Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-08-30
NEGRO BURNED AT STAKE.
Mob in Oklahoma Deals Out Swift
Punishment to Rapist.

w
5000 men, women and children
stood by, shouting their approval,
Peter Carter, a negro, who had pre-
viously been captured by three men,
as the man who last night attacked
Mrs. Minnie Spraggins, wife Of far
mer, was burned to death on brush
pile in the main street of Purcell, at
s o'clock this afternoon. Deputy
Sheriff Hayes and Under-sheriff Far
ris, who attempted to rescue the
negro from the crowd, were over
powered 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 to the Spraggins home
Mrs. Spraggins's husband saw the
flames while working in the field
and rushed into the house in time
to rescue his wife. She declared
Carter, who formerly worked on the
Spraggins farm, had attacked her.
Officers went to Carter's home and
arrested him. He was turned over
to a constable, but on the way to the
jail escaped. When it became
known the negro was free, farmers
OF the netghborhood organized and
an all-night search was made The
negro was not found.
Negro Arrested by Negroes.
This afternoon Higlcy Henry. n
negro janitor. noticed a strange ne
gro under box car near the Okla
homa Central railway station. With
the aid OF two other negroes, who
had armed themselves, the negro
janitor pulled Carer from beneath
the car. He was taken to the main
street Of Purcell, whore great
crowd had gathered.
Turn the niger over to me-"
said tall farmer, who suddenly
seemed to assume command of the
crowd.
The 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 1t at his feet. At this junc-
ture Deputy Sheriff Hayes and I'm
der-sheriff Farris arrived and plead
ed with the mob to turn the prisoner
over to them.
That's All Right" They Said.
That's all right sheriff." shouted
one Of the mob, "but we must pro-
:ect 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. Az
ter the sheriff had concluded, the
officers were led to the court house,
presumably to confer with some of
the J. lerS AS they entered 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
sistant had been locked up the ne
gro was led out and placed on an
oil soaked brush heap built around
telephone pole. He was tied to the
pole and the torch applied
Mrs. Spraggins, who is not expect
ed to live. said Carter entered her
home last night and struck her on
the head with a gas pipe. beating
her until she was unconscious An
old mattress was torn up and scat
tered over her body. After the ne
gro had set the mattress on fire he
fled. AS Mrs. Spraggins was crawl
ing from the fire the negro reap
peared and again struck her with
the pipe, brca king her jaw and beat
ing her badly. Her husband, rush
ing to the house, rescued his wife,
unconscious. IN few minutes more
she would have been dead.