Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-06-25
BURNED AT A STAKE
A Northern Mob's Vengeance on a
Negro Murderer.
WILMINGTON WORKHOUSE SIORNED.


Wilmington, Del, June 23.-A
northern mob led by q Virginian
burned negro at the stake last
night within few miles of Mason
and Dixon's line. The victim was
George +. White, a negro just out
of the workhouse, who was accused
Of having feloniously assaulted and
stabbed to death Miss Helen s.
Bishop, the 17-year-old daughter of
Rev. DR.. E. A. Bishop. The crime OF
the negro was committed last Mon
day afternoon and ever since then
there have been mutterings about
lynching the man. An effort was
made Sunday night to get White, but
it failed. Last night, however, as q
result of the laws slowness and
much agitation on the part of those
who cried for vengeance, q mob, that
was estimated at 1000 men and boys,
gathered In the neighborhood OF
Prices Corner, four miles from here.
They came from everywhere, includ-
ing Wilmington and the small towns
to the south of Prices Corner. Sun.
day nights lack of a leader was sup
piled by a Virginian, whose identity
In the confusion and excitement could
not be learned. The police of Will
mington and the constables tried to
dispense the growing crowd, but
without avail.
1t was after ten o'clock when the
march to the workhouse, q mile
away, was taken up. The chief war
den of the workhouse and his guards,
who have been almost constantly on
duty since the negro was landed In
the prison, had been warned OF the
coming of the mob and prepared to
defend the man at all costs. Armed
with pistols, shotguns and other
weapons the mob soon reached the
jail. A battery Of railroad ties soon
carried away the great outer door
of the workshop. What was going
on inside the lookup was not known
to the mob, nor did 1t seem to care.
The second, third and fourth doors
were battered down by the forward
leaders Of the attacking party amid
the yells and cheers of those who
were pressing forward from the rear.
Then the would-be lynchers were mo-
mentarily halted by q hail of bullets
from the jail. In the fusillade four
persons fell, all members of the mob.
They were quickly carried to the
rear and attended by those who were
not brave enough to be at the front.
It Is evident the warden did not
wish to slaughter the mob In the
prison corridor, so he directed that
the fire hose be turned on the
crowd. This also held the mob for
a while, but general rush was made
and the guards were brushed aside.
There were many negroes confined In
the prison, but with the aid Of man
who knew White he was quickly
found. His cell door was battered
open and the covering and accused
man, begging for mercy, was dragged
from the cell and the prison.
When the crowd outside heard that
success had crowned the efforts OF
the lynchers a great cheer was set
up. Attempts were made to shoot
white on the spot, but the leaders
Of the crowd would have nothing but
his life at the stake. Resistance on
the part Of the negro was useless
and his hands were tied behind him.
Then the march to the place of exc
cution, Just as though II was march
to the gallows in prison. was taken
up.
II then became evident that plan
Of execution had been previously ar
ranged, but who the planners were Is
not known at this writing. With
torches to lead the way and with
1000 persons following the negro. he
was led to the road and TO almost
the very spot where the assault took
Mace. white was given last chance
10 speak. and he confessed TO the
murder Of the girl A stake had been
arranged by an advance guard
white was quickly chained 70 the
post and the dry underbrush soaked
with oil was ignited and the horri-
BILE execution was on. White, suf-
ferinR intense agony, tainted and his
body hung limp. Shots were hred
into his body and the victim Of the
mob WA soon dead. Satisfied With
their nights work. the greater num-
her Of the lynchers left the neigh
borhood. many Of them fearing ar