The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-23
Eyes Burned Out by Red FOt
Timbers
PARTS OF BODY TORN OFF
The Writhing Victim Begged Piteously
to Be Shot, But Crowd Continued
Barbarous Work Until Death
Gave Him Relief.

Longview, Tex, May 22.-The culmina-
ton of man-hunt which has been in
progress since last Saturday was reached
today WREN Dudley Morgan, eolored. VINO
assaulted Mrs. Mckee, wife of Texas
and Pacific foreman at Lansing, Tex,
was burned at the stake. When 1t was
learned that the negro had been cap
tured and was being taken to Lansing
for Identification the excitement of the
people knew no bourds.
BY II o'clock this morning great
throngs had gathered at the Lansing
switch. and looking over the ground de-
cided to make arrangements to burn the
negro about quarter of the way on the
county road A better place could not
have been selected for the convenience
of the crowd which witnessed the burn
ing for 1t was an open place, smooth and
covered with grass. hedged in with high
trees making an opening some 200 yards
wide and 300 yards long The trees were
literally lined with people an hour before
the negro arrived. Just after II o'clock
the train bringing the negro and his cap
tors arrived in Marshall and was met
there by a great crowd of people. Many
more boarded the train at Hallville and
when 1t arrived at Lansing every avail
able place on it was occupied Waiting
at Lansing was another large crowd
from Longview and the surrounding
country.
Winchesters Stopped the Train.
The negro was not taken from the
train on the side on which the crowd ex-
pected, and when the engineer started
to pull out several WincheGters were
levelled at him and others of the crew.
They were told If they moved the train
an inch they would all be killed. The
mistake was soon detected, and the train
moved away. The prisoner was taken to
the section house. which stands close to
the track, and identified by Mrs. Mckee
and several negroes who worked on the
section with Morgan. Mrs. Mckee told
them they had the right man and the ne
gro was escorted by about 200 men. armed
with Winchesters. to the place OF execu-
ton AS he was chained to the stake he
said he desired to make a statement. The
crowd surged around him, and those in
charge tried in vain to make them stand
back and keep quiet while the negro
talked. The negro made statement, In
which he implicated another negro.
named Franklin Heard, saying ne
OHeard) was to get part of the money
which was to be stolen.
Morgan confessed to having committed
the crime, and after being securely
chained to the stake. or rail. with his
..f flaea
mob began to take ties from fire al
ready started and burn out his eyes. They
then held the red hot and burning tim
bers to his neck, and after burning his
clothes off tore off parts of his body. The
negro screamed in agony He was tor
tured in a slow and painful manner. with
the crowd clamoring continually for AZ
slow death, and the negro writhing and
groaning, begged piteously to be shot.
Woman Brought to the Scene.
Mrs Mckee was brought to the scene in
a carriage, accompanied by four other
women, and effort made to get the
carriage close enough for her to see the
negro. The crowd was so dense. however,
that it was impossible. Persons held each
oSner on their shoulders. taking turn
about looking at the awful sight. The ne1
groe's head finally dropped and ties were
piled around and over him. In half am
hour only the trunk of the negro re-
NAMED AS soon as the heat would per-
init the crowd with long sticks began a
gruesome search for relics. Parts of his
skull and body were gathered up by some
and carried away. AS the fire died down,
the crowd took the two men who first
caught the negro and held them up over
their heads, while they held their VIM
che tters in their hands and were photos
graphed.
From the time the first match was aps
piled to the negros body until the dying
embers alone were left, the crowd yelled
and cheered for the men who had chased
the negro.
Section Foreman Mckee, husband of the
woman assaulted applied the match "a
the faggots. Many women were present.
from the surrounding country, but owing
to the great crush they had very little
opportunity to see the negro until the
heat forced the crowd to widen the circle
and the flames leaped over him.
The railroads brought crowds of pappla
to Iongview Junction where they board
ed ~e Texas and Pacific train which does
not ordinarily stop at Lansing. The en-
gineer was forced at the point of Win
chester to stop at the scene of the lynch
ing, however, and the mob disembarked
Without further trouble.
Packers Obey Injunction.