The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1913-11-14
MOB LYNCHES NEGRO
Dyersburg Black Pays Death Pen
atty for Assault.

dtUtuptcu assault On Wutt5 NOuldu
here at O'Clock this morning and at
noon was strung up to locust tree by
mob composed OF several hundred
white men.
The negro. who was driver Of de-
livery wagon for grocery store, while
on his rounds making his morning de-
liveries, entered the home Of Mrs.
lowers on one Of the suburban streets
and handed her piece Of paper asking
her to read it for him. As she took the
paper from his hand he put his hand TO
her throat and pushed her into the
house. She struggled with the negro
and screamed. Mrs. lowers being a
strong woman and the negro small she
was able to resist him and as her screams
would soon draw someone to the scene,
the negro ran off and jumped into his
delivery wagon which he had left only
block away from the lowers residence.
A city employee who was working on
sidewalk about block away was at
tracted to the house by the woman's
call for help, and as soon as he learned
what had happened, he went to the near
est telephone and notified the police.
City Marshal Miller and special officer
Burt Hurley hurried to the lowers
home in an automobile, passing the
negro on the way. They did not at that
time know what negro was wanted and.
continued to the scene Of the negro's at
tempted crime. Mrs. lowers, who had
by this time recovered from the excite
ment, told the officers who the man was
and they Immediately turned to town
and entered the store where the darkey
worked. One officer went in the front
door and the other the rear door to pre-
vent any possible escape Of Talley.
NEGRO RUNS TO JAIL.
When placed under arrest he protest
ed his innocence. He was taken to the
residence and identified by Mrs. lowers.
He was then taken to the county jail
and so anxious was he to get within the
strong walls Of the prison, he actually
ran with the officers to the jail and did
not look comfortable until the lock was
turned on him. He still protested his
innocence, stating that he had not even
been near the house.
As soon as the affair was known over
town groups OF men gathered on diff
ferent sides of the square and many
threats were heard, bur it was not till
thirty minutes before noon that the
groups all amalgamated into mob OF
more than 200 angry men. There was,
however, but little excitement and not
much more than il that number of men /
we're on their way to q political speak
ing.
The mob finding that the turnkey, !
Henry Ferguson, was not at the Jail and '
that he had the keys delegation was 4
to get him and the keys. !
When they found him they took certain 3
keys away from him but the keys to the .
inside cells were hidden from the mem 2
bers OF the party. Another delegation
was sent for sledge hammer and with G.
this instrument strong and determined 7
men broke the strong iron and steel
lock OF the inner doors.
The negro was found covering in the
corner of his cell, but was soon snatched
by the crowd and carried to the court
house yard, two blocks from the Jail.
LYNcHRD WITH DELTBERATIoN.
new one-inch rope was placed
around his neck and men slowly and
With deliberation threw the rope over
he limb of locust tree. The negro
vas again asked il he was guilty, and he
till protested his innocence and even
lfter he was pulled up to the limb, he
vas let quickly down to give him another
to confess, but he was then
90 weak to speak. One long pull was
yiven the rope which was Immediately A
attached to the trunk Of another tree
eaving the negro hanging in mid-air y
ome 20 feet from the ground with the - :,
Dyer County courthouse as back b,
,round and the beautiful Confederate 81
monument to his left, "
The mob Immediately dispersed as q
quietly as they had formed. The mob =
vas composed Of well known white men 10
md no effort was made to conceal their dr
IDENTIFY. W
When the mob was at the jail Sheriff
/. P. King and Acknowledgement d. ]. u
CALDWELL pleaded with them to await 4, i,
rial which was promised Monday OF q,