The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-24
CRUEL, COWARDLY
AND COLDBLOODED
His Recital Still Further IncenScd
the Mighty Multitude.
ATTACK ON WORKH0USE
THRILLING AFFAIR
Water Was Thrown Upon the Men as
They Stormed the Institution,
bnt the Cell of the Crimi.
nal Was Reached.

Wilmington. Del, June 24.-White's
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.. Wood
ward to a cornfield to try some corn.
I saw MT. Woodwards daughter and
intended to assault her. but a couple
Of men came along aid I did not dis
turb her. Then / saw the Bishop girl
and followed her. I seized her and
asked her If she had any money; If she
would give it to me would let her go.
She gave me so 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, and she
said she was. I gave her hack in the
throat with my knife and asked again
If she was going to inform on me. She
said she was. 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. I went back once, but soon left.
Then I went to the house and put on
q white hat instead of the cap wore.
You would not do this If was white
and did that ....
The negro's confession rendered the
already incensed crowd even more des-
perate and some wanted to tear him
limb from limb before they reached the
scene Of execution. The negro begged
piteously to not be burned. but no mer-
cy was shown the culprit. and although
his sufferings were terrible, White re-
manned conscious and rational to the
last. tsss. szea> 81 IT,. -z
While at times during the night there
were at least 5000 people around the
warehouses, 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 ia
miliar to most people and It IS believed
he is resident Of Wilmington, al
though he said he had been imported
for the purpose of leading the mob.
The lynehing is believed to have been
the result of plot which was concerted
several days ago and was to have been
put into execution Saturday night, but
on that occasion there was q misunder-
standing and the attempt failed. Early
Monday morning word was passed
around that an attack was to be made
On the prison at 10 o'clock that night
and the men who were to participate
In 1t were to meet at Prices Corner half
an hour before that time. The report
gained wide circulation, but most Of
the people who were not actually con-
cerned in the plot were of the opinion
that the plan would not be carried out.
As result Of the reports however,
people f1ocked toward the workhouse
early in the evening, but a majority of
these went out of cur; osity, although
after they reached the prison many
Joined the attacking party. The police
department was advised during the
day Of the contemplated attack, and
thirty policemen in charge of Chief
Black and Captains Evans and Kane
went to the workhouse. This was at 8
o'clock Monday night. There were sew
eral thousand persons at the prison at
that. time and the officers were power
less against such large numbers, so
they entered the building to assist the
guards In an effort to protect the pris-.
oner During one Of the rushes made
by the crowd several shots were ex-
changed, and Peter Smith. boy of
twelve years, of Wilmington, was shot
IN the back and seriously injured. He
Be- now In hospital in this city. The
shooting did not have any effect on the
crowd other than to frighten a few off
the lawns surrounding the workhouse,
but they returned with reinforcements
and taided those who were striving to
get to the negroes cell. r. .-
Upon arriving at the workhouse the
mob lost no time in preliminary prep
aration. Crowds advanced in front Of
the vestibule of reception hall and de-
manded admittance to the jail. Their
demand was refused by the guards
and they were ,deluged by a stream Of
water from a fire fighting equipment
OF the institution. This did not lessen
the eagerness of the besiegers. who inn
mediateiy began an assault upon the
iron doors Chief Of Police Black
shouted to the crowd: "The first man
that comes in this corridor will be
killed.
A man said to be from the south
grasped one of the heavy siedge ham
mers. and as he attacked the steel
grating. cried: Then you had better
kill me for the first one"
In addition to Peter Smith. youth
whose name is not known was wounded
during the shooting. y.
While about 800 men and boys were
storming the front Of the jail several
thousand sympathizers lined UP out
side. but took no part In the attack,
although plainly in favor Of lynchins
White
The leaders told Chief Black and
Warden Meserve they intended to get
the negro IL they had TO break every
steel door In the place and argued that
Il was useless expense 10 the county
#
~ 80 axss -