Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-10-02

ASSAULTED AND MuRDERED-AL
MOST DEcAPITATED WITH
RAZOR.
SAYS he DtStRVlD THE FATE
QUARREL WITH HIS WIFE LEADS
SUSPICION TO THE
NEGRO.

Corlnth, Miss, Sept. 30.-Writhing
In the flames of burning fagots piled
high by hundreds of citizens, Tom
Clark. alias Will Gibson, a young ne
gro, was burned at the stake here
early yesterday, after having con-
fessed to n of the most atrocious
crimes in the history Of Northern Mis-
sissippi, the assault on and murder of
Mrs. Carrie Whitfield, on Aug. 10 last.
Before the torch vas applied Clark
stated that he deserved his 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, a razor having been used in
the bloody work. Both Whitfield and
his wife were related to several of the
most prominent families of the South,
and the indignation of the p~opulace
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.
A 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 it became known that Tom Clark,
a negro living near here, had had trou-
Bile with his wife, and the latter threat
ened to disclose the secret of a crime.
Officers apprehended the woman, and
she told the officers of her belief that
Clark had murdered Mrs. Whitfield.
Clark was arrested ard brought be-
fore the committee of twelve i'll Cor
NTH. The negro finally confessed to
the murder and to a number of other
crimes that he had committed. He
said that several years ago he killed
two men on an excursion train in Mis-
sissippi. He told of an outrage per-
petrated by himself upon a negro
woman, and also of the theft of $1,000
from a physician at French Camp,
Miss. After hearing the confession
! the committee 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 de-
layed so that he could have a fare
we'll interview with his mother and
brother, who live in Memphis. The
request was granted and the two rela-
tives we're telegraphed for, but 1t was
learned that they were in Mississippi.
Meanwhile the news of the negro's ar
rest and confession spread rapidly
over the surrounding country, and yes
terday's 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 main
street of the town was ordered cleared
and the announcement was made that
il had been decided to burn Clark at
$3.50 o'clock in the afternoon.
At 3 O'Clock the prisoner, heavily
manacIed, was taken from the jail by
a police officer, and, followed by a
large and excited crowd OF men and
boys. was led to the east gate of h
negro cemetery, which is situated in
the western part of the city. Fagots
and wood had been piled high
Around the Stake
and the negro was securely fastened TO
the iron rod. Clark was asked II he
cared to make a statement. he again
said that he deserved the fate pro-
posed for him, and asked that a letter
he delivered to his mother and broth
er. He appealed to his brother to
care for his children properly, n adj
monished them to beware of evil com
many. Finally all was in readiness
and the word was given to fire the tu-
neral pile. The husband and brother
of Clark's victim stepped forward and
/ applied the torch, and in a moment h
flames leaped upward, e~nveloping h
trembling negro in smoke n hre.
The clothing of the doomed man was
500 ignited, and as the flames grew
hotter the skin began to parch. The
negro moaned ~piteously at this juno
tire. and the agonizing look upon his
face told of the awful torture he was
UNDERGOING. Finally his head fell for
ward upon his breast, and in a few Sec
onds all was over. The flames were
fed by the crowd until the body was
burned to a crisp. The nthe gather
ing in an orderly manner dispersed,
and the town soon assumed its normal