The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-29
AWFUL PUNISHMENT
MISSISSIPPI THE SCENE OF A
PLANNED HORROR
NEGRO BURNED AT THE STAKE.
HAD ALREADY CONFESSED CRIME
WITH WHICH CHARGED.


Spread Like WiIdfre and Hun
dreds Came From Surrounding
Country to Witness the GruesOmc
Punishment Melted Out to the Self
Acknowledged Murderer and Rap
tst-BcfOre the End He Confessed
TO Several other Capital Crimes.
Corinth, Miss. Sept. 28.-Writhing in
the flames of fagots piled high by hun
dreds of citizens. Tom Clark. alias VIII
Gibson, a young negro, was burned at
the stake here at late hour to-day.
Clark had confessed to one of the most
atrocious assaults and murders in the
history of mississippi, and said that he
deserved his awful fate.
On Aug. 10, last. Mrs. Carrie Whit
field, the wife of a we'll known citizen,
was found dead in her home. Investi-
cation showed that the lady had been
assaulted. Her head was practically
severed from her body. Both Whitfield
and his wife were related to several of
the most prominent families in the
South and the indignation of the peo-
pie knew no bounds. Corinth and the
surrounding country were secured in
an effort to apprehend the murderer,
but diligept search failed to disclose
his identity. Two detectives from Chi
cago were employed, but their efforts
were fruitless. Several suspects were
arrested, but in each case an alibi was
proven. A committee of twelve citizens
were named to continue the search for
the murderer, and these men have been
very active in their work
On Monday, last, 1t became known
that Tom Clark, a negro living near
here had had trouble with his wife, and
the latter threatened to disclose the
secret of a crime. officers apprehended
the woman and she told enough to war
rant the belief that Clark had MUIR
dered Mrs. Whitfield. Clark was ar
rested and on yesterday was brought
before the committee of twelve in Cor
NTH. 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 perpetratcd by hirfi-
self upon a negro woman and also Of
Tic lllcII u 0IfoUU ITOTH a physician at
French Camp, Miss. Clark said that he
had never been suspected of having
committed any of these crimes and had
covered UP his tracks In way to de-
ceive the officers of the law.
After hearing the confession the COM
mittee decided that the negro should
be hanged from a telegraph pole in
the street.
Clark said he deserved death but
aGkGd that fhH ha
until to-day so he could have a fare
we'll interview with his mother and
brother. who lived in Memphis. This
request was granted and the two rela-
tfves were telegraphed for, but it was
learned that they were in Mississippi.
Meanwhile the news of the negroes
arrest and confession spread rapidly
over the surrounding country and to-
days incoming trains brought hun
dreds of people into the city to wit
ness the execution. The crowds be-
came so great that at midday the nam
street of the town was ordered cleared,
and the announcement was made that
1t had been decided to burn Clark at
$3.50 O'Clock in the afternoon. This
statement caused much excitement and
surging crowds of people began to
gather about the place selected for the
enactment of the awful tragedy. At
o'clock pine fagots and larger pieces
of wood were carefully laid about an
iron rod, which was driven deep into
the ground. Half an hour later 1t
was announced that all was in readi-
ness.
At o'clock the prisoner, heavily
manacled, was taken from the jail by
posse of armed men, and, followed
by large crowd. was led to the east
gate Of the negro cemetery, which Is
situated in the western part of the
81 LNner 3d. L.
high around the stake and the negro
was securely fastened to the iron rod.
Clark was asked If he cared TO make
statement. He again said that he de-
served the fate prepared for him, and
asked that a. letter be delivered to his
mother and brother. He appealed to
his brother to raise his children prop
erly, admonishing them to beware of
evil companions. Finally, the word was
given to fire the funereal pile. The
husband and brother of Clark's victim
stepped forward and applied torches,
and in a moment the flames leaped up
ward, enveloping the trembling negro
in smoke and fire. The clothing of the
negro was soon ignited, and as the
flames grew hotter his skin began to
parch. The negro moaned piteously at
this juncture and the agonized look
upon his face told of the torture he
was undergoing. Finally his head fell
forward upon his breast and in a few
he was dead. The flames were
fed by the crowd until the body was
burned to crisp. Then the gathering
dispersed in an orderly manner, and
the town soon assumed its normally
quiet condition.
The committee of twelve and many
of the representative citizens OF
Corinth vigorously opposed burning tile
negro, and argued that he should be
hanged.
J. II. Henning OF Birmingham. Ala,
brother Of Mrs. Whitfield, would not
TO this proposition. and in
sisted that Clark should be burned,
More than 5000 persons witnessed the
tragedy among whom were
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