The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-10-09
Two Negroes Hanged at Newbern,
Tenn, Last Night.
One Murdered White Man and the
Other Furnished the Gun
He Used.
APPEALS TO MOB IN VAIN

sengers who arrived on the Mem phis
train at l go O'Clock this morning over
the Illinois Central report a grewsome
scene at Newbern, Tenn, as they
passed through.
The train came to halt and they
noticed a large crowd, and upon leav-
ing the coaches the passengers found
two negroes dangling from telephone
pole in tho middle of the square.
The train remained Pbout ten min
utes and the scene proved novelty
to many Of the passengers, who had
never seen anything Of the kind be-
fore
The victims Of the mob's vengeance
were Garfield Burnley ana Curtis
Brown. They were hanged for the
murder of ID. Flat, son of Henry
Flat, leading farmer.
The men were taken from the jail
At Dyersburg at O'Clock last night.
The mob that surrounded the Jail had
been vainly appealed 20 by the officers
OF the court, by several ministers and
leading citizens. These had been
heard respectfully, and when the APP
peals were done the mob quietly took
the prisoners away. The line OF march
from Dyersburg to Newbern was tax
en- mp shortly after O'Clock. Fully
500 determined men, many Of them
heavily armed, followed the wagon
in which the crcuching prisoners were
placed.
II was $3.50 O'Clock before the head
Of the procession reached the outskirts
Of Newbern. Their coming was hey
aided to the throngs that had assem-
bled on the square and which lined
the principal streets OF the little city
through which the procession was tax.
en-
Burley and Brown sat in the wagon
gazing into the faces of the curious
people that lined the streets. They
looked in vain for signs Of pity or sym
PATTY.
Everything was in readiness when
the prisoners reached the scene.
A block and tackle with ropes had
been adjusted to the pole. The events
preceding the lynohing were few. The
news Of the capture Of the murderers
had been generally disseminated.
People had poured into the town from
every section Of the country. They
crowded in dense masses toward tine
square, which is the confer of the bus
mess portion Of the place.
From the balcony Of the telephone
building which looks over the square
where the crowd had assembled. Cap
tain James T. Gray and the Rev. Nc.
Mutt Of the Baptist church, addressed
the people. Both begged that the law
be allowed to take its course. Their APP
peals were earnest and sincere, but
unavailing. II there must be a lynch.
ing, then, they pleaded, let Burley
be hung. II was he who confe ssed to
firing the shots. Il was urged that
Brown had done nothing to merit
death, and the courts would punish
him amply for the part he had played
in the tragedy.
Burley and Brown were led to the
foot of the fatal telephone pole.
Standing on platform that lifted
them above the heads Of the crowd,
the wretohes looked their last upon
earth. They were asked If they had
any remarks to make.
Burley said that he had fired two Of
the shots at d. Flat, and that will
Burnley, his brother, fred the others.
He said that 1t was his brother who
had killed the young man. He insisted
that he had done nothing for which
he should be hanged, and said that he
was going straight to heaven.
Then Brown spoke. II bought the
cartridges and rented the guns from
the Dyersburg Hardware company,
and give, them to Will and Garfield
Burley," he said. ~ took the mules
which were hitched to rock and car
fed themlto will and Garfield Burley
TO ride in pursuit of d. Flat and his
lrothar I am innonank ~ tha cr;r,a