Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-06-26
SERMON FAVORED LYKCH|KG
DELAWARE MINISTER QUOTED
FROM SCRIPTURE.
Said the Law Was Too Slow-Juoses
to eiame-eeorge White, a Con-
fessed Slayer, Was Burned at the
stake-5oo People Present at the
lynching.

lynching.
wilmington, Del, June 25.-Rev
Robert A. Elwood, pastor OF the olive'
PRESBYTERIAN church, preached a sen
sational sermon on the probable lynch
ing of White. He took his text from
Corinthians Alb: Therefore, put
away from among ourselves that wick
ed person.
In referring to a speedy trial for
the negro, Rev. Elwood said:
81 call your especial attention to that
mart Of the text found in the constitu-
ton in which 1t says: 'In all criminal
prosecutions the accused shall enjoy
the right to speedy and public trial"
"On the day Of this terrible crime
the officers arrested man supposed
to be guilty. He was taken before a
magistrate and held without bail. He
is in Jail and armed guards parading
about for his protection, waiting until
the middle of September. Is that
speedy? Is it even constitutional? Oh,
honorable judges. call the court, estab-
lish a precedent and the girls Of this
state, the wives of the homes and the
mothers of our fireside and our beloved
sisters will not be sorry and neither
will you.
"And honorable judges" he con-
tinued, IF you do not hear and heed
these appeals and that prisoner should
be taken out and lynched, then let me
Gull i1o tfaY, nf
the responsibility of my words, even
as Nathan said to King David of old,
after his soldiers had killed Uriah,
Thou are the man. SO l would say
to you: The responsibility for lynch
ing would be yours for delaying the
execution Of the law.
SHOULD the murderer Of Miss Bishop
be lynched? Yes, but only under one
condition, and that Is this-if his trial
shall be delayed until September and
then, though he be proven guilty,
through some technicality Of the law
or any undue influence upon either
judges or Jury, he be not given capital
punishment, then the citizens Of the
state should arise in their might and
execute the criminal and thus uphold
the majesty of the law"
Tho Lynehing.
All is quiet in this community fol-
lowing the horrible lynching of George
White, Helen Bishops confessed slay-
er. OF the large mob that overpowered
the authorities, stormed the New Cas-
tie county workhouse and dragged
from cell the trembling wretch and
burned him at the stake, the identity
of only one is publicly known. That
person is Peter Smith a boy Of ~
years, who fell when the workhouse
guards fired volley into the ranks
of the attacking mob. The lad, who
was shot in the back, Is seriously
wounded and will probably die.
After the mob had completed its
work of vengeance the body of the
negro ravisher and murderer was left
chained to the stake with the fire
burning all around it and the members
of the lynching party went home.
A rain which began falling later ex-
tinguished the fire. and at daylight the
charred body still hung limp in plain
sight of passersby.
Public sentiment here, SO far as ex-
pressed appears to approve the lynch.
ing of White, and 1t is not believed
there will be any arrests.
Negro Confesses.
Whites confession was made, Just
before the torch was applied to the
pile of oil soaked bushes around him.
He is stated to have said:
81 was sent by Mr.. Woodward to the
cornfeld. saw Mr.. Woodward's
daughter and intended to assault her,
but couple of men came along, and
did not disturb her. Then l saw the
Bishop girl, and l followed her.
seized her and asked her il she had any
money she would give me to let her
go. She gave me 60 cents. Then
again seized her and she cried, Please
don't hurt me- l choked her and &C.
complished my purpose. Then ask
ed her if she was going to tell on me-
She said she was. | gave her hack
in the throat with my knife and asked
again if she was going to inform on
me. She said she was, and then l cut
her throat twice again and LETT her'
After that | went back to Mr.. Woou'
ward and told him there was no water
to drink down there, and he sent NE
somewhere else. | went back at once