The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-23
LYNCHER SHOT.
Boy Of II Years Seriously
Wounded by Guards
In Attempt to Protect a Negro
From Mob.
YIRGINIAN LED THEM.
Showed Northern People How
to Burn a Human Being.
Wilmington, Del, Citizens Turn
Out to Number of 5000.
EIRGINIAN LED THEM.


Wilmington. Del. June 2s.-The nat
ural and interesting question today is
whether the authorities Will take action
looking toward the arrest and punish
ment of those who were prominent IN
the lynching of George White. early te-
day That many of them are known
can not be doubted, for they were seen
by the thousands who witnessed the af-
fair. 1t is also known that the men
were invited to participate and given
notice when and where to assemble.
1t is a fact that public sentiment so
generally approves the lynching that it
would be hard to secure the conviction
of a lyncher even if arrests are made,
which seems doubtful
During the day thousands of persons
went the drizzling rain to the scene
of the lynching. many of them intent
upon securing ghastly relies. In this.
however, they met with little success as
the burning had been so effectuaI as to
destroy almost every vestige of the vic
Tins body. The only remains were
pieces of his bones.
Judge Grubb of the county court to-
day made a public statement in which
he deplores the lynching of White and
its consequent reflection upon the good
name Of Delaware. Judge Grubb also
explained the action of the court in re-
fusing to call a special session of the
grand jury for the Indictment Of Miss
Bishops murderer. He says the trial
would nave bsen attended by such pub
lie cIamor and prejudice that faIr
trial would have been impossible and
the court would have been compelled to
grant the motion of the prisoners couu-
sci for a change of venue.
SHOOTING OF PETER SMITH
iIrl7f9 frs7 T1n1 "A
quiet in this community today, follow
ing the horrible lynching OF George
White, Helen Bishops confessed slayer.
at an early hour this morning. OF the
mob of nearly 5000 that overpoweresr
the authorities. stormed the Newcastle
county work house and dragged from 4
cell the trembling wretch and burHea
him at the stake. the identity Of only
one is publicly known. That person IS
little Peter Smith, Il years old who
fell when the work house guards firet
a volley into the ranks Of the attacking
mob. The lad was struck by a bullec
which entered his back and is thought
10 have oenetra ted his Kidneys At the
Homeopathic hospital, where the Ils-
jured boy was taken. the physicians
stated at o'clock this morning 1hae
he IS IN a serious condition.
After the mob had completed its
awful work of vengeance the body or
the negro ravisher and murderer was
left chained to the stake with the FIRE
burning all around it, and the members
of the lynching party went home. 4
rain which began falling later ex-
tinguished the fire. and at daylight the
charred body still hung limp in plain
sight of paSsersby.
Public sentiment here. so far as ex-
pressed, appears to approve the lynch
ing Of White. and il is not believed
there viii be any arrests
Whites confession. made just before
the torch was applied to the pile OF oil
soaked bushes around him, was an ad-
of fr4er =
had been charged against him. He Is
said to have said:
II was sent by Mr.. Woodward to the
cornfeld to try some corn I saw Mr.
Woodward's daughter and intended to
assault her, but a. couple of men came
along and I did not disturb her. Then
saw them go and followed her. I sefz-
ed her and asked if she had any money
she would give me 10 let her 60 She
gave me sixty cents Then I again
seized her and she cried: Please. don't
hurt me- I choked her and accom-
plished my purpose. Then asked her
if she was going to tell on me- She said
she was. / gave her a hack in the
throat with my knife and asked again
if she was going to inform on me She
said she was. and then I cut her throat
twice and left her. After that I went
back to Mr.. Woodward and told MIN
there was no good water to drink down
there and he sent me somewhere else
I went back at once but soon left Then
went back to the house and put on
white hat instead of the cap wore.
You would not do this II l was white
man and did that"
The negro's confession rendered the
already incensed crowd even more des-
nerate and some wanted to tear him
limb from limb before they reached the
scene of his execution. The negro beg
ged piteously not TO be burned, but no
mercy was shown the culprit and al
though his sufferings were terrible,
1f-
to the last
While al times during the night there
were al least 5000 people around the
workhouse the men who actually TOOK
part in the lynching did not number
over 200 The leader was a man who
said his name was Baker and that ne
was from Virginia. His face was ia
miliar to most of the people ana II =
believed he is a resident Of Wilmington
although some say he had been import
cd for the purpose of leading the mob
The lynching is believed to nave oeen
the result of plot which was concoeted
several days ago and was to have been
mt into execution Saturday night but
m, thar occasion there was misunder
standing and the attempt failed Larry
Yesterday morning word was passed
around that the attack was 70 be made
an the prison at 10 O'Clock last night
and that the men who were to parfic1-
nate in it were 10 meet at Prices corner.
half an hour before that time The
report gained wide circulation. but most
4eople who were not actually concerned
in the plot were Of the opinion that tfse
nlan would not be carried out. As p
result of the reports, however, people
hocked toward the workhouse early IN
the evening but the majority OF these
were there out Of curiosity. although
after they reached the prison. many
ioined the attacking party The police
department was advised during the day
of the contemplated attack and 30 po-