Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-29
BURN BRUTEAT STAKE
Horrible Fate of a Negro Muir
derer in Missis-
sippi.
YET SAID HE DESERVED IT
Tom Clark, alias Will Gibson, Pays
Penalty for Atrocious
Crime.

Corinth, Miss, Sept 29.-Writhing
in the flames of burning fagots. piled
high by hundreds of citizens, Tom
Clark. alias VIII Gibson, a young ne
gro, was burned at the stake here at
late hour yesterday. after having
confessed to one of the most atrociouS
crimes in the history of North AIissis-
sippi, the assault and murder of Mrs.
Carey Whitfield on Aug. 10 last Be
fore 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 be"H assaulted. and
her head was practically severed from
her body, a razor having been used in
the bloody work. The Indignation of
the people knew no bounds.
Betrayed by His Wife.
After long and fruitIess search a
committee of twelve citizens was
named to continue the hunt for the
murderer, and these men have been
very active in their work. On Mon
day last it became known that Tom
Clark, a negro living near here, had
had trouble with his wife, and the lat
ter threatened to disclose the secret of
Il 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 of
twelve in COrinth. The negro finally
confessed 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.
Committee Usurps Courts Place.
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 asked that the execution be
delayed until yesterday so that he
could have a farewell interview with
his mother and brother who lived in
Memphis. The request was granted.
and the two relatives were telegraphed
for. Meanwhile the news of the ne
gro'S arrest and confession spread rap
idly over the surrounding country, and
yesterdays incoming trains brought
hundreds of people into the city to
witness the lynching.
Roasted the Brute.
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 3:30 p. N. 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 , p. m. 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 3 o'clock the prisoner, heavily
was taken from the Jail by
Il 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. Fag-
gots 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
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
arly, admonishing them to beware of
evil company. Finally all was in
readiness and the word was given to
fire the funeral pile.
Victims Relatives Apply Torch
The husband and brother of CIark's
victim stepped forward and applied
torches, and in a moment the flames
eaped upward, enveloping the trem-
bling negro in smoke and fire. The
clothing of the doomed man was soon
gnited, and as the flames grew hot
er the skin began to parch. The ne
gro moaned piteously at this juncture,
md the agonized look upon his face
old of the awful torture he was un-
lergoing. Finally his head fell for
ward upon his breast. and in few
minutes all was over The flames We're
ed by the crowd until the body was
burned to crisp. Then the mob dis
Iersed and the town soon assumed its