Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-07-02
HELEN BISHOP AVE NcEo.
Negro Who Assaulted and Killed Her
Burned at the Stake.


Burned at the Stake.
A northern mob, led by a Virginian.
burned at the stake George White, a
negro, Just out of the workhouse, who
was accused OF having feloniously as
saulted and stabbed TO death Miss Hell
en- S. Bishop, the ~l7-year-old daughter
of the Rev. DIR. Z. A. Bishop OF VIII
mington. Del, formerly principal of
Montpelier seminary.
There are many negroes confined In
the iail but with the assistance OF a
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 prison. When the crowd
outside heard that success had crown
ed the efforts of the lynchers a great
cheer was sen 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. Re-
sistance on the part OF the negro was
useless. Both hands were tied behind
him. Then the march 10 the place of
execution. just as though il were a
march TO the gallows in a prison, was
taken up.
With torches to lead the way and
with 1000 persons following the me-
gro he was led TO the road TO almost
the very spot where the assault took
place. lie was given a last chance to
speak and he confessed to the murder
OF the girl. A stake had been arrang-
ed By an advance guard. White was
quickly chained TO the post and the
dry underbrush, soaked with oil, was
ignited and the horrible execution was
on. White, suffering intense agony
tainted and his body hung limp. Shots
were fired into his body and the victim
OF the mob was soon dead.
The negro's confession was this -
ii was sent by Mr.. Woodward to the
corndeld. / saw Mr.. WoOdward's
daughter and intended to assault her,
but a couple of men came along in b
wagon and l did not disturb herl
Then | saw the Bishop girl and fdN
lowed her. | seized her and aske !
her il she had any money she wou !
give me to let her 90. She gave I
sixty cents. Then | again seized
and she cried. Please don't hur; II
} choked her and accomplished n
purpose. Then | asked her II She y
going to tell on me. She said I {
was. | gave her a hack In the tpat
with my knife and asked again ifhe
was going TO inform on me She nd
she was and then | cut her toat
twice again and LETT her.
The pastor of the Olivet Ifby- ,
terrain church. Rev. Robert A. Food,
In the course OF a sermon on ii SEN
sational title, "Should the Murfer OF
Miss Bishop be Lynched,n dended
the action of the mob. whicfcalled
out the following letter fro Miss
Bishops father -
Dear friends Mrs. Bislp and
our children Join me in this erosion
OF deepest gratitude for your hristian
sympathy and tender minisrtions In
our agonizing grief. Thoth CON-
p%aratively strangers. you ha been as
dear friends whose heartslad been
proved by years of achaintance
You have helped ~ bear or sorrow,
made a hundred fold more intense by
a most revolving crime. ur cup OF
bitterness is full, and weAsk you 10
Join us in our appeal 10 III citizens Oh
our commonwealth TO rirain irom
violence.
The officers believe tbt they have
all evidence necessary b convict the
prisoner. and without dobt as soon as
the court can reach his case he VIII
receive sentence to pay the full pen
atty of his ~atrocious crHe. II he can
be legally tried this month by all
means let justice be swift, but If not.
then let us wait calmlt until the law.
in its majesty, may fmove the vile
wretch from society. Meanwhile the
culprit is shut up viii a guilty con-
science. a hell OF Itself, and knows
that he must meet the demands OF the
law and Justice with his life. Any
other course OF procedure would bring
a kind of glory from those of his class
would intensity the suffering of the
afflicted family possibly endanger the
lite OF a delicate woman. and certainly
dishonor The laws of our common
wealth. Let Us not Try 10 atone for
one crime no matter how hellish, by
committing another.
sincerely Yours,
T.. A. BISHOP"