The Sentinel=record., 1911-08-25
NEGRO BRUTE
 IS LYNCHED
AFTERs BEATING AND ASSAULT. ING WHITE WOMAN SET FIRE
 TO HOUSE.
Escapes From Officers, Recaptured by Negro He is Burned at Stake on Main Street of Pur-
 cell, Okla.

Purcell, Okla, Aug. zf.-wnile D. 900 men, women and children shout ed their approval, Peter Carter, ne- gro who had previously been captured by three members of his own race, and identified as the man who last night attacked Mrs. Minnie Sprag- gins. wife of a farmer, was burned to death on a brush pile in the main street of Purcell at $500 o'clock this afternoon.
 Deputy Sheriff Hayes and Under Sheriff Farris. who attempted to res. cue the negro from the crowd, were oVerpowered and locked in the court house.
 Mrs. Spraggins was assaulted while alone in her home one mile south of Purcell. After the deed the negro set fire 10 the Spraggins home. Mrs. Spraggins' husband saw the flames working in the field and rushed into the house in time to rescue his wife. She declared Charter, who formerly worked on the SpraggIns farm. had assaulted her. Officers went to Car ter's home and arrested him. lie was turned over to a constable, but on the way to jail escaped. When it be- came known the negro was free, farm CTS of the neighborhopd organized and prosecuted an unsuccessful all night search.
 This afternoon Highley Henry, ne. gro janltor, noticed a strange negro riding under a box car near the Ok lahoma Central Railway With the aid of two other negroes who had armed themselves, the negro janitor pulled Carter from beneath the car. He was taken to the main street of Pur- cell. where great crowd had gath cred
 Turn that nigger over to me-" said a tall farmer who suddenly seemed to assume command of the crowd.
 Then Janitor and his two aides obeyed. Carter was taken across the street and in an instant many men and boys were gathering brush and placing it at his feet
 At this 1uncture Deputy Snerirt Hayes and Under Sheriff Harris ar rived and pleaded with the meh to turn the prisoner over to them.
 Men of Purcell, if you lynch this man, it will be the darkest blot on yourselves and the town of Purcell that any town ever experienced.
 That's all right, snerlIr," snouteu one of the mob, but we must protect our wives and daughters from black hounds.
 The sheriff pleaded with the mob, saying the negro would be given an instant trial and that there would be no chance for him to escape.
 Alter the sheriff had concluded, the officers were led to the court house, presumably to confer with some or the leaders. As they entered a room in the building the key was turned in the lock and the officers were held prisoners until the negro was dead.
 As soon as the sheriff and his as sistants had been locked up. the ne- gro was led out and placed on an oil soaked brush heap built around a telephone pole. He was tied to the pole and the torch applied. Cheers came from the crowd as the flames licked the victims face and men ana women in motor cars watched him d1e
 As he was lasned to the pole tne negro shrieked for mercy. Alter the flames died down the crowd slowly dispersed.
 The negro's body was burned to a crisp.
 MfS. Spragglns, who IS not expect ed to live, said Carter entered mer home and struck her on the head with gas pipe. beating her until sne was unconscious. An old mattress was torn up and scattered over her body After the negro had set the mattress on fire he fled. As Mrs. Spraggins was crawling from the fire the negro reappared and again struck her with the pipe, breaking her jaw and beat ing her badly,
 Her husband rushing to the house rescued his w1re. unconscious. In a few minutes more she would have been dead
 The pile of wood and brush Oa winch