The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-08
BURNED At STAKE BY MOB,
NEGRO AND WIFE PUT TO
DEATH IN MISSISSIPPI
Victims Were Found Asleep After
Being Harried Several Days
by Bloodhounds.
TAKEN TO DODDSVILLE
Where One Thousand Frenzied
Persons Participated in the
Double Lynching.
LAST ACT OF TRAGEDY
That Cost Eight Lives-An Ex-
citing Chase Lasting Four
Days and Nights.

DODDSVILLE, Miss, Feb. 7-Luther
Holbert and his wife, negroes. were burned
at the stake here to-day by mob of more
than 1000 persons. for the killing OF James
Eastland a prominent white planter, and
John Car. a negro. on Wednesday. at the
EastIand plantation two miles from this
city
The burning of Holbert and his wife
closes tragedy which has cost eight lives
has engaged two hundred men and two
packs of bloodhounds in a four days chase
across four counties and has stirred this
section of Mississippi almost to frenzy. Fol-
lowing are the dead:
LUTHER HOLBERT and WIFE. ne
groes. burned at the stake by mob.
JAMES EASTLAND, white planter,
killed by Holbert.
JOHN CARR, negro, killed by Holbert.
JOHN WINTERS, negro, killed by East
land.
THREE UNKNOWN NEGROES, killed
by posses.
The killing of Eastland, Carr and Winters
occurred last Wednesday Eastland's 8
plantation. Holbert and Winters were in
Carr's cabin when Eastland entered and
ordered Holbert to leave the plantation. A
difficulty ensued in which it is alleged that
Holbert opened fire Eastland, fatally
wounding him and killing Carr Eastland
returned the fire and KILLED Winters.
When news of the tragedy reached Dodds-
Vile a posse was formed and left immed-
lately for Eastland's plentation. Arriving
there further shooting occurred and an un-
known negro was killed. Holbert and his
wife, who had donned mans clothing, both
heavily armed, had fled.
Posses were formed at Greenville, Itta-
bena, Cleveland and other points and the
pursuit of Holbert and his wife was begun
with horses and bloodhounds. The chase,
which was begun Wednesday morning, was
continued until last night, when Holbert
and his wife. worn out from travelling over
100 miles on foot through cane brakes and
swamps were found asleep in a heavy belt
of timber three miles east of Shepards-
town and captured by a posse without a
shot being fired.
The two negroes were brought to Dodds-
VILE and this afternoon were burned at the
stake by large mob almost in the shadow
of the negro church here.
Yesterday two negroes were killed by a
posse near Belzonia, Yazoo county. One
of the negroes bore striking resemblance
TO Holbert and was mistaken for him by
members of the posse. He was called upon
to surrender, but instead of doing so.
showed fight and both negroes were shot
by the posse. Holbert had sworn he
would not be taken alive and was known
TO be heavily armed.
Eastland was a member of a wealthy
Mississippi family and a reward of 81 200
was offered by relatives for the capture
of his slayer Two brothers of Eastand
participated in the chase and capture of
the HoIberts and both were present when
Holbert and his wife were burned.
The sixteen-year-old son Of Holbert. who
was captured Friday night and held on
suspicion of completely In the killing of
| Eastland. was given his freedom, his inno-
cence being established. -