Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-04-16
LYNoHINa IN MISSOURI.

luIct, luSlth1 Ol t"O hob'~o's 10
stated in the 6rst reports, we're lynched
10 Springfield, Mo-, Saturday night, be-
ing hanged to an electric tower In the
public square and then roasted TO death
over A FIRE built under them. The ne
groea we're Horace Duncan, James Cope
land and Will Allen, the latter being
hacged after the Ihrst two prisoners had
been disposed Of Duncan and Copeland,
both under 81 years OF age, were charged
with having assaulted Mabel Edmond
son. a white girl, on Friday night.
Allen was charged with the murder of
G. NJ. Rouark last January.
A mob of 5000 persons tore down the
Jail in order to get at the prisoners.
The mob used telephone poles and
sledge hammers in the work of demOli-
ton. 1t is a mile from the Jail to the
square, and the mob marched down one
the principal streets, shouting and firing
pistols
Circuit Attorney Arthur Sager, of ST.
Louis, WAS a witness OF the tragedy.
He slipped into the cellar of the Jail and
cut of the gas, hoping to confuse the
mob, but he was too late.
Sheriff Horner tried to dissuade the
mob, but it was determined. anu hooted
him. Jailer King was assaulted and
finally gave the mob some keys, which
we're not for the negroes cells, and the
mob vas forced to break the iron doors.
State militia, reinforced by 200 deputy
sheriffs, guarded the streets of Spring
field last night against q possible re-
newal of mob violence. There are hun
dreds of strangers in the town and the
anti-negro feeling still runs high.
Although no uutoward move was made
Yesterday, many threats we're heard,
and Sheriff Homer, fearing fresh out
break when darkness fell, telegraphed
Governor Folk early in the day for aid.
The Governor responded promptly, and
within few hours six companies Of
militia were on the way TO Springfield
from various parts of Missouri. The
first of these companies arrived yester
day evening, and il was followed during
the night at intervals by others.
In addition to sending soldiers to
guard against further violation of the
law, Governor Folk tool: quick action
to prosecute the leaders of Saturday
nights mob. The Governor authorized
a reward OF $500 each for the arrest and
conviction of members of the mob. This
is the limit allowed by law. In addi-
ton, he instructed Rush Lake, Asss-
tant Attorney General, to go to Spring
field at once to aid 10 the ierIeting out
and prosecuting of the leaders in Satur-
day nights work.
Ofthe IA prisoners, whites and negroes,
who escaped from the prison Saturday
night during the mob excitement four
were captured during the day.
Thousands of persons yesterday swarm
ed about the Jail aud public square to
see the wreck used by the mob. Every
train brought hundreds of persons to the
city from surrounding towns, mostly
h0odlums.
Many of the farming regions caught
the mob spirit readily aud shared the
sentiment that all negroes should be
driven from Springfield
Negroes who dared to appear on the
streets were greeted with boots and jeers,
and on severals occasions men and boys
collected to attack them. Both negroes
aud whites were armed. There Was a
steady demand for irearnrs, and at many
hardware stores it was reported that the
entire stock of weapons of every sort had
been sold.
Allen, protesting innocence, was taken
from Jail early Saturday morning by the
same mob. He was hanged in the pub
lie square TO the same tower that had
served as a scaffold for the two negroes
murdered earlier in The evening.
Allen was calm and collected as he
Jumped from the tower up which he had
been compelled to ascend. The rope
about his neck broke as his weight fell
on it and he dropped into the pyre con-
tanning tn d, charred bodies OF his former
companions 10 prison. He was taken up
the tower again and compelled to jump.
This time his captOrs were more success
full in their work
fl swear that am not guilty of kill
ing Rouark." were his last words
The lynching took place under statue
representing Justice, that surmounted
the electric light tower
As soon Allen VAS dead several men
rushed back to the Jail for Bud Cane, a
negro accused also of the murder Of
Rouark, but Cane and all but six OF the
prisoners had escaped from the wrecked
prison. The mob, finding itself without
suitable prey, went home as day began
to dawn.
Many of the leading ministers in
their Easter sermons yesterday de-
nounctd the lynching in strong terms,
and called upon the proper authori-
ties to enforce the law or resign their
positions
With $50 militismen under the COM
mand of General Clarke, on the streets
the utmost quiet prevails today
The authorities backed by the militia
have decided to arrest all the leaders of
the mot.