Evening star., 1922-05-19
NEGRO, IS, BURNED !.
FOR SLAY|NG.BRDE
Dream Impe|Ied Him to Kill
to Get Auto, He Admits,
Under Torture.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
DAVISBORO. Ga. May 1s.-The
mob which burned Charlie Atkins.
ffteen-year-o negro. at the stake
yesterday dispersed today, appar-
emily satisfied that Atkins alone was
responsible for the death of Mrs.
Elizabeth Kitchens. 4 mail carrier.
who was shot to death on the road
side.
Riddled With Bullets.
Before his death, Atkins Is said
to have told the mob that John Henry
Gated in the crime. but, after search
ing for Tarver for several hours. the
quest was abandoned.
At sunset yesterday the body OF
Atkins hung suspended from q tree
at the scene Of Mrs. Kitchens death.
1t was riddled with bullets and
partly burned. Marks of earlier nog-
gins were visible.
Sheriff English of Washington coun-
ty and the Rev. A. P. Segars made
truitless arpeals to prevent the iyncn
ing Sheriff English's plea was met
with a mad clamor. Then the preacher
begged the mob to listen to the voice
Of reason" but the only result was
quick. forward movement OF the men.
a few sharp commands. ana; IN iess
of the negro had been accomplished
and the scene was deserted.
The lynching occurred at the scene
of the murder. more than 2,Ooo per-
sons from several counties witnessing
or taking part After being tortured
with slow fre for fifteen minutes.
the mob loosened the trace chains that
held Atkins to a pine tree and placed
his scared body in the middle OF the
main highway. He was conscious
crying in pain. The mob demanded 70
know if there were others connected
with the murder.
Name. Another Boy.
Atkins named John Henry Tarver.
another young negro boy, whom. he
said was the only other person con-
nected with il. He had previously
connected his brother with the case.
Members of the mob raised his body
again, fastened It to the pine tree. in
an upright position. rekindled the FIRE
at the base of the tree and then STOOD
off, giving those in the crowd oppor-
tunity to fire shots into the BODY IN
dertakers. who obtained the body fol-
lowing the lynching. say that more
than 200 shots entered IT.
sheriff Protects Father.
Sheriff English of Washington
kins and his wife, father and step
mother of the lynched negro boy. and
took them to the county Jail at San
dersville for safekeeping. The mob
made no effort to harm them, how,
ever.
During the afternoon the mob
whipped young Atkins severely sew
eral times, demanding the names of
those who were implicated in the
case. He said his brother Slim. and
John Henry Tarver were with him.
The negro said that he shot Mrs.
LyitchaDs hrj6e Of a month with a
shotgun. determined to get possession
of the woman's automobile and make
a dream of the night before come
true He shot her as she stopped at
a mailbox at the roadside. The
dream, he said. was that he was go
ing to gain possession of car.
Body Dragged Fifty Yards.
Although the negro boy was large
fer his age. officers of Washington
county believe that he had assist
ance. for the body of Mrs. Kitchens
was dragged fifty yards from the
scene of the killing. The mail sack
was a hundred yards away. the con-
tents having been removed. The cash
was kept in a cigar box. which the
negro boy said he took home. 1t was
found there.
After disposing of the body and
the mail sack Atkins said he drove
straight home. He said he told his
father that his dream had come true.
and then after changing his clothing
he invited members of his family to
ride with him. In the meantime he
had smeared mud over the blood
stains of the automobile.
Sid Lewis. farmer: passing the
scene of the crime, found the body
of Mrs. Kitchens thirty minutes after
she had been shot. He had heard the
shooting, but had difficulty in locating
the body.
I>wis teIenboned this information
to Sheriff English at Sandersville and
posses were quickly on the trail of
the slayer. They soon found the au
tomobile. Charlie Atkins being at the
wheel Automobiles filled with ex-
cited men who went to the scene of
the crime bristled with rifles and
shotguns.