The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-29
BURNED AT The STAKE
MISSISSIPPI NEGRO LYNCHED By A
MOB AT CORINTH.
He Assaulted and Murdered a Woman
on Aug. 10-His Crime Confessed
and other Onenses Admitted.

CORINTH, Miss, Sept 2S-Writhing in
the flames Of burning fagots piled high by
hundreds of citizens, Tom Clark. alias Will
Gibson. young negro, was burned at the
stake here late to-day. after having con-
the history Of north Mississippi, the assault
and murder of Mrs. Carey Whitfield on
Aug. 10 last. Before the torch was applied
Clark stated that he deserved his fearful
fate.
Last August Mrs. Whitfield. the wife of
a well-known citizen, was found dead in
her home. Investigation showed that the
woman had been assaulted and her head
was practically severed from her body.
razor having been used in the bloody work.
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 sur
rounding country was secured in an effort
to apprehend the murderer. but diligent
search failed to disclose his identity. Two
detectives from Chicago were employed,
but their efforts were fruitless. Several
suspects were arrested, but in each case
an alibi was proved. committee of twelve
citizens was 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, 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 warrant the belief
that Clark had murdered Mrs. Whitfield.
Clark was arrested and on yesterday was
brought before the committee of twelve in
murder and also told of other crimes that
he had committed. He said that several
years ago he killed two men on an excur-
sion train in Mississippi. He told of an
outrage perpetrated by himself on negro
woman and also of the theft of 1900 from
physician at French Camp, Miss Clark
hitting any Of these crimes and had COW
cred up his tracks in a way to deceive the
officers of the law.
After hearing the confession the commit
tee decided that the negro should be
hanged from telegraph pole in the street.
Clark said he deserved death. but asked
that the execution be delayed until to-day,
so that he could have farewell interview
with his mother and brother, who lived in
Memphis. The request was granted and
the two relatives were telegraphed for, but
II was learned that they were In Missis-
siMgR a,nwb,,e the new, Of the nsvro.s .rrs.,
and confession spread rapidly over the sur
rounding country, and to-day incoming
trains brought hundreds of people into the
city to witness the execution. The crowds
became so great that at midday the main
4
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 Sc
! lected for the enactment of the awful
| tragedy.
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.
ha nriSn hno xrflx
| acled, was taken from the jail by posse
| of armed men. followed by large and ex-
cited crowd Of men and boys, and led
to the east side 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 Clark
was asked If he cared to make state
ment. He again said that he deserved
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 properly, admonishing
them to beware of evil companions
| Finally all was in readiness and the word
was given to fire the funeral pile The hus-
band and brother of Clark's victim stepped
forward and applied torches and in mo-
ment the flames leaped upward. envelopins
| 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
piteously at this juncture and the agonizing
| look upon his face told of the awful torture
he was undergoing. Finally his head fell
| forward upon his breast and in a few min
| utes all was over. The flames were fed by
| the crowd until the body was burned to a
crisp. Then the gathering. in an orderly
| manner, dispersed and the town assumed
| its normal condition.
| The committee of twelve and many of the
| representative citizens of Corinth vigor-
| ously opposed burning the negro and ar
| gued that he should be hanged ]. H. Hen
| ming. of Birmingham, Ala, brother of Miss
| Whitfield. would not consent to this propo-
| sition. and insisted that Clark should be
burned. More than 5000 people
| the grewsome tragedy, among whom were
| many women and children.