The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-06-22
NEGRO DURTJf.l,
A1r STAKE, Fur
USUAL ATT A(,Es
Convicted Man Would
Have Been flung on
July s
TWENTY GUARDS
WERE USELESS
Killed Victim to Keep
Her From Telling OF
the Assault

the Assault
Moultrie. Ga, June 2l.-John
Henry Williams, negro slayer of
Lorena Wilkes, 2year OLD whit:
girl. was burned TO the sake Fri
day by a mob after he nad Deea
convicted OF first degree murder
and sentenced to be hanged jGiI
8. The prisoner was ta-~n 'iJnl
the officers as he WIS 's%.n@ eS-
corted from the cour; room anG
was rushed to the scene OF MS
crime, where he WIS tie: 20 ti:c
stump OF Il tree.
Williams. calmly smoked cisa-
rette as the match was applied TO
the fuel around him and he made
but little outcry as the flames
slowly burned him TO death. It
was reported that he made :: fu!i
confession.
The mob quietly dispersed after
the lynching and thus III 10 ar
rests have been made
Williams. who at his trial de-
MED his guilt. is alleged 10 have
made a full and det2ile! con-
fession to members O: the mob.
eevn telling how the girl begged
him to spare her life.
1t was when he SAN the gin
pass his house on her va, 70 {
store at Aulrayville. Ga. th:t he
planned crime, he is said 70 have
declared. He cut her throat with
a knife and then dragged her bods
into a shallow pond and we;gn ed
il down with wate"so2ked logs.
according to MS alleged con;as-
sion. The negro waded out jGt2
the pond and showed mob NOM
bers where he had hid the body.
He appeared little disturbed. Tae
mob stood quietly on the banks or
the pond and lis,ened 10 his story.
1t was to big stump He2r the
edge Of the pond that Williams
was chained and burned. Wood
WAS piled around him and &aso-
line was poured on i. Jus.
before the match was a2p!ied the
negro asked for cigarette and
it was put in his mouth and
lighted for him. f!e was c::m IS
putting smoke when the match
was applied to the sake. As the
flames ttared up and found taeir
way to Williams he made l;4tle
outcry, but mis- body went through
horrible coniOrtionS.
Finally the wind veered. blo"-
ing the smoke and flames aw&y
from his head. making it possible
for him to speak. and the negro
began to sing. continuing l;nt:l the
smoke Stified him.
When the 20 armed officers
with Williams in their custody as
peared on the steps o. he c9'lr:-
house there came shouts o. LET $
get him lmmediate;!,' ~. :
seemed to be 4 multitude PRESSED;
in Oh the officers Tie deputies
were powerless. News OF the ssiZ-
ing of the negro sp.eaG ".ap!Gly
and throngs rushed 10 TIE scene
OF the crime.
1t was more than 80 minutes al
| ter the arrival at the pond before
Williams was chained and burned.
It was when he saH that death
was at hand that he made his coa-
fesSion.
The devils put the crime into
NY head and after ! .haG co,n-
mitted ii there was nothing Ior re
to do but to Kill the sil': 70 keep
her from telling. the negro is
said to have stated in telling whai
prompted the deed.
Williams was broupa: 70 As0H:-
trie from Columb bus fo! triai cary
this morning The tria began in
media teiy. -:Aftar being oV1 o,slv
q minute or two fhe jury returned
verdict finding W!!lidnts sGi:JH-
OF two capita crimes. oha OF
which was murder.
The lynching OF Williams vas
aveHed the day OF his arses; ty
Sheriff Beard. Cf Co!GU;tj ccc;!,
tv, after a Wild ride or more tI2li
Go miles during which he w,is pa
sued by nearlE 100 &ut0r. ojj;:!e+.
He managed TO reach Thomas
vile. and later went 20 Cairo.
whence he Wes forced 20 80 TO
Bainbridge. where he Grained MS
prisoner in the woods. The ne
gro later was take: - Ca;i5eri
and then to Columbus
| Reprisal seekers II the AU@rev-
Vile section during the w"a!;
| burned many negro homes ;;2d
churches. whipped several IS
groes and shot one. This is the
! first lynching IN the :iis;orl CT
Colquitt county.
Moultrie. Ca. June 2l.-Hun-
dreds of people have visited ;he
scene. where John Henry Will
liams. negro. was burned TO 2
stake Friday by Co!Quitt
county mob after he had been TAX
EN- fro ma strong guard i'll front OF
the court here Williams char:ed
remains was still chained 10 Tie
stamp late this afternoon.