Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-02-17
BLACK SHRIEKS
HIS INNOCENCE
DESPITE FLAME
State and County Inquiry
Of Mob's S Action
Opened

ATHENS, Ga, Feb. 17.-State
and county authorities got under way
today an investigation into the lynch
ing last night of John Lee Eberhart,
negro suspected of the murder of
Mrs Walter E. Lee, young white
woman, who was killed in the yard of
her home yesterday morning.
The negro was taken from the
Clarke county Jail by mob estimat-
ed at seven thousand, and burned at
stake near the scene of the alleged
crime in Oconee county, Z miles
away.
The negro shrieked protestations
of innocence to the last.
The method employed by the mob
in securing the negro from the Jail,
which is said to be the most modern
in the state, established precedent
unheard of in this state and probably
the first in the history of the country.
A huge modern blow torch was en-
ployed by the mob to allow its mem.
bers to gain entrance after Sheriff
Jackson resisted the mob to the last.
1t is said that members of the mob
climbed up the elevator shaft of the
Clarke county courthouse to the top
floor, where the jail is located. There
they put the torch in play on lock,
which secured one Of the rear en-
frances to the prison. While other
members of the mob kept the county
officials in front. the torch melted the
big brass paddock and an entrance
was effected.
Seize Negro
The same men entered the prison,
went to the negro's cell and over
powered him. They lowered him
down the elevator shaft and made
their escape into the mass Of angry
men awaiting outside.
! With mighty shout the mob Yell
ed: Lynch him here, lynch him
here" but the ring leaders placed the
negro in an automobile and started
off in the direction of the Oconee
county line. Hundreds of automo-
biles fell in line in the rear of the
car containing the negro. Men by
the score ran along at the side of
these machines.
One hour later the mob arrived at
the scene of the crime. They formed
a circle around the ringleader's auto
mobile. They waited few minutes
until preliminary arrangements could
be made and then the negro was TAX
en- from the machine and led to a
spot in field directly across the
road from where Mrs. Lee was shot
down.
A stake was Immediately driven in
to the ground. Small twigs and pine
wood were thrown around it and Eb-
erhardt was placed in the center. He
was tied to the stake and the torch
applied. Twenty minutes later the
fire died out. The negro's charred
body fell into its ashes.
Refuses To Confess
Prior to the torch being applied
the ringleader of the mob requested
the negro to make a confession. He
denied having any connection with
the murder. The mob shouted for
action. The ringleader threw a
lighted match into the brush.
/ Above the cracking of the burn
ing brush, the negro pleaded that he
was not guilty and begged to be
spared so that he could furnish an
alibi. His plea went unheeded.
Four minutes later, the fire was
extinguished after the man had been
half roasted. He was called on again
to make confession. He denied it
again. The torch was again applied.
Eberhardt paid the penalty for one
of the most startling and foul mur-
ders in the history of this section,
when at 8 o'clock Wednesday morn
ing he is alleged to have killed Mrs.
Lee. The slayer used double-bar-
rel shotgun, both loads entering the
head and the back.
Besides her husband, she leaves
one child, boy of eighteen months
old.