The Washington times., 1903-06-23
CLERGYMAN INCITED
MOB TO BURN NEGRO
Delaware Minister Exhibit
ed Blood Stained Leaves.
LEADERS ALTERED AS WOMEN
Authorities Will Investigate Death o.
White, But Radical Action Is
Not Anticipated.

WILMINGTON, Del, June 23.-The
vengeance wreaked upon George S.
White, a negro, by burning him at the
stake last night. for assaulting Helen S.
Bishop. daughter of the Rev. DR.. f. A.
Bishop, leaves this city today q victim
OF it's own contcnding emotions. II is
tho first time that lynch law has OBJ
tanned in the State and the sentiment in
the city over the mob's work is divided.
Many express satisfaction with the
lawless action of the mob. while there
is a strong feeling that the city and
State have been dlsgraced. There will
be an investigation of the causes and
tho deed. but there the matter will prob
ably end.
Mob in a Frenzy.
So strong was the feeling against
White that 1t crystallized last night into
such frenzy of passion that the armed
guards OF the city were powerless to
prevail against it.
Ineited to vengeance by a sermon de-
livered by the Rev Robert A. Elwood
1000 men stormed the jail where White
was incarcerated. and. in the face Of
the gunfire of police and jail auth6ri.
ties, dragged the negro from his cell and
took him to the spot where the crime
was committed. There he confessed
white was chained to a post. fagots
piled up. burning brand was applied.
and the execution was on.
Dressed in Women's Clothes.
Wilmington wes a storm center OF ru-
mors last night Of the purposes Of the
mob. and developments did not come I'M
til late in the night. Then 1000 men
marched down upon the Jail and waited
Suddenly up the road came dozen men,
dressed in women's clothes and masked
galloping on horses. Quickly dismount-
ing. these strange horseTnen mingled IN
the crowd and gave orders to arm with
railroad ties.
Under the commands Of leader, they
charged the workhouse doors with their
battering rams. Ten times the mob
charged and the doors gave way. the
mob rushing into the hallway. there to
beat down more doors. a rain CT fire
met the crowd as 1t damned In the build
ing and four men were taken away
wounded.
Those in the rear kept pushing those
in front, and the sheriff. not wishing to
slaughter the mob. ordered the hose
turned on. This failed, and the sheriff
and his men were flung aside and the
search of the cells began.
With the help OF a man who knew
White. the negro was found. The cell
door was beaten in and the negro was
dragged out. crying ard pleading for
mercy.
great cheer arose from the mob
outside when the word was passed that
the negro was found. and there were
many who wanted him SHOT on the spot.
The leaders insisted that he must burn.
and Whites hands were tied behind him.
Confessed His Crime.
Quietly and quickly the march TO the
place OF execution was commenced. and
the negro was led to the place where be
had assaulted Miss Bishop. There. while
1000 men looked on. he confessed his
crime. A stake had been driven iato the
ground and 10 it the negro was bound
hand and foot. while dry underbrush
soaked with oil, was ignited.
For over an hour the mob watched
the flames as they ate their way into the
negro's body. leaving but charred re-
mains, which were picked up as SOU
venirs. The mob then quietly dis
pcrsed. What was left of the corpse was
taken IN charge by Deputy Coroner Kill
mer this morning.
Story Of the Murder.
White was arrested for the murder
Of seventeen year-old Helen Bishop
who was found in the roadway near her
! home with her throat cut. on the even
ing OF June 16 So strong was the evi-
dence against White that on the day Of
Miss Bishops funeral a demand wa:
made upon the Judges OF the superior
court TO cell a special session 20 con-
slider Whites case. This was refused
and the feeling for vengeance grew.
On Sunday Dr.. Bishop, the Victims
4 father, pleaded in his sermon that N,
law be allowed to take its course. bu
at a large open afr meeting. the same
day. the Rev. Robert A. Elwood, pastor
OF Olivet Presbyterian Church, showed
| his congregation a cluster OF leave.
tained with the blood OF the girl, and
in a sermon, entitled Should the Muir.
derer OF Miss Bishop Be Lynched?'
I scored the judges for refusing 10 hold