Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-03
In THE HEART OF ROME
NEGRO WAS LYNCHED

body at SIS this morning from its position
where ii had hung exactly u hours to the
min1.e. IL was the most horrible sight
ever seen i'm Rome.
The coroner empanelied a jury and they
rendered a verdict that Walter Allen came
TO his death at the hands of a mob un-
known TO them. The corpse will be turned
over TO the relatives or else buried in the
paupers' field.
Mayor Hiles issued an order last night
to Captains Williamson and Hamilton, of
the military companies here, asking that
they call out the troops to protect the
prisoner. The order was not signed, but
given TO justice of the peace to serve at
S o'clock.
But the prisoner was in the hands OF the
mob and they were crying Hang hin"
xii him. Lynch him"
Judge Henry, of the superior court,
Mayor Hiles and Hon. Seaborn Wright
consulted together over the situation with
Sheriff Ed Camp at 6 o'clock last night.
The governor was called up in Atlanta
over the telephone. But their combined
efforts could not check the fury OF 1000
people determined to take Aliens life.
II developed this morning Allen had
been suspected by the police for several
weeks OF attempting similar offenses in
connection with young girls here.
The detectives are positive Allen is the
4
against whom complaints had been made.
Mrs Berhns' identification was COM
plete. She had known the negro some
time.
Two large placards were posted on poles
near the negrO's body, bearing these SUI
prescriptions: Thus they die who mis-
treat our women" and s'AIl IDLE negroes
are ordered to leave town Immediately"
The work Of the mob was so rigid the
officers were powerless to check it. The
mob cheered time and time again when
the negro was dragged from the jail hat
less and shoeless.
They carried him bodily two blocks.
shouting and hurrahing. Thousands lined
the streets and shouted. XIII him." The
impetuosity OF the mob carried all before
IL. They halted under the electric light
in front of the Central hotel and permit
ted the man to speak. Allen protested his
innocence in a firm voice and was the
coolest in the crowd. The crowd was
augmented and dozens went upon bal
comics near so as to obtain a good view
OF the execution. a rope was tied TO his
neck and a man climbed to the top Of
I the pole forty feet. TO the cross beam and
threw the rope over It.
There the mob cried: up with him;
all heve."
The body shot into air perfectly mo-
tionless.
A moment later tnOuSauu guns WNAS
pouring lead into Aliens body.
Tney continued for 20 minutes TO shoot
with every known weapon, and the bull
lets would swing the suspended body as
trembling leaves before a wind.
The bullets cut into a large telephone
cable and cut the wire like pipe stems
The street was a living, moving mass Of
humanity.
They left Allen swinging I'm Jfnidair and
placed a lantern just in front Of his face
TO renHbIe the curious 70 see his counte-
nance well. though an arc, light burned
just above him.
Hundreds OF colored people viewed the
body this morning. They had little or no
comment to make and were very orderly.
A dozen cameras photographed Allen
hanging from the beam this morning.
The young lady is in very precarious
condition today. though 1t is thought she
will recover. Physicians are uneasy about
her and fear her reason may be destroyed.
The city is orderly today and every one
is at work as usual. No disturbances are
contemplated.