Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-16

spot where the crime was committed, and
burned.
Before the IRE was started, which was
ignited by a young woman. the negro 6
head was cut off and placed on one end
OF pole, the other being stuck In the
ground. The heart was taken out, cut
up In small pieces and passed among the
men as souvenirs.
ROPE TAKEN AS SOUVENIRS.
Pieces of the rope with which he was
hanged, after being soaked in the negro 8
blood, were also handed about as SOU
venirs.
This morning there is nothing left of
the negro's body but pile of bones, but
large crowds OF women are visiting the
spot
The lynching of Henry Salzner, the
white man, for the brutal murder of his
wife on August Is last was a rebuke to
delayed justice. The people asked for an
immediate trial and ever since the case
was put off by the court dissatisfaction
has been universal.
saizner killed his wife with an axe.
She recovered enough to state that He
did it." before she died.
A great crowd Of women We're IN tne
mob and they loudly called for Salzner' S
execution. His body was left lying in
the street until morning, when 1t was
claimed by his father.
Salzner begged piteously for his life.
but he was greeted with jeers and blows.
With the rope around his neck he stated
that his sister killed his wife, which so
enraged the mob that they did not want
to let him pray, but cooler heads pre-
vailed and he was allowed a orie1 respite
CHANCE TO CONFESS.
A short religious service for the bene-
fit of Salzner's soul was held, after which
he was strung up, the rope being placed
over a telegraph pole at TWenty-Ilrst
and Washington streets
Salzner was born and raised here the
SON of William SalZner, hide ana WooI
buver. He was a photographer, ana had
been married about two years II was
known that he had had trouble WIN ms
wife, and, it is said, gave her no money
for food for herself and two smaH ooys.
The public was incensed against him.
ana while a part OF the mob was scour-
ing the city for the negro Alexander, time
ounp heavy on the hands OF the moo'
and when someone suggested Salzner the
mob rushed for the county jail. where the
man wanted was held in the steel cage.
The sheriff and his crowd of deputies
were pushed aside. and the oatterlng
down of the door of the cage was at once
negun with sledge hammers they haA
secured.
The mob found some difficulty in
breaking the cage, as 1t was an enureiy
steel structure; but, after a half hour OF
telling blows upon the door, IL gave
way. and Salzner was secured.
The mob rushed him out Of the back
door of the Jail. which is in the basement
of the court house, up to Twenty-first
street which is a prominent corner, and
has a public square, and where there
was room enough to hold the crowd.
Salzner was so badly frightened that he
was little more than a crazy man. He
cried and begged piteously for his life,
and was answered by cries and blows
from tho mob.
WOULD-BE RESCUER ATTACKED.
When saIzner was asked for his last
statement, "a man, a stranger In the
crowd. stepped forward and said he be-
lieved Salzner was innocent, whereupon
the mob fell upon the stranger, kicked!
struck him and finally knocked him down
and 1t was by hard work by the cooler
heads Of the mob that his life was
saved.
He was compelled to beg for mercy
FROM the mob and announced in loud
voice that Salzner should be lynched at
ter which - vas driven away and all at
.Saklau was given 90 1Sr1'OsT SSo cried
and SSEExS and nnw@Asad us ssS+sys isbf
killed his wife. HIS manner Onky' snEtkaf
turned the mob against him and II ifzrmS-
diately ciamored for his execution. .-.
After Salzner was hanged and while the
body was being riddled with bullets, tho
rope broke and the body fell to the
ground.