The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-04-16
LYNCH MOB'S
WILD FURY
Three Negroes Hanged by
Springfield Rioters.
SOLDIERS WERE TOO LATE
AntinesrO Crowd Wrecked Jail and
Sherif's Home and Burned
Prisoners.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. April l6.-
State militia, REINFORCED by 200 dep
uty sherffs, guarded the streets of
Springfield last night against possible
renewed action 10y mob that has
lynched three negroes In the public
square. There are hundreds of stran-
gers in Springfield, and the antinegro
feeling still runs high.
Although no untoward move was
made, many threats were heard. and
Sheriff Homer. fearing fresh out
break when darkness should fall. tele-
graphed Governor Folk early in the
day for aid. The governor responded
promptly, and within few hours six
companies of militia were OH guard in
Springfield from various parts Of Mis-
souri,
In addition 10 sending soldiers to
guard against further violation of the
law Governor Folk took quick action
10 prosecute the leaders of the mob
The governor authorized reward OF
$500 each for the arrest and convic-
ton of members of the mob This is
the limit allowed by law. In addition
he instructed Rush Lake, assistant at
torney general, to go to Springfield at
once to aid in the ferreting ont and
prosecuting of the leaders in the work
OF fourteen prisoners, whites and ne
grOes, who escaped from the prison
during the mob excitement four were
captured during the day.
Thousands OF persons Swarmed
about the Jail TO see the wreck caused
by the mob and about the public
square. Wnere the three negroes were
hanged to an electric light tower and
burned. Every train brought hundreds
Of persons to the city from surround
ing towns mostly hoodlums.
Many from the farming regions
caught the mob spirit readily and
shared the sentiment Of many that the
negroes should be driven from Spring
field while the feeling against the ne
gro race was strong.
The two negroes We're hanged To the
statue of the Goddess of Liberty in the
center of the public square of Spring
field and slowly roasted to death \
mob of 300 Infatuated men visited
the county jail and demanded Horace
Duncan and Jim Copeland who We're
accused of assaultlng Mabel Edwards
a white woman
The negroes were arrested on suspi-
ciOn only.
The sherif''s house was raided and
the keys of the Jail taken from him.
Sledge hammers and cold chiSels
were used to get admission TO the cells
As soon as the mob found that the
two negroes had been secured they
started in triumph for the pulnic
square, where the men were strung up.
and slow fires were started beneath
Them.
Mabel Edwards came to this city
only Friday afternoon from Monet.
Mo She had secured employment and
was driving with friend when they
were stopped by two negroes Miss
Edwards companion was slugged into
Inconsistencies. and the Girl was
dragged into Il pasture.
Negroes who dared to appear on the
streets were greeted with boots and
.ieers and on several occasions men
and boys collected TO attack them.
Both negroes aud whites are armed.
There was a steady demand for fire
arms and at many hardware stores it
was reported that the entire stock OF
weapons of every sort had been sold
VIII Allen. Il negro charged with the
murder of O. NJ. ROuark last January,
but protesting innocence. was taken
from Jail by the mob that lynched
Duncan and Copeland. Allen was
hanged in the public square to the
same tower that had served as scat
fold 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 was about his neck as his weight
fell on it, and he dropped into the pyre
containing the charred bodies of his
former companions in prison, Duncan
and Copeland. Allen was taken up the
tower again and compelled to jump.
This time his captors were more sue
cessful in their work
II swear that am not guilty of kill
ing Rouark were his last words.
The lynching took place under stat
ne representing Justice" that sur
mounted the electric light tower. Dun.
can and Copeland were suspected OF
assautlng young woman but they
declared themselves innocent, aud they