Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-24


been compelled to grant the motion of
the prisoners counsel for a change OF
venue. Once the prisoner was removed
to the insecure Jail of Kent or Sussex
county he might have escaped.
All is quiet in this community, today,
following the horrible lynching of
George White Helen Bishops confessed
slayer, at an early hour this morning
OF the mob of nearly 5000 that over
powered the authorities, stormed the
New Castle county workhouse and
dragged from a cell the trembling
wretch and burned him at the stake
the identity Of but one is publicly
known. That person is little Peter
Smith, ~ years old, who fell when the
workhouse guards fired on the mob.
The lad was struck by bullet which
entered his back and is thought to have
penetrated his kidneys. At the Home
opathic hospital, this morning, the
physicians said the boy was in serious
condition.
After the mob had completed it's
work the body Of the victim was left
chained to the stake with the fire
burning around it. Rain which began
falling later extinguished the fire and
at daylight the charred body still hung
limp and in plain sight of passersby.
Public sentiment here so far express
ed appears to approve the lynching of
White and it is not believed there will
be any arrest.
Whites confession, made just before
the torch was applied to the pile of
oil-soaked bushes around him, was an
admission of everything and more than
had been charged against him. He is
stated to have said:
Il was sent by Mr.. Woodward to the
corn field to try some corn. l saw Mr..
Woodward's daughter and intended to
assault her but a couple of men came
along in a wagon and 1 did not dis
turb her Then I saw the Bishop girl
and | followed her. I seized her and
asked her if she had any money she
would give me to let her go. She gave
me 60 cents. Then l again seized her
and she cried: Please don't hurt me-
II choked her and accomplished my
purpose. Then 1 asked her If she was
going to tell on me. She said she was.
7 gave her a hack in the throat with my
KILT anu dShcu Iicl tiGdll IL SiiN was
going to inform on me. She said she
was and then I cut her throat twice
more and left her. After that l went
back to Mr. Woodward and told him
that there was no good water to drink
down there and he sent me somewhere
else. l went back once but soon left.
Then ] went back to the house and put
on a white hat instead Of the cap that
l wore. You would not do this if l was
a white man and did that
The Negroes confession rendered tho al
ready incensed crowd even more desper-
ate and some wanted to tear him limb
from limb before they reached the scene
of the execution. The negro begged pit
eously not to he burned but no mercy
was shown him.
While at times during the night there
were at least 5000 people around the work
house the men who actually took part In
the lvnrhng did not number oyer 800 The
leader was Il man who said his name WIS
Baker and that he was from Virginia.
His face was familiar to most of the peo-
pie and 1t is believed he is a resident of
Wilmington. although some say he had
been imported for the purpose of leading
the mob.
The lynching IS believed to have been
the result Of II plot which was concoct"d
several days ago and was to haov been
put into execution. Saturday night, out
on that occasion there was a misundc- =
standing and the attempt failed Elrly
yesterday morning, word was passed
around that the attack WAS to be made
on the prison at 10 O'Clock last night and
l.,
it were to meet at Prices Corner, half
an hour before that time.
The r. port gained wide circulation but
most people who were not actually con-
cerncd in the plot were of the opinion
that the plan would not be carried out.
AS Il result of the reports, however, pco-
pie tocked toward the work house early
in the evening, hut the Majority of these
were there out of curiosity, although af-
ter they reached the prison many joined
Tia" attacking party.
The police department was advised dur
ms the day of the contemplated attack
and - policemen in charge of Chief Black
and Captains Evans and hans went to
the work house. This was at O'Clock
last night. There We're several thouSa nd
persons at the prison at that time and
the officers were pOWerlCsS against such
large numbers so they entered the build
inc; to assist the guards in an effort to
protect the prisoner. During one of the
PUSHES made by the crowd several shots
were exchanged and the Smith boy was
shot in the back.
The shouting did not have any effect
on the crowd other than to brighten a
few off the lawns surrounding the work
house but they returned with reinforce
ments and alddc those who were striv-
ing to get to the negro's cell.
Upon arriving at the work house, the
mob lost no time in preliminary prepa-
ration. The crowd advanced into the
front vestibule, or reception hall and
demanded admittance to the Jail. Their
demand was refused by the guards and
they were deluged by n stream of wa
ter from the fire lighting equipment OF
the institution. This did not lessen the
cagerncss of the besiegers, who immc-
diatcly began an assault upon the iron
doors Chief of Police Black shouted to
the crowd: The first man that comes
into this corridor will be killed.
A man said to be from the South
grasped one of the heavy sledge-ham-