Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-06-26
BURNED AT STAKE.
George White, a Negro, Lynched
by Wilmington, Del, Mob.
They Wcrc Led by n VIrglnian-Vlcs
tim Confessed 10 the Murder of
Miss Helen \. BIshop-mob
OF Men and Boys Estl-
mated at 1000.

Wilmington, Del, June ga
northern mob, led by Virginian,
burned n negro at the stake last
night within few miles of Mason's
and Dixon's line. The victim was
George +. White, n negro, just out
of the workhouse, who was accused
of having feloniously assaulted and
stabbed to death Miss Helen S. Bish-
op, the 17-yearvold daughter of the
Rev. DR.. L. A. Bishop. The crime
was committed last Monday after
noon and ever since then there have
been mutterings of lynching.
Last night, however, as result of
the laws slowness and much agita-
tion on. the part of those who cried
for vengeance, mob that was esti-
mated at 1000 men and boys gather
ed in the neighborhood of Prices
Corner, four miles from here. They
came from everywhere, including
Wilmington and the small towns to
the south of Prices Corner. Sun
day nights lack of a leader was sup
Piled by Virginia, whose identity in
the confusion and excitement could
not be learned. The police of Will
mington and the consrabes tried to
dispense the growing crowd, but
without avail. 1t was evident that
hundreds came from mere curiosity,
but once in the mob they became in
famed with the spirit pervading the
throng and then actively joined it.
The real leaders were few in num-
bers, but they did their work well.
1t was after 10 o'clock when the
march to the worlShouse, mile away,
was taken up.
Armed with pistols, shotguns and
other weapons the mob soon reached
the Jail. \ battery of railroad ties
soon carried away the greater outer
door of the workhouse. What was
going on inside the lookup was not
known to the mob, nor did it seem to
care. The second, third and fourth
doors were battered down by the
forward leaders in the attacking
party amid the yells and cheers of
those who were pressing forward
from the rear.
Then the would-be lynchers were
momentarily halted by hail of bull
let's from the inside. A great howl
went up from the leaders, but they
were pressed forward by those in
the rear. More shooting was heard
and there was a scramble to get out,
but the drawer ones in the attacking
party stood their ground. In the fu-
silade that followed four persons fell,
all members of the mob.
1t was evident that 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 n time,
but not for a long time. y general
rush was made, the guards were
rushed aside and a man hunt of the
Jail made for the negro.
There are many negroes confined in
the prison, but with the aid of n
man who knew White he was quickly
found. His cell door was battered
open and the covering, 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 sent
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,
but his hands were tied behind him.
1t 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
place. White was given last chance
to speak and he confessed to the
murder of the girl. A stake had been
arranged by an advance party. White
was quickly chained to the stake and
the dry underbrush soaked in oil
piled around him, and the execution
was on. White, suffering intense
pain, tainted and his body hung limp.
Shots were fired into his body and
the victim of the mob was dead.