The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-26
John Thomas Swings on Tree For Attack on Lady Near
 ParkWOod
TAKEN BEFORE VICTIM AND
 POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED
Negro Finally Confessed and Begged Men Not to Hang Him, Saying He Did Not Mind Going
 to Jail.

Incensed by the brutal attack of John Thomas a negro, upon Mrs. Patterson, southern part of the county, a posse formed presumably of citizens of FL vira and Parkwod lynched the black assailant in a secluded place about mile and half below Bessemer last night shortly after o'clock.
 The posse, it is understood, was made the negro was hung to a tree by the deter mined and incensed, but orderly, crowd of men. Thomas was strung up in the pres ence of the deputized citizen who was talk ing the negro to Bessemer for safety, and after the posse had avenged the brutality of the negro they quietly disappeared through the woods and returned to their homes.
 The brutal attack upon Mrs. Patterson occurred at her home at Elvira yester- day shortly after noon. From the in- formation received 1t is understood that the negro entered the Patterson home and attacked Mrs. Patterson in the presence fled and started toward Hardwood, which Is about two miles from Elvira.
 Posse Starts In Pursuit.
 The news of the assault spread rapidly and posse was immediately organized at Elvira They hurried in pursuit of the negro and before he was captured the mob had been greatly enlarged.
 Thomas was traced through the woods to point between Elvira and Hardwood, and with some difficulty the posse located him in a negro house near the home of Jones Nunnally, a white farmer by whom Thomas was employed. The negro was taken without resistance This was about o'clock yesterday afternoon.
 According to the report received the posse secured Thomas hands, and in an orderly manner marched him back to FL vira. The negro was carried before the victim of his brutality and Mrs. Patterson positively identified him. The three chill dren were then called upon and each identified Thomas as the negro who had attacked their mother.
 It is stated that after Thomas iden- tified by Mrs. Patterson he laughed and admitted his guilt. Andy Roy, the white man in whose custody the negro was placed, states that the negro boldly faced his captors and told them that "he didn't care" He is also said to have stated that he didn't care what they did with him Just so they didn't hang him, and that he did not mind going to prison, because P he had already served seven years in the penitentiary.
 The negro was then carried before justice of the peace and a warrant was sworn out against him. The posse quiet ly placed Thomas n MT. Roys custody and all of the members returned to their homes. It is believed that they feared the boldness of a daylight lynching.
 Started for Bessemer.
 Early last night MT. Roy left Elvira with Thomas, intending to take him to Bessemer to be confined in the jail there. The territory between Elvira and Besse- mer is very wild and sparsely settled, but MT. Roy, having handcuffed the negro, and fearing no violence from the mob. which had so peacefully surrendered the possession of the negro. undertook to carry him to Bessemer alone.
 Last night shortly after o'clock Mir. Roy was passing along the Hardwood and Bessemer road when at a very secluded point he was called upon to stop MT. Roy acted as he was ordered and he states that a mere handful of men advanced from the woods and took possession of the negro.
 Without any demonstration of any kind and practically without word, 1t Is un- derstood a rope, which was held in read mess. was thrown over the limb of a tree and loop was fixed around Thomas neck The negro was hung and the mob, satisfied that he was dead, left the body dangling at the end of the rope and swaying in the wind. turned their backs and started back through the woods to- ward Hardwood.
 Mr. Roy realized his helplessness and did not attempt to follow the mob, which, without word left him standing at the scene of the lynching.
 Roy Continues Journey Alone.
 MT. Roy then started onward toward Bessemer. which was about a mile and a half distant, He reached Bessemer shortly after Il o'clock and went to the home of George w. Jones, chief deputy sheriff at Bessemer, into whose hands he had intended to deliver the negro as- saiant
 MT. Jones was informed of what had i, happened and he immediately tele- ohoned The AgeHerald the informa- ton he had received. This was the first information received in Birming- ham relative to the lynching, the coun- ty jail having received nothing about he occurrence. The Age Herald had