, and told him OF the at
tempted assault He summoned a few OF
his close friends. II was decided that
nothing could be done IL the affair was
made pubic, and 50 only a few OF the city
Detectives were told They and Captain
Moseley and his friends began a search,
which resulted in the capture OF the negro
at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
He was taken 70 the county jail and
Mrs Burns Immediately identified him as
the negro she had seen running away
from the scene OF the crime.
Allen strenuously denied his guilt and
claimed that be knew nothing Of the
crime.
Captain Moseley drew his revolver and
fred three shots at the negro. only one
Of which struck him.
Allen broke away from the men holding
him and sprang through an open window
and made wild dash for the river. All
present began a pursuit through the
streets OF the city.
He reached the oostanaula river and
sprang into the water. He was ished out
and hurried back to the Jail.
The news OF the capture OF the negro
and his crime spread like wild fire and
word was passed around that he was TO
Re lynched- By the time the negro reach
ed the Jail there were already several
hundred people there and more were COM
ing up at every moment.
Every gun and pistol in Rome was
pressed into service and 81 least a thou
sand people surrounded the Jail. clamOring
for the nesro's life
Not one Of the men wore a mask and no
effort was made at concealment.
Mrs. Burns. who had seen the negro as
ne dashed away from the scene OF the
crime. positively identified him as the
negro.
The mob was then formed and marched
10 the Jail IN a quiet, orderly fashion.
They demanded the keys TO the Jail from
the Tailor. but they were refused.
Then a sledEe hammer was brought into
play and the doors Of the Jail battered
n and the steel bars 10 the cage in which
the negro had been placed were broken
away and the negro dragged out.
He was taken several blocks from the
tail 20 a telegraph pole in front OF the
Central hotel, in the very heart Of the
town. where he was strung up 10 the
Then a fusTlade Of bullets was fired
into the body and the mob dispersed
Allen. who was -aiter at the Arm
strong hotel. protested hissinnOcence and
said that he hoped the right negro would
be caught and hanged. There seemed to
be little doubt. however, ut that he was
the right man. as Mrs. Burns positively
identified him.
The mutilated body Of Allen still swung
10 a cross beam OF an electric light pole on
Broad street at s o'clock this morning.
rrhe pole was in the center OF the street
crossed hy Fifth avenue
Hundreds OF public school children look
I'd at the grewsome sight and saw the
shattered body and the pole dyed with
the mans blood
Scores Of ladies going 20 work and 9TH
ers doing early morning shopping beheld
the object swaying in the air The body
was 40 feet high and could be seen for six
blocks away Great crowds OF curious
PEOPLE gazed at the dead man as he was
suspended in the air
school children OF all ages were attract
ed by the awful sight and forgot about
their hours al books