The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-10-25
BODY RIDDLED
WITH BULLETS
WHEN MILITIA FROM ATLANTA
ARRIVED THEY FOUND BODY
SWAYING.
Mrs. Henry Dees, the Victim, of the
Young Negro, is Now Reported to
Be in Critical Condition.

Tailapoosa, Ga. October 24.-Ben
Brown. 16-yearold negro, was lyncn-
ed here tonight for assaulting Mrs.
Henry Dees
The negro was hanged from the
iron bridge whicn spans the Tallapoo-
sa river and his body riddled with bull
lets.
The troops sent here by Governor
Gambler arrived too late as the negro
had been lynched some time when
their train reached here.
About noon Ben Brown stepped .
the home of Mrs. Henry Dees, three
miles out, and asked for something to
eat. He tnen assaulted the woman,
choking and threatening to kill her.
Her outcry aroused the nearest neigh
Dor and the negro fed, but was run
down by John Williams Bently and j.
G. Gay. who brought him to Taila-
poosa WITH a rope around his neck at
1 o'clock and placed him in the calar
boose barely in time to save him from
armed pursuers.
| Another band with rifles and shot
guns soon followed. headed by Caleb
Smith, Mrs. Dees father determined
on having the negro.
Mayor Hutchns,, Rev Mr. Shankle
and the best citizens counseied order.
The mayor telephoned Judge Jones
and secured a promise tnat he would
convene court next Monday to try the
negro. On the strength of this pledge
Smith calm down and went home. but
later he returned with greater
crowd, announcing that Mrs. Dees
was hardly expected live.
Mayor Hutchcns had previously
wired the governor for troops, antici-
pating the inevitable The troops were
promised, but failed to arrive by the
first train, although the train was held
one hour at Atlanta.
Sheriff Shelnut, from Buchanan, did
not arrive on the scene till nearly
dark.
Ropes and cartridges were openly
purchased and at 1880 the mob march
ed, broke down the calaboose door,
seized the negro and rushed him to
the scene of the crime. The sheriff
was in front of the book store when.
the mob smashed the door down. NCE
a shot was fired during the entire at
tack on the calaboose.
The negro admitted his guilt from
the first The mob, however. took
him into the presence of his victim,
VINO identified him unhesitatingly.
The negro was then carried to the big
iron bridge spanning the Taliapoosa
river a rope was thrown over one of
the high cross beams. a noose placed
around mis- neck and in another mo,
ment the body was dangling in space,
and soon thereafter riddled with shot
and ball and left swinging.
The next train brought a company
of soldiers from Atlanta, under com
mand of Captain Burton Smith. The
train was rushed on by Conductor
Waite, who stopped it at the river,
hoping hat the troops might arrive
in time to prevent the lynching, but
tney were just few minutes too late
to prevent the execution,
The victim displayed wonderful
stolidity. The only words that es-
capped his lips as he was about being
swung up were, my God, have mercy
on my poor SOUL"
The mob soon dispersed. The sol
diers had to march back to the city,
where they are quartered tonight.
This is the first lynching that has ever
occurred in this vicinity and the citi-
zens profoundly regret it.