The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-10-11

Mobile, Ala, SpecIal.-The crimes
committed upon Ena May Fowler,
Lillian May SeveIl, Ruth Soesaman,
aud attempts OH Others whose names
are NOT given, were revenccd by d
party Of Is men Saturday afternoon
at l2:35 o'clock in q lonely place
just off the Holt road, III the neigh
bolhood Of priehard' : Station. The
leaders ordered the men, who were all
armed with revolvers, shotguns and
rifles, not To fire shot and the orders
were carried out. Thompson, the
negro youth who committed the first
crimes that startled the people Of
Mobile and worked them up into a
fury. was hanged first. Robinson,
the other negro, was executed inmc-
diately afterwards. A long half-inch
live-oak tree and Robinson was
drawn up about Is feet and the rope
was fastened. He slowly strangled
TO death. According to one of the
leaders of the mob, Robinson con-
fessed. The Associated Press repre-
sentative was called over TO hear the
confession, but Robinson looked
frightened and said that he was not
the man. Robinson was hanged at
1888 p. N. Thompson was hanged
before the body of Robinson was cut
down.
The hanging of the negroes was
conducted in very quiet manner and
during the time that the work was
going on hardly a word was spoken.
The negro Thompson was very sui
len from the time he was taken
off the train until the rope was plac-
ed around his neck. Robinson main
tanned that he was going to heaven.
When Mount Vernon was reached
on the trip from Birmingham, eight
men wearing white masks boarded
the train. Five of them leveling pis-
tolls at Sheriff Powers and his deputy
and said the men had come for the
prisoners. The revolvers of the sher-
If and deputy were taken from them.
The conductor of the train was ask
ed to move all the people in the first
| class coach to the rear seats. as. others
Of the crowd were going to get on
the train at Plateau. The conductor
complied with the request and some
Of the passengers were also placed in
the sleeper.
One Of the mob leaders who stood
on the platform of the train, heavily
masked, said that the crowd which
had just boarded the train were all
business men of Mobile and that their
action had been decided upon only
! after careful consideration. He said
| that II the negroes were taken into
Mobile by the sheriff and tried under
military protection there would GER
tainly be bloodshed and their method
was the best.
| When the train reached Creole. Is
miles from Mobile, a large number of
men wearing masks and one of them
carrying bag which contained
straps and ropes, came on board and
were given their orders. At Prich-
ards Station the masked mob. with
the prisoners closely guarded, got off
the train and started down the road
About 100 yards from the tree OH
which the hanging took place the cry
was given to hurry and the mob
and prisoners broke into run. After
running 25 yards big oak tree was
reached, and the mob stopped and
ropes were produced. Fearing trouble
with the neighborhood negroes, scouts
armed with rifles, guarded the main
road. The negroes were then strung
up. Nearly everybody in the crowd
took part OF the rope. While the ne
groes were being hanged strict orders
from the leader rang out: "Boys. do
not lire shot; we are carrying out
the will of the people,