Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-08-25
OKLAHOMA NEGRO
BURNED To DEATH
BY ANGRY MOB
THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE
WATCH VICTIM ROASTED
Prisoner Pays Grim Penalty for
MurderouS Assault on WOm-
AM Daylight Lynching in
Main Street Of Purcell,

rBy Morning Journal special Leased Wire.
Purcell. Okla. Aug. 24.-Pete car
ter the negro Identified as the man
who attacked Mrs. Minnie SprageIns
and set fire to her home near here
last night, was burned to death by "a
moh in the main street of Purcell late
this afternoon.
Three thousand persons witnessed
the negro's death.
Undersheriff Ferris and Deputy
Sheriff HAYES made desperate efforts
to prevent the burning of the negro.
but the mob locked the officers In the
court house.
While men and women looked on
few men soaked a brush pile with
coal oil and then poured oil over the
negro, who was thrown upon the
brush A match was then touched to
the fagots and a blaze shot up hiding
the screaming black from view His
body was burned to crisp,
The negro was caught by three
other blacks this afternoon near the
Oklahoma Central railroad station,
as he was preparing to leave Purcell
Houghley Henry. a negro ianitor at
the court house. found him hiding
under a box ear. Assisted by two
other negroes who had armed them
selves and joined in the search for
Carter, Henry took the alleged assail-
ant to the main street of Purcell
There he was turned over TO the
crowd which had gathered when the
report that the negro had been cap
tured spread.
Undersheriff Ferris and Deputy
Hayes were among the first to reach
the spot where the mob had gathered
and made a strong effort to prevent
the lynching, assuring the leaders of
the mob that there would be no
chance of the negro's escape.
The officers We're allowed to talk
TO the crowd and We're led to the court
house. presumably to confer with the
leaders. AS they entered n room in
the building the key was turned In
the lock and they were held prisoners
until the negro was dead.
As soon as the officers had been
locked up the negro was led out and
placed on the brush which had been
piled around telephone pole. He
was tied to the pole and torch ap-
piled.
Cheers came from the crowd as
the flames licked his face and men
and women in automobiles watched
him die.
AS he was lashed to the pole the
negro shrieked for mercy. After the
flames died down the crowd slowly
dispersed.
Mrs. Spraggins was able to tell the
story Of the crime today She said
Carter entered her homo at o'clock
last night and struck her on the head
with piece of gas pipe, knocking
her down. He then beat her the
woman says, until she was almost un-
conscious and attacked her. He then
tore up a mattress, scattered over her
body ana touched match to H. flee
ing from the house
just as she began to crawl from
the blazing mattress the negro re-
turned. Knceling beside her he again
b'dA NV VIII lilt gus BlDfi
her jaw bone and beating her badly
about the body. As soon as the ne
gro left the house she managed to
crawl outside where she lay under II
bench near the house
Her husband who was returning
home, saw the flames and ran up to
the house. She was found uncon-
scious. whore she probably would
have been suffocated in a few min
utes
Officers later found the negro at
his home in bed. He was arrested
and turned over to a constable but
later made his escape. when 1t be-
came known that the negro was free
posses which had been forming since
the first reports of the crime. grew
rapidly and the search for the negro
began in earnest Mrs. Spraggins Is
not expected to live.