The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-02-10
MOB VENGEANCE
| IN THE DELTA.
NEGRO NAN AND WOMAN BURNED AT
THE STAKE.
Eight Persons Meet a Tragic Death in
a Biief Space Of Time.

Memphis, Tenn, Feb. IA
special to the Commercial-Appea
from Doddsville, Miss, says:
Luther Holbert and his wife
negroes, were burnedat the stake
here today by a mob of over / 900
persons, for the killing of James
Eastland, a prominent white
planter, and John Carr, a negro
Wednesday morning at the East
land plantation two miles from
this city.
The burning of Holbert and his
wife closes a tragedy which has
cost eight lives, has engaged 2O(
men and two packs of blood
hounds in a four days chase
across four counties, and has
stirred this section of Missis
sippi to such a state of excite
ment as it has never before ex
perienced in it's history.
The following 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
Eastland.
Three unknown negroes, killed
by posses.
The killing of Eastland, Carr
and Winters occurred Wednes
day morning at Eastland's plan
tation. Holbert and Winters
were in Carrs' cabin when East
land entered and ordered Hol
bert to leave the plantation.
A difficulty ensued, in which i
is alleged that Holbert opened
fire on Eastland, fatally wound
ing him and killing Carr. East
land returned the fire and killed
Winters.
When News of the tragedy
reached Doddsville, a posse was
formed and left Immediately fol
Eastland's plantation. Arriving
there further shooting occurred
and an unknown negro was
killed. Holbert and his wife
who had donned mans clothing
both heavily armed, had fed.
Posses were formed at Green
vile, Itta Bena, Cleveland and
other points, and the pursuit Of
Holbert and his wife was at once
begun with horses and blood
hounds. The chase which was
begun Wednesday morning, was
continued until 3 o'clock this
morning, when Holbert and his
wife, worn out from travelling
over 100 miles on foot, through
canebrakes and sWamps, were
found asleep in a heavy belt o.
timber three miles east of Shep
herdstown, and captured by {
posse, without a shot being fred
The two negroes were brought
to Doddsville 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 Belzoni
Yazoo county. One of the ne
groes bore a striking resemb
lance to Holbert and he was
mistaken for him by members O.
the posse. He was called upor
to surrender, but instead of do
| ing so showed fight, and botl
were shot down by possemen, az
Holbert had sworn he would no
be taken alive and was known t.
be heavily armed.
Eastland was a member of +;
wealthy Mississippi family and ;
reward of ST. 200 was offered By
relatives for the capture of hi'
slayer. Two brothers of East
land participated in the chas,
and capture of the Holberts, ant
both were present when HOLDER
and his wife were burned.
The 16-year-old son of Holbert
who was captured Friday nigh
and held on suspicion of com
| plicity in the killing of Eastland
was given his freedom tonight
his innocence being established