The Denver star., 1916-07-22

lyncheo az Cry nan IN waco.
Fifty thousand copies Of the story of
The Waco Horror" have been dis
tributed by the National Association
For the Advancement of Colored PeO-
pie through its official organ, the Crisis.
and as result campaign for an anti
lynching fund OF $4,000 has been
launched. Immediately upon hearing
the details of this American atrocity.
which for barbarity surpasses any
thing charged against the Germans in
Belgium. Judge Moorfield Storey. ma
tional president Of the association and
formerly president of the American
Bar associatio and Philip G. Peabody,
both OF Boston, each offered to con
tribute $1,000 toward such fund on
condition that the remaining $500 be
raised by Aug. l.
The y. A \. {. =. sent special in
yestigator from national headquarters,
30 Fifth avenue New York. who com
meEced gathering evidence in Waco.
Tex. where the burning occurred.
within forty eight hours after the
lynching. Inasmuch as 1000 people
had sanctioned the affair by their pres
ence and dozens of pictures were tax
en-. there was no difficulty in ascertain
ing the names and addresses OF the
ringleaders and those of both the
Judge and sheriff who seemed not to
have made the slightest effort to pro
tect their prisoner. The association Is
lending every effort Ia secure DIS
tinguished Texas lawyer with courage
enough to bring the case against these
murderere into court.
Politics. the investigator found. was
at the bottom of the affair. sam Elem
ing. the sheriff. is up for reelection at
the Democratic primary this month
July. His opponent. Buchanan. though
illiterate, has three dead nicger> to
his credit so it's said. and l. there
fore very popular. Unless he is to 90
back to selling buegies and cnltiva
tors for the hardware store Sam need
ed q lynching to increase his populsri-
iy. The murder of Mrs Fryer on Mon
day. May S. came just at the right
time.
Jesse Washington, colored boy Of
seventeen, charged with murder. con
' =
May l5. The crowd began gatherin.
from the surrounding country on sun
day. When court opened l.5oO crowd
ed into the room. inside the rail about
the judges desk and jury box. and
2.OOO more waited In the courtyard
The district judge of the criminal
court. II. l. Munroe elbowcd his WAY
o his desk. and the boy was brought
from his chambers. where he had been
secreted since the sheriff brought him
from Dallas In the middle of the night
As the Jurors were called the crowd
yelled. I'VE don't need any jury" bu;
the trial was allowed TO be hurried
through. The jury brought In YER
dict OF guilty OF murder and assessed
his punishment as death. The defend.
ant had waived his legal rights and
would have been hanged that same
afternoon. There was pause OF fun
minute. The court stenographer slip
ped out with his records. Sheriff
Fleming sneaked out too.
Then big fellow In the back OF the
yelled. Get the niggcr."
They took him before the court had
pronounced judgment without the
judge lifting finger in protest. Down
the back stairs they rushed him to the
crowd waiting outside. They put the
chain In his mouth so that he wouldn't
choke too soon. and when those lug
ging at It broke It the driver of an
Immense brewery truck, who led the
rabble, wound 1t around his own wrist
rather than take chances that the boy
should die too soon. Many had come
""v tn attend this party, and