Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-30
Negro Lynched in Pensacola
After Determined Battle.
TWO KILLED; MANY HURT
Victim Riddled by 1900 Bullets in
Public Park.
COMBAT LASTS FOR HOURS
One Thousand Men Finally Over
power o@cer's Force and Get
Into the Jail.

PENSACOLA, Fla, July 30.-Two mer
killed and nine wounded some of them
fatally is the record Of the clash last
midnight between a mob bent upon lynch
Ing Leander Shaw, a negro, and the sher'
lit and his forces. in which the mob finally
overpowered the authorities. The lynch
Ing was carried out in the most promi'
nent park of this city.
Shaw yesterday assaulted Mrs. Lillian
Davis. highly respected lady, near this
city, during the absence OF her husband
and after cutting her throat almost from
ear to ear. dubbed her over the head with
a revolver which he had taken from the
house.
During the afternoon, when 1t became
known that the negro had been arrested
crowds began forming upon the streets
and early in the night they were rein
forced by large numbers of men from the
country. The mob formed about 8 O'Clock
last night and made an attack on the
county Jail. where the negro was con-
fined. The Jail gate was broken down by
the mob and the sheriff and his deputies
opened fire.
Three men dropped from the first vol
ley of the sheriffs fire. Volley after vol.
ley was then fired by the mob and the
shsriffs force. but the mob was repulsed.
About midnight another attack was
made. the mob having increased to 1000
successful. for the reason that 1t was
made upon all sides of the Jail. One party
forced its way through the rear. over
powered the officers and secured the trem-
bling negro.
Riddled With 1900 Bullets.
A moose was slipped about his neck.
and after being dragged for two blocks
he was strung UP to an electric light pole
in the center Of the park, where fully
2OO0 bullets completely riddled his body.
The dead are:
Henry c. Kellum. street car motorman.
Bird" Nichols, a planter.
Charlie Turner. shot in abdomen, prob
ably fatally.
Jailer B: H. Eaton. shot in head. prob
ably fatally.
4. n, knowles. shot in side. probably
sheriff james c. Van Pelt. shot in right
arm.
John Van Pelt. a brother, shot in side
head and hand.
Fred Humphreys. shot In leg.
w. p. Brownson, shot through ear.
w. p. Bayliss. shot in arm.
Probably a dozen or more others were
slightly wounded.
Sheriff Regrets Killing.
Sheriff Van Pelt. in an interview shortly
after the lynching. said:
While l regret the death of the two
men and the wounding Of many others. ]
have done nothing except what / was
called upon to do when took the oath OF
office. I pleaded with the mob for more
than an hour and told them what would
be the consequence II they attacked the
jail: was in duty bound to protect the
negro and proposed to do so.
They would not have gotten him bu,
for the fact that 1 and my forces were
engaged with the mob In front when a
portion of the men climbed the rear wal
and overpowered US"
The body of Shaw was cut down this
morning by order of the authorities
Mrs. William Davis. whose throat was
cut by the negro. Is still alive, but It Is
said she cannot recover. The baby, who
was struck by the negro at the time he
tried TO kill the mother, 1t is said, will
recover.