The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-16

%<<<>~<><><%.~-~ Springfield, Mo, April 15.-At 2:15 o'clock this morning William Allen, a negro. was taken from the county jail here and lynched in the public square by the same mob that two hours earlier had hanged Horace Duncan and James Cope land. The body of Allen later was burn ed to ashes, as had been those of the other negroes, beneath the spot where they had been lynched.
 Following the dispatch of Duncan and Copeland. some one suggested that Allen and Bus Cain, two other negroes known to be in the jail. should also be lynched. The mob now bloodthirsty and wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement. readily took up the cry and soon the charrea. bones of a third victim lay be- heath the statue of the Goddess of Lib erty. Cain escaped.
 Allen and Cain were being held upon suspicion of having murdered O. P. Oruark, while Duncan and Copeland were accused of assaulting Mabel Edmundson. white domestic.
 Their work finally accomplished, the mob quietly dispersed. But today crowds augmented by hundreds of persons from surrounding towns filled the streets mak- ing threats of further vengeance and tonight several companies of state mili tia ordered out by Governor Folk, to- gether with 200 deputy sheriffs, patrol the streets.
 Prisoners Escape.
 When the mob left the jail at midnight with Copeland and Duncan fourteen pris- oners escaped in the excitement Among them was Cain. But Allen was there yet, and the second mob found him hiding un- der cot. He was dragged out, his hands were tied behind his back, a rope was put around his neck and he was marched down the street to the town square. The mob climbed upon the stairway and stood upon the platform of the statue with AL len between them. One of these men who held a lantern in his hand, faced the crowd below and waving his hand toward the negro, said
 Ladies and gentlemen. this Is Will Al len, the who murdered old man Ruark. What shall we do with him?' Hang him." cried the crowd. Throw him overheard"
 'tCan any one identify this negro?' asked the spokesman.
 Hold up the lantern,' some one shout ed The man put the lantern up so that It shone into the face of the negro, and some one in the crowd said:
 Allen Identified.
 "Yes. I identify him; hang him."
 At this the crowd laughed.
 Are you Will Allen" asked the ora tor.
 @Yes. but I did not kill Ruark' he an swered
 Well who did?''
 'I only know what I heard, that Bus Cain killed him." the negro answered. Make him spit 1t out. Make him con- fess.'' the crowd shouted.
 The man with the lantern shouted again
 s'Is this negro guilty? Yes or mo-"
 Some one shouted yes" others cried mo-
 The mob was undecided. While the crowd was debating the second man on the platform the crowd began tying a rope to the iron railing.
 The negro stood directly aboCe the smouIdering ash heap from Which the smell of buring flesh arose. But he stood erect while the man with the lantern harangued the mob. and the crowd jeered at the negro. In the meantime the rope had been placed about Aliens neck. and presently the hangman caught the negros ankles, lifted him and threw him forward over the railing. Allen turned somer- sault in the air and as the rope be- came taut his neck cracked like a. pistol shot The rope broke and he feii in the bed of coals on top of the other two negroes.
 Rope Breaks.
 There he kicked and fioundered around until another rope was brought, thrice looped around the neck, and he was again suspended in mdair.
 More boxes were brought and another big fire was xindled. and soon the sway ing figure now dead, fell into it. sending up a spray of live sparks After that most of the men went home. but some and boys stayed by the tower all night and fed the fires. When daylight broke upon the scene there remained only the blackened trunks and charred remains of three negroes.
 Five thousand persons the trio hanged and burned. Among .he crowd of spectators were hundreds of women and children, girls and boys. In a hall overlooking the plaza Easter dance was in progress Its music stopped while the dancers crowded to the windows and watched the wrthing black bodies and the flames that finally consumed them.
 1.aay souvenirs of the night. consist