The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-07-09
LYNCHING IN UNION
Orderly Body Of Citizens Hanged .
Self Confessed Brute


The evidence against Osborne was
entirely circumstantial, but IL was so
complete in its entirety as TO leave no
room for doubt as to his guilt.
Though Osborne worked for Mr.. Joe
Biggers. who lived ten miles away
from where Mrs. Wentz lived, near In
dian Trail, he was the first man and
the only man upon wham suspicion
fell: and within As hours after the
crime was committed this suspicion
came TO be a belief in the minds OF
all people-white and colored-who
lived in the neighborhood OF where the
crime was committed. He had a bad
character generally speaking and a
few years ago had been charged with
Attempting to assault another white
woman, 4 Mrs. Hargett, but. apart
from his previous bad record, the eyi
dence connecting him with the assault
| on Mr.. Wentz became Inslstently
| cumulative and vividly strong
| STRONG CIRCUMSTANTlAL EvI-
DENCE.
1t was proven that on the nignt the
| crime was committed Osborne had
| ridden a mule within quarter of a
mile Of Mrs. VENTS home, and he
| was tracked from whero he had
| hitched the mule to the home OF his
| victim. In his Sunday vest pocket was
found small piece of string that Mrs.
! Wentz recognized as the same bit of
twine that she had kept in a match
box in her house She remembered
that in looking for money the negro
| lad struck a number of matches. And
| n the pockets of Osborne was found.
too, money that it was alleged he
Elust have taken from Mrs. Vent.
In the preliminary trial that was
stjven Osborne at the home o. Mrs
entz Thursday evening more than
90 witnesses testified, and the testi
mony, linked together, left the colcred
'tnesses standing up in the shay
grove and declaring that the prisoner
was ouilty.
THE OPINION OF A MOTHER.
Even Osborne's own mother, VINO
came to the scene, yelled aloud:
John, you know you are guilty.
Goodbye. There amt nothin' for you
to do but pray
When the prosecution, which was
represented by Mr.. Plummer Stewart.
of this city, nephew Of Mrs. Wentz.
had finished, there was a muttered
| sentiment in the outskirts Of the
crowd that boded ill for the prisoner.
The manner of the deed had been
such as to arouse to anger the most
&C nservative people in the audience.
Mrs. Wentz is 81 years old; feeble
timid woman, VINO lives alOne-sav'
ing the presence CT an aged negro wo
man, who lives In a hut in the yard
1t was the voice of this negress tina,
Osborne had initiated. crying that he
was ill-to let him in the house. When
the door had been opened he had
clutched Mrs. Wentz by the throat
and had become a fiend in violence
. and horrid language. Such little money
as he could f1nd-less tnan a dollar
in all-he had taken with him.
A NERVOUS COLLAPSE.
Before his accusers the criminal al
most collapsed In his excessive fright
He was young-only "a years old ant
black as the pure Ethiopian type, bu
his politeness. his eager desire II
propitiate everyone who came nea
.. | him would have been pitiable II i
had not been ghastly. Just before h
, | was arrested he had come tremblin,
like reed in the wind to Mr.. Plumme
:, Stewart and had begged to be allowed
to shake hands. Fawning like whip
!, | ped cur he maintained until death thi
attitude of extreme humility an,
, courtesy.
, THE LYNCHING.
After the conclusion of the evidence
Squire Broom, the magistrate VIII
: conducted the investigation, ordere'
: that Osborne be committed to Jail /,
, | Union county to await trial at tn
, next term Of the Superior Court.
Constables Frank Kesiah and LUX
! Horton put Osborne in a buggy be
! tween them. intending to 60 to II
| dian Trail and take the train fror
: there to Monroe. Before the offlcer
: had proceeded two miles they wer
surrounded by party of several hur
dred men. including a number Of NJ
| groes. The constables resisted whe
ordered to surrender their prisoner
I but were overpowered. Kesiah bein
pinned to the earth in the clutches G
e two members of the mob. At this tim
, several pistol shots were fired by me
in the mob.
Terrorized. pleading. weeping, pen
7 | tent, Osborne was dragged from tn
buggy to an oak tree that stands b
t the side Of the thoroughfare. On
d end of the rope was tied around hi
o neck. The other end was taken by
man who climbed the tree and Iowere
the rope over a limb. In moment tn
e hands Of the mob had caught the loos
K end of the rope and Osborne wa
swinging in the air.
-. So far there is no indication that a
effort will be made to prosecute tn
lynchers.
Four Killed By Electricity.