Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-06-17
HON. MOOREF|ELD STOREY'S GREAT BRIEF
IN SUPPORT OF DYER ANT|-LYNCH|NC BILL
EMINENT AUTHORITY PRESENTS
POINTS THE WAY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL. RtIIEF-DYER
HARMONY CONSTITUTION
from last week. }

Jim MCllherrOn, tho Negro VINO Snot
and killed Pierce Rodgers and jesse
Tisert, two white mon, at Estill
Springs, last Friday and wounded
Frank Tigcrt, was tortured with red
hot crowbar and then burned to death
here tonight at 7:40 by twelve masked
men. A crowd Of rO1iinatcly 1000
persons, among whom were women
and Children, witnessed the burning.
McIllrerron who was badly wounded
and unable to walk, was carried to tho
scene Of the murder, Nhero prepare
ton for a funeral pyre was begun.
The captors proceeded to a SPIT
about quarter Of mile from tho rail
road station and prepared the death
fire. The crowd followed and remained
throughout the horrible proceedings.
The Negro WAS led to a hickory tree,
to which they chained him. After SO
curing him to the tree n fire was laid.
A short distance away another fire was
kindlcd, and into 1t was put an iron
bar to heat.
When the bar became rcd hot MON
Der of the mob jabbed it toward the
Negroes body. Crazed with fright, tho
black grabbed hold Of it. and as it was
pulled through his hands the atmos.
PhcIo WIS l Hll<N Will IHS OuOI Ol DusIl
ing flesh. This was tho first time the
murderer gave evidence of his will 10
ing broken. Scream after scream rent
the air. AS the hot iron was applied TO
various parts Of his body his yells and
cries for mercy could be heard in tho
town.
After torturng the Negro several
minutes one OF the masked men pour
cI oil p
applied match to the pyre. AS the
flames rose, enveloping the blacks
body, he begged that he he shot. Yclls
OF dcrision greeted his request. Tho
angry flames consumed his clothing
and Nttle blue blazes shot upward
from his burning hair before he lost
consciousness.
THE example to these lynchers was
set In Memphis, and quote the follow
ING statement from Rt. Rev. Thomas
T.. Gallon, Episcopal Bishop OF Tcnnes.
SEQ, Southern white man, who wro,c
in the Nashville Banner:
Il realize that 1t IS futile to attemDt
by any written word to stem the tide
q: what seems to be the popular will:
but man can, at least declare his alb
horrenco OF such atrocities.
This kind Of lynching seems to DO
becoming epidemic in our State.
About two years ago Negro from Fay
cite County was lyDclred most barbar.
ously near Memphis and parts of his
body, according to the newspapers, car
rled away as souvenirs. Many citizens
OF Memphis protested, but they were
ignored. Last winter Negro man
near Memphis was burned ut the stake
gasoline was poured over his body and
his head was cut Off and taken through
the city atreets rs a trophy. Last fall a
Negro was burned to death in Dyers.
Durg, and thousands of white people
stood by and sloated over his agonies,
ANA now, ut Estill Springs, we have
another burning, where the white mon
Ill oharge first tortured the misera BILE
creature with a red.hot iron to breal,
MS "tNl,' while the victim, already
shot nearly to death, with eye hang
ing out, screamed for mercy. and a
Thousand white mon with hundreds of
women and children looked on and
were not ashamed.
These details are revolving, and Won
may ask me- why they are recited. Re.
cause unless the hideous horror of the
disease Is brought homo to tho peoplo
OF this country. they will not rouse
themselves to find the remedy.
Tho massacre Of East St. Louis is
FRESH In our memories, and its horrors
are well known at the South. IA an.
pears by the article in tho Greenyille.
Ne"s' published at Greenville, S. c.,
OF all days, on July 4, 1917, under the
utie fhe Banner Lynching":
Twenty Negroes have been killed,
hi,
than one hundred and fifty of their
homes have been burned. This was the
work of mob that showed no Negro
mercy, that did not stop to discrimi.
nate between the good and the bad.
All that could be caught were beaten,
II not slain, and battered into pulp.
White women caught Negro women
and tore their clothes off, beat them
ana ran them away. AS tho Negroes
ran out OF their burning houses. fired
ny the mob, they were shot down line
dogs. One Thousand five hundred sol
dlers 40 not suffice to control the situa
tion. Hundreds of Negroes, many of
ttlem carrying babies, are fleeing from
the1r former homes. Five hundred OF
tho mob are in jail
me Memphis burning OF Negro at
the stake, the Abbeville lynching of
Crawford, seem insignificant when
compared with tho East st. Louis
slambles. when tho streets ran red
with Negro blood. when Negro women,
innocent and unoffending were brutal
~ beaten. when Negro mon were shot
down FOR competing with white labor,
Ihese crimes have gone on for years
and very few instances can be found
IN which even an attempt has been
made to punish the lynchers. Rarely
nave officers resisted them, and practi
caliy no lyncher has been punished.
Ihey have made no attempt to conceal
ule'r identity. Their neighbors have
not condemned them, and they heve
walked unashamcd in the communitie,
where they dwelt. Women and children
nave been brought to SEQ men burned
awe, and bits Of bone or other parts
or the Victims are treasured as souye-
mrs. The whole vicnage where actors
and spectators live has been degraded
and barbarized by these crimes.