The Montgomery advertiser., 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 slynched in the public square by the same mob that two hours earlier had hanged Horace Duncan and James Copeland The body of Allen was later burned to ashes, as had been those or the other. negroes. beneath the spot where they had been lynched.
 Following the dispatch of Duncan and Copeland. some one suggested that Allen and Cain, two other negroes, known to be in the Jail, should also be lynched.
 The mob. nov bloodthirsty and wrought up to the highest pitch of ex- citement. readily took up the cry aud soon the cflarred. bones of third vic tim lay beneath the statue of the God dess of Liberty. Cain escaped.
 Allen and Cain were being held upon suspicion of having murdered O. P Ruark. while Duncan and Copeland were accused of assaulting Mabel Ed mundson, q white domestic.
 Their work finally accomplished. the mob quietly dispersed. But today crowds. augmented by hundreds of per- sons from surroundinK towns tllled the streets making thre&ts of further ven eeance, and tonight several companies of State militia ordered out byaGover- nor Folk. together with 200 deputy sheriffs, patrolled the streets.
 When the mob left the jail at nnid- night with Copeland and Duncan. four teen prisoners escaped in the excite nnent. Among them was Cain. But Allen was there yet and the second mob found him hiding under a cot. He was dragged out. his hands were tied behind his back, 8 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 Allen 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:
 S AIIen Was Identiaed.
 ."Ladies and Gentlemen: This is Will Allen, the man who murdered old man Ruark. What shall we do with him?''
 Hang him" cried the crowd. Throw him overheard"
 Can any one identify this nigger?" asked the spokesman.
 Hold up the lantern" some one shouted. The man put the lantern up so that it stone into the face of the negro, and some enc in the crowd said: ''Yes; I Identify him; hang him"
 At this the crowd laughed.
 Are you Will AIlen" asked the orator.
 "Yes. but did not kill Ruark." he an- swered.
 well, who did?"
 T only know that I heard that Rus cain Killed him." the negro answered.
 Make him spit it out! Make him confess" the crowd shouted.
 The man with the lantern shouted again: 'Is this negro guilty? Yes or nor
 Some one shouted. "Yes:" others cried No"
 The mob was undecided. While the crowd was debating the second man on the platform began tying a rope to the iron railing.
 The negro stood directly above the smouldering ash heap from which the smell of burning 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 negro's ankles lifted him and threw him forward over the railing. Allen turned a somersault in the air and as the rope became taut his neck cracked like a pistol shot. The rope broke and he fell in the bed of coals on top of the other two negroes.
 There he kicked and floundered around until another rope was brought, thrice looped around the neck and he was again suspended in mid air
 More boxes were brought, another big fire was kindled. and soon the swaying figure now dead, fell into 1t, sending up a spray of live sparks.
 Springfield. Mo, April 15.-State mili- tia. enforced by 200 deputy sheriffs, sworn in during the day guard the streets of Springfield tonight against a possible repetition of the work of the mob that last night lynched three ne- groes in the. public square.
 There are hundreds of strangers in the city and Springfield still Is in the grip of the mob spirit. Although no untoward move was made during the day, many threats were heard, and Sheriff Horner, fearing a fresh out break when darkness should fall. tele- graphed Governor Folk early in the Jay for aid.
 The Governor responded promptly and within few hours six companies of militia were on the way here from Aurora, Carthage, Peirce City. Butler, Nevada and one other point. The first of these companies arrived at o'clock this evening and was followed during lhs night at intervals by others In addition to sending soldiers here to guard against a further violation of The law, Governor Folk took quick ac- tion to prosecute the leaders of the mob.
 Today he authorized the offering of a reward of $500 each for the arrest and conviction of members of the mob. This ,s the limit allowed by law In addi- lion, he instructed Rush Lake, Assist