Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-23
CONFESSED HIS CRIME
DRAGGED TO SCENE OF COMMIS-
SION TO DIE.
Charred Body Of Wretch Was Riddled
With Bullets by In
furiated Men.


George White early this morning. That
many of them are known cannot be doubt
ed. for they were seen by the thousands
who witnessed the affair.
It is also know that the arrangements
for the lynching were talked of in advance,
and that men were invited to participate
and given notice of when and where they
were to assemble. 1t was this fact that
gave publicity to the lynching. for the news
that it was to occur last night was circu-
lated around Wilmington yesterday with
the result that the thousands who went
out last night did SO with the knowledge
that the affair would come off according to
arrangements.
Approved by Public Sentiment.
1t is a fact that public sentiment so gem
orally approves the lynching that 1t would
be hard to secure the conviction of lynch
er even If arrests were made which seems
doubtful.
During the day thousands of persons went
to the scene of the lynching. many of them
intent upon securing ghastly relics IN
this, however, they met with little success,
as the burning had been so effectual as to
destroy almost every vestge OF the VIC
TINS body. The only remains were pieces
of his bones.
In order to reach the scene many of these
people walked the three miles from VIII
mington in a drizzling rain. and those VINO
rode on the trolley cars had to walk
mile before they reached the spot. But
nothing could abate their ardor, and all
day there was a constant stream of people
travelling along the road.
Fair Trial Impossible.
Judge Grubb of the county court today
made a public statement in which he de-
plores the lynching of White and its con-
sequent reflection upon the good name OF
Delaware. Judge Grubb also explained the
action of the court in refusing to call
special session of the grand jury Tor the
Indictment of Miss Bishops murderer he
saws the trial would have been attended Dy
such public clamor and prejudice that
fair trial would have been impossible and
the court would have been compelled TO
grant the motion of the prisoners counsel
for a change of venue. Once the prisoner
was moved to the insecure jail of Kent
county or Sussex county he might have
escaped.
Ali Is quiet in this community today, fol-
towing the horrible lynching Of Helen Blsh-
on's confessed slayer at an early hour this
morning.
cred the authorities, stormed the Newcas-
tie county workhouse and dragged from
cell the trembling wretch and burned him
at the stake the identity of only one is
publicly known.
Little Boy Was Shot.
That person is little Peter Smith, II
years old, who fell when the workhouse
guards fired a volley into the ranks of the
attacking mob. The lad was struck by
bullet which entered his back and is
thought to have penetrated his Kidneys
At the Homeopathic Hospital where the
injured boy was Immediately taken, the
physicians stated at o o'clock this morning
. fhpt1 1fi &c in,
After the mob had completed its awful
work of vengeance, the body of the negro
ravisher and murderer was left chained to
the stake with the fire burning all around
it and the members of the lynchng party
went home. A rain which began falling
later extinguished the fire and at daylight
the charred body still hung limp in plain
sight cf paSser shy.
Public sentiment here, so far as ex-
pressed appears to approve the lynching
of White and it is not believed there will
be any arrests.
His Terrible Confession.
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:
II was sent by Mr.. Woodward to the
cornfield to try some corn. I saw Mr.
Woodwards daughter and intended to as
sault her, but a couple of men came along in
wagon and / did not disturb her. Then
l saw the Bishop girl and 1 followed her.
seized her and asked her if she had any
money she would give me to let her CO.
She gave me co cents. Then again seized
her and she cried: Please don't hurt me-
L choked her and accomplished my pur-
pose. Then l asked her if she was going
to tell on me. She said she was. 1 gave
her a hack in the throat with nv knife
and asked again if she was going to in
form on me.
''She said she was and then I cut her
throat twice again and left her. After that
went back to Mr.. Woodward and told
him there was no good water to drink
down there and he sent me somewhere else
went back once. but soon left Then 1
hat instead of the cap that I wore You
would not do this if 1 was white man and
did that"
To Tear Him Limb From Limb.
The negros confession rendered the al
ready-incensed crowd even more desperate
and some wanted to tear him limb from
limb before they reached the scene of his
execution. The negro begged piteously not
to be burned but no mercy was shown the
culprit and although his sufferings were
terrible White remained conscious and rat
ional to the last.
While at times during the night there
were at least 5000 people around the work
house the men who actually took part in
the lynching did not number over 500 The
leader was man who said his name was
Baker, and that he was from Virginia His
face was familiar to most of the peopIe
and it is believed he is a resident of VIII
mington, although some say he had heen
imported for the purpose Of leading the
mob.
Lynching Was Planned.
The lynching is believed to have been the
result of plot which was concocted sew
eral days ago and was to have been put
into execution Saturday night but on that
occasion there was misunderstanding and
the attempt failed.
Early yesterday morning word was pa ssed
around that the attack was to be made
on the prison at 10 o'clock last night. and
Inal the men who were to participate in it
were to meet at Prices Corner, half an
hour before that time. The report gained
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