The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-07
A GRAPHIC STORY
OF THE LYNCHING.
How the Mob Wreaked Its Ven-
geance Upon Bradley.


Gainesville, Fla. Sept. "a full ac-
count of the capture and lynching of
Wash Bradley, the negro who brutally
shot Mrs. N. B. Barrow at her home in
Levyville Friday night, from the ef-
fects of which the lady died Saturday
night. has been furnished by Homer A.
Love, of the firm of Love, Smith & Co,
naval stores operators at Levyvilie.
who was very active in hunting the
negro down, and who arrived in this
city this morning.
Ever since the crime was committed
the woods have been full of indignant
citizens looking for the culprit, but he
had ben successful in eluding them.
On Monday evening at sundown Brad
ley went to the home of Walter How
ard, a negro living within a mile of
Levyville, and asked for something to
eat. He stated that he had shot Mrs.
Barrow and gave as his reason that
the lady had put the dogs on
him because he was passing
through her yard Howard was
well Informed however. and
was aware of the real facts in the
casa.
Bradley was given supper, and he
ate with his shotgun across his lap.
During the course of the meal he
bantered Howard for an exchange be-
tween his shot gun and a pistol. Il
aspect l am going TO have trouble
getting out of this scrape," he said.
land this old gun, while it is a good
one, is too big and too much in the
way" Howard replied that he had
no pistol but that his brother George,
1. L.
had a fine pistol, which he felt sure
he would trade, as he wanted shot
gun.
With this information the other
Howard came. and the proposition for
an exchange was made. Howard gave
his brother a significant nod. and as
soon as the exchange was made
George Howard leveled the gun and
said, Consider yourself under arrest"
Bradley did not attempt to use the
pistol. but started to run, when he
was overtaken and over-powered by
the two Howard negroes, who
bound his hands together and
marched him to Levyville, where he
was delivered to the citizens. and with
in an hour a mob of from seventy five
to n hundred residents of the section
gathered. This mob was increased un-
til il numbered considerably over
hundred. among whom were some of
the best citizens of Levy county.
The mob took the prisoner TO large
oak near the Levyville school house,
where a rope was placed around his
neck and preparations for lynchng be-
gun. During all this time Bradley was
cool and collected.
Wait, men," said one in the crowd.
u want to ask this man some ques-
tions." The mob stood silently by
while he questioned the negro.
after YOU have committed this
awful crime for which you are about
to die, ! am going to ask you some
questions. and / want you TO tell me
the truth When you left the house
indications are that you went north
ward. Why did you turn back from
your course and come this way?"
Because I wanted TO go to the still.
and lost my way. Then / thought
would wait until night and go by the
house."
why did you want to go by the
house?"
Because I knew they would catch
me. and ] wanted TO go by the house
and 10 the still before they did"
What did you expect TO do at the
house and the still?"
Il did not expect TO do anything al
the house. but at tho still wanted 10
see Parson Pitts, whom I knew would
give me something 10 eat. and help me
get away again. Parson Pitts helped
me get away az first
when you passed the house didn't
you want 10 kin somebody else?"
"No. SIR Mrs. Barrow makes the
third person ! have killed, and / have
got enough"
This one having concluded his aues-
lions. another member of the mob
stated that the negro was about 20 be-
swung and asked the FIRST speaker
N he wanted the hrst crack" AZ him.
10 which mo- reply waf made A doz-
on atronE men then took the rope. and
nnntl....A ~. MA n...