The Red Cloud chief., 1906-04-20
2 NEGROES LYNCHED
TAKEN FROM SPRINGFIELD JAIL
ANo HANGED AND BURNED.

in Missouri city-Both Whites and
Negroes Are Armed and Latter viii
Resist Eviction.
Springfield, Mo-, April 16.-At 2:15
o M. william Allen, a young negro.
was taken from the county jail here
sud lynched in the public square by
~, same mob that two hours earlier
b,i hanged Horace Duncan and
James Copeland. The body of Alien
foter was burned to ashes. as had
been those of the other negroes. be-
Meath the spot where they had been
lyuChed.
Following the dispatch of Duncan
sud Copeland some n suggested that
Allen aud Bus Cain, W other me-
srDes known to be in the jail, should
also be lynched. The mob, now blood
thirsty and wrought up to the highes'
pitch of excitement, readily took up
THE cry, and soon the charred body or
. third victim lay beneath the statue
Of the Goddess of Liberty. Cain es-
capped.
Allen and Cain were being held up
on suspicion Of having murdered o.
T. Ruark. while Duncan and Copeland
were accused of assaulting Mabel Ed
~plOndson. a white domestic.
Their work finally accomplished,
the mob quietly dispersed. But during
the day crowds, augmented by hun
Ay,Jg Ag marianne from surrounding
towns, filled the streets, making
threats of further vengeance, n sew
eral companies of state militia, or
dered ont by Governor Folk, together
with POO deputy sheriffs, patrol the
streets.
Fourteen Prisoners Escape.
When the mob left the Jail at mid
might with Copeland and Duncan four
teen prisoners escaped in the excite
Ucut. Among them was Cain. But
Allen was there yet and the second
mob found him hiding under a cot.
lie vas dragged out, his hands were
tied behind his back, a rope was put
Ground his neck and he was marched
down the street to the tower in the
square. The negro stood directly
shove the smouldering ash heap. from
Which the smell Of burning flesh
srose. The hangman caught the ne
gro by the ankles, lifted him and
threw him forward over the railing.
aud as the rope became taut his neck
cracked like a pistol shot. The rope
broke and he fell in the bed Of Goals
OF top of the other two negroes. There
n kicked and tioundered around until
another rope was brought, thrice
Hoped around the neck and he was
again suspended in mid air.
More boxes were brought, another big
Ere was kindled and soon the swaying
figure. now dead. fell into 1t, sending
up an arrowy spray of live sparks.
After that most of the men went
home, but some men and boys stayed
by the tower all night and fed the
fire. When daylight broke upon the
scene there remained only the black
eued trunks and charred remains OF
tle negroes.
Five Thousand persons saw the trio
hanged and burned. Among the crowd
Of spectators were hundreds of wom-
en- and children. girls and boys. In a
hall overlooking the plaza a dance
was in progress. Its music stopped,
dOws and watched the writing black
bodies and the flames that finally
consumed them.
Governor Folk Offers Reward.
In addition to sending soldiers here
e. guard against a further violation of
abe law. Governor Folk took quick ac-
ttOu to prosecute the leaders of the
mob. He authorized the Offering of a
yeward OF $500 each for the arrest
sui conviction of members of the
mob. This is the limit allowed by
law. In addition. he instructed Rush
Lake. assistant attorney general, to
proceed here at once and aid the
grand jury Of Greene county in fer.
xeting out and prosecuting the prime
movers IN Saturday nights work.
Negroes who dared to appear on the
streets were greeted with boots and
ieers, and on several occasions crowds
OF men and boys collected to attack
them. Both the negroes and whites
are armed and the negroes would not
likely be driven IA of the city with
cut a struggle.
1t is expected that the grand jury
viii indict at least fifty, and perhaps
100 men. Not a man in the mob wore
q mask Or made any attemnt al con.