The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-26
Taken from the Sheriff, Strung to n
Telegraph Pole and the Body
RiddIed with Bullets.
ACCUSED OF BRUTAL CRIME
ALLEGED TO HAVE CRIMINALLY AS
sAULTED AN AGED WOMAN.
Mrs. Henrietta Miller, n Traveller, His
Vfctim-WalIace Hanged While
Protesting Innocence.

LA JUNTA, Col, March 25.-Washington
H Wallace, a negro sleeping car porter,
was lynched at s o'clock tonight in cor
ner of the courthouse square. being hung
to an electric light pole by bowling mob
Of 1000 people who had been hunting for
him all day. After the hanging the body
of the negro was riddled with bullets. Wal
lace had been kept out of town all day by
Sheriff Farr in attempt TO save him
from the mob. The prisoner made no re-
sistance 10 the lynching and died protesting
his innocence.
wallace's crime was brutal. Mrs. Hen
rietta Miller, a resident of Los Angeles,
Cal, seventy-six years of age. was as
saulted by a negro in the railroad yards
here early to-day and is suffering severely
from the injuries received and the shock
to her nerves. She was travelling TO Denver
10 visit relatives and left the Santa Fe
Chicago limited train here to change cars
She asked a Pullman car porter to show
her TO the car which she should take He
started through the railroad yards with
her and struck her on the head. she says
with his fist, rendering her insensibe. She
was then criminally assaulted and left un-
conscious in the yards. When she re-
gained her senses she dragged herself to
the depot and reported the circumstances
The Chicago train had not yet left, and
w II. Wallace, Pullman porter, was
Immediately arrested He had just been
washing his clothing. Boodhounds were
put on the trail made in the yards of the
person who accompanied Mrs. Miller and
they led to the car in which Wallace was
found Mrs. Miller identified Wallace as
her assailant.
Wallace was placed in the custody of
Sheriff Farr. who. fearing a lynching. de-
cided to take his prisoner to Pueblo When
his intention became known. however, the
railroad employees declared that he could
not travel by rail- as they would refuse TO
operate the train out of La Junta with
Wallace on board. The sheriff placed his
prisoner in carriage and started for Sugar
City on the Missouri Pacific. thirty miles
north. At that place he was too late to
catch the train for Pueblo and then decided
TO drive through. Meantime an armed par
~ had left La Junta to overtake the sheriff
and prisoner. The carriage was finally
overtaken at Patterson Hollow. midway
between Rocky Ford and Manzanola
Sheriff Farr made no resistance and Wal
lace did not ask for mercy The carriage
was turned back toward La Junta Passing
through Rocky Ford the mob was joined by
500 men of that town.
Ia Junta was reached about Z O'Clock.
where thousands of men. women and chill
dren many from the surrounding country
awaited them. A peace element endeav-
ored TO stop the proposed lynchine. and a
committee consisting Of Robert Patterson
banker, DR.. Fleming, Charles Dearborn
county treasurer, and other prominent citi-
zens asked the privilege of trying TO get
from Wallace a confession. This was
granted and the negro was taken into the
courthouse. After half an hour or so the
word went out that the courthouse doors
were locked and that the committee would
try TO prevent lynching Immediately
pandemonium reigned- Stones We're hurled
at the building until every window was
broken. Then. with a telegraph pole for
a battering ram. the crowd broke in the
doors and Wallace taken out Mavor
Fred A. Saoin made speech 10 the crowd
counseling them 20 let the law take it's
own course. He was listened TO. but as
soon as he finished the crowd moved down
the street. dragging the negro by a rope.
boy was sent up telegraph pole with
a rope IL was thrown over the cross bar
and then dropped into the crowd A hun
dred hands grasped IL and in an instant
the negro was in the air Hardly had the
boy climbed out OF danger when hundreds