The log cabin Democrat., 1910-09-02

thicket. One of the figures, looked in
their direction, jumped up and fled,
followed by white and tan dog. Then
to their horror, they found the other
figure to be that of a small white
girl. The child ran toward them cry
ing piteously and so frightened that
she shook as though suffering from
convulsions. The prints of the ne
gro's fingers were over her mouth and
her condition was pitiable in the ex
treme.
Before the authorities could be no.
titled there had been formed in South
Hot Springs a citizens committee or
posse. The entire city was soon
aroused and searchers within three
hours were thick throughout the en-
tire district. A thoroughly accurate
description of the negro had been OBJ
tained both from the child and from
the two women witnesses who had had
SOOQ view VI MIN even ao hc 90 VII
gagged in his outrage.
A dozen negro youths were arrested
and taken before the little victim.
, All of them were turned loose as not
the right one. For two nights and
two days the posses secured the town
and surrounding country.
In the next few days Harry Poe
was arrested on suspicion by Sheriff
Houpt. For some reason, probably
fearing mob violence if the identified
ton should take place, the sheriff de-
layed about taking Poe before the
girl.
When Poe was finally taken out to
the girls home, in South Hot Springs,
the child happened to be standing by
| a window. AS the sheriff drove up
the little girl turned to her grand
mother and excitedly exclaimed :
"Look! Grandma; there is the negro
now! Later the two women above
mentioned completed Poe's identified
ton.
Immediately after being identified
Poe was rushed to the depot and taken
to Little Rock. In day or two he
was brought back and arraigned in a
magistrates court for a preliminary
| hearing. There again he was posi-
lively identified by the three. Poe
was held without bond to the grand
jury, a special session of which was
| soon afterward called to pass upon his
| 'ase.
Immediately after the preliminary
hearing was ended plans for lynching
the negro were put under way. The
| authorities heard of them, however,
| and got Poe aboard a Rock Island
train bound for Little Rock. The Off
GERS were just in time, for dozen
or more men arrived at the depot and
began to search the train. They were
not sure Poe was aboard. The negro
was hidden underneath seat. AS
the mob began to grow more active
the signal was given for the train to
pull out. Again the mob was baffled
| During Poe's trial, conducted at a
| special term Of court in Hot Springs
troops of the state militia were sta
toned in the courthouse to keep the
negro from being lynched. He was
soon convicted and sentenced to death
At first Poe had had no attorney, but
his relatives finally succeeded in re-
tanning one. Poe's execution was set
for May l, but a stay of execution
was granted on an appeal to the su-
preme court. On May 9 the supreme
court refused to interfere and few
days later Governor Donaghey fixed
the date of execution.
AS an example of the bitter feeling
in South Hot Springs especially
against Poe, it is reported that Robert
Adams, father Of the negro's victim
left for Oklahoma, because feeling
was so strong against him after he
had failed to kill Poe when oppor-
| aEoraI