Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-12-02
HANGED BY FARMERS
A NEGRO LYNCHED IN INDIANA.
DESPITE GOVERNOR.
Mob Hrrries Its Plan When che
Troops Are Called Takes Prisoner
from Sheriff and Before Women yfc-
tims-victim Protests Innocence.

Indiana farmers, armed and angry nnG
refusing to heed l,iteous appeals for lner
cy, lynched James billiard Thursday
night in spite of the efforts of Sheriff
Dudley and Governor Durbin to protect
the negro captive The mob hanged hire
on a telegraph pole near John Lemons
farm, ten miles from Sullivan, in nnos
County.
Previous to his execution by the moi
billiard had been identified by Mrs. Mary
Davis, of Sullivan County, wife of Milton
Davis, and Mrs. Lemon as the man who
attacked them the previous Tuesday.
Both women are still in critical condi-
ton as a result of injuries inflicted BIS
the negro.
The attacks on Mrs. Davis and Mrs,
Lemon aroused the entire region for miles
surrounding their homes. Men and boys
swore to be avenged if the perpetrator
could be captured Posses were organ
lied and the poles Of many towns and
the sheriffs of all nearby counties
were asked to join in the man hunt.
Negro Arrested in Illinois.
billiard was arrested Wednesday at
Lawrenceville, H., after fight with the
town marshal, in which the negro wa:
shot three times. News of his capture
and of the suspicion that he was the
assailant of Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Lemon
spread rapidly and at once rumorS OF j
prospective lynching arose. In order T.
protect billiard better the marshal 81
Lawrenceville, took him to Robinson, Ill
John Lemon was informed of the cap
ture and he hurried to Robinson. Hs
identified the prisoner as the perpetratoi
of the assaults in Indiana.
Sheriff Dudley, of Sullivan, went I'd
Robinson, secured the prisoner and with
several deputies to assist brought him
TO-. Sullivan Thursday afternoon. The
sheriff made an attempt to steal int
town without, the knowledge of the citi'
zens. But the angry farmers were on
guard at every conceivable spot. HalS
a hundred determined men with revoNers
in pockets or shotguns in hand awaited
the sheriff's return and they discovered
the sheriff the moment he reached town
with the prisoner,
Mob Seizes and Beats Prisoner.
Sheriff Dudley and the negro, accom-
panied by the deputies, came back in 4
wagon. AS Dudley drove up to the jail
the members of t'ae mob ran from hiding
places and overpewered the officers. Thu
deputies offered resistance, but were com
PEELED to release the negro. DillarO
begged for mercy. The mob beat him
over the head with revolvers.
billiard was dragged into the main
street of Sullivan and thrown into {
wagon. The mob then followed after
the wagon and he was taken to the home
Of Mrs. Davis, where he was identified
Then the mob started with the negro fol
the farm of John Lemon. The mob mean
time had swelled to enormous proper
tions.
Mob Ort~its the Governor.
Soon the mob learned that an appea
had been made to Governor Durbin fol
troops to protect billiard. 1t also learned
that the Governor had ordered Captain
Mccoy, with Company A of the State
guard, to leave Fincennes by specia
train and intercept the mob at some point
between Carlisle and Oaktown. At once
the mob took means to thwart the Coy.
ernor's order. The leaders with the
prisoner dashed their horses and drove
TO Lemons home by a route that avoided
the railroad
1t took some time to get the militia
men together and more to prepare a spe
cial train. Meanwhile the mob drove thu
ten miles to Lemons, secured the iden
tiiication of billiard by Mrs. Lemon, ant
then started back to Sullivan. A mile
from the farm the farmers held a coun
Gil, condemned billiard to death and, III
spite of his pleas for mercy, threw a rope
over pole and jerked him into the air
When he was dead the mob dispersed.
Protests He Is Innocent.
Before his execution billiard was asked
if he wished to make any disposition Of
his body.
Eyes, 1 want it sent to my mother
Mrs. Anna Bursh, 14th street, Indian
apoljs," was the reply. II die an limo
cent man and hope you won't beat me
with clubs or shoot me-"
The leaders of the mob assured billiard
they would not torture him.
'Then ! srl ready to go to my maker
he said without tremor in his voice o.
the least sign of fear He muttered o
prayer as the crowd dresv him up.
News of the lynching reached Win.
cennes and the Governors office in In.
dianapolis just as the State troors were
taking a train. The Governor then coun.
tcrmanded the order calling out the
troops.