Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-09-24

tho assault upon Mrs. Lawrence and
the killing of her son here last Thurs
dav night, was taken from the Jail
and lynched by mob at 10 O'Clock
1 last night. The negro was hanged to
a tree in front of the house where the
crime was committed.
The work of the mob was accom-
plished so quietly that many residents
of the town knew nothing of what was
tran1 Sing and no attempt was made
ITO interfere with the mob. After ac-
complishing it's purpose, the members
of the mob disappeared and there is
no excitement here noW
1t is reported that before he was
hanged the negro made confession,
but this rumor could not be verified.
1t is reported also that Mrs. Law
renee made statement to several
women to the effect that Brown was
the negro who committed the crime.
She had previously stated that she
knew the negro by sight, but so far
had never stated that she knew his
name She stated, it is claimed, that
Brown was working on the street near
her house for some time and came to
her house for water several times.
Lynching Carefully Arranged.
The lynching was evidently the re-
suit of prearranged plan. The mob
formed quietly in the outskirts of
the city and proceeded to the Jail.
Sheriff Harrel was in Little Rock at
tempting to run down clue which
had resulted in the arrest of another
negro. In his absence the mob ex-
perienced no difficulty in entering the
I jail and securing their victim.
The mob took Brown to the house
in which Mrs. Lawrence lived in a
lonely spot on the outskirts of town.
The negro was quickly strung up to
tree in front of the house. There
was no excitement. and the mob act
ed in a quiet and business-like man
ner.
Mrs. Lawrence had been removed
to an ,ther house, and the negro was
not taken before her for Identification.
It is not known at what time the me-
gro made confession. as he is alleg-
ed to have done.
Negro's Bloody Crime.
The crime for which the negro paid
Nthe penalty was a bloody one. Mrs.
Lawrence was assaulted and seriously
4 injured, her six-yearold son, Elgey,
was killed, and her baby was stabbed
land severely wounded. The crime was
sci hmNted Thursday night, but was
u not discovered until the following af-
5sternoon. At that time neighbor who
went to the house discovered Mrs.
Lawrence lying unconscious and COW
gered with. blood ON the bed, with the
dead body of her son at her side, and
4 her baby almost unconscious from loss
] Of blood. When she had recovered
consciousness Mrs. Lawrence said
that her house had been forcibly en-
tered by a nude negro. and that be-
fore she could make an outcry she
was struck on the head and slashed
\ In the face. It is supposed that the
boy was killed and the baby stabbed
to prevent them from making an out
cry. '''sas
$1,100 Reward for Negro's Arrest.
The crime threw the people Of Con-
way into the widest excitement and
n n effort was made to apprehend
e}fprit. At mass meeting of
izens Saturday night fund was
n farted to be offered as reward for
te arrest and conviction of the guilty
son, Over 5000 was subscribed to
lh1e fund before the meeting closed
/ M additional reward of $500 was 81
fsied by Governor Davis.
Thinks Wrong Man Lynehed.
4heriff Harrel1 said in regard to the
llching of the negro Frank Brown
q \ conway:
believe the people have got the
Wt0Rg man. When I left Conway at
6:x4 Friday evening everything was
quleG and there were no signs of an
cutbreak. know Frank Brown, the
negro who was hanged. and while he
was worthless negro, do not be
as lieYn that he was guilty of the crime
a Aich he was hanged I have nc
yery strong evidence against any man