Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-06-10
THE FACTS.

bSi< l. nv ~.
Tho facts can be stated briefly. Some
ten to twelve millions OF American
citizens, entitled everywhere in the
country by the express provisions of
the Constitution TO every right that
any citizen has. arc in practice denied
the primal rights Of human beings
those rights which III the Declaration
Of Independence are called "inalieE-
able. ="
Since 1889 three thousand four hum
drcd and forty-three (3,443) persons,
including siXty.four women, are known
TO have hcen lynched, and 1T cannot
be doubted that many more were kill
cd by mobs Of which no record exists
In 1921, s;kty-four persons were lynch
ell of whom four were burned at the
stake. They were charged sometimes
with crime, sometimes with trifling
miSdemcanor sometimes with words Or
acts which are not punishable under
any code Of laws. No trial was had, 10
evidence Of guilt WAS required, the &C
cusatiOn, no matter from what ire.
sponsible source It came, was treated
as proof, the killing was often accom-.
Pushed by the most cruel fortunes,
and not infrequently persons were
lYnched by mistake. With what cruel
ty these murders were often commit.
tel may be Judged by the following 40
counts taken from Southern sources.
Dyersburg in Tennessee is q prosper
Gus town Of some $500 people, the
county seat and a representative com
munity, OF the better class. In this
town on Sunday morning, December 2.
IVY, in lot the corner of which ad
joins the public square, and which Is
within stones throw Of two churches
and the residence Of several ministers
as we'll as the mayor Of the town, while
tho people of Dyersburg surrounded
the scene, watched all that occurred
and approved, since 10 protest, was
niaue' Negro was thus dealt with:
The Negro was seated on the
ground and a buggy.aNlc driven into
the ground between his legs. His feet
were chained together, with logging
chains, and he was tied with wire. A
fire was built. Pokors and fkat-irona
were procured and heated in the fire,
ii was thirty minutes before they were
red-hot.
HIS sclf.appointed executors burn
on his eyeballs with red-hot irons.
when he opened his mouth to cry for
mercy a red-hot poker was ramme1
down his outlet. Red-hot irons wero
paced on his feet, back and body. IN
~ Hideous stencil of burning human
flesh filled the Sabbath air Of DIV.
, ersburg.
thousands Of people witnessed this
scene. They had to he pushed hacl,
from the stake to which tho Neprc
was chained. Rdof-tops, second. story
: WINDOWS and porch.tops were fillcI,
with spectators. Children were lifted
TO shoulders, TINT they might behold
the agony Of the victim.
] "A little distance away In tho n,,h
nc square. the best citizens of the coun
W supported the BURNING and tortur
ing with their nearby presence
; The Memphis News scimitar thn.
describes the scene:
= mot domino hid q face f1yor,,or.
was unmasked. Leaders were desicna,
Gu ana assigned their parts. Long he
| ,ore the mob reached the city the puI
! NC square was choked with humanity
Az waited patiently. Women, viii
paDles, made themselves com fortab,n
90 AaSL the irons were hot
a req streak shot out; poker IN ,
: D[h"hy hand was boring out one of tn,
Negros eyes. The Negro bore the or
uea! with courage, only low means O.
Gaping him. Another poker was wor,
ing like an anger On the other orbit
SWISH. Once, twice, three time q re-
not iron dug gaping places in Iofio,
SCOTS back and sides.
Fetch a hotter one, somebody caid
, The execution went on.
NOW someone had another poke
-Jaobipg its fiery point into the r:b
OF the doomed black
inen rubbish was piled high abo.,
the agoniZed body, squirmjne benea,
its load. "'"e"'
MORE and more wood and rubbis
we're 1ed the fire. but at three o'cloc
Latlon Scott was not dead Life fin,
~ rIed at four o'clock.
women scarcely changed counto,
ance as the Negroes back was iron,
with the hot brands. Even the exac,
!oners maintained their Doise in ~
race Of bloody creases left bv iror
i--lrnns which some housewife had ,
irons. which some housowifo be
been using. ''o 10
Ihree and half hours were rem
eo 10 complete the execution"
, we cannot but wonder whether
tnat sunday morning in the shadow
tne churches, any of the respectob
cn"rch,soing citizens Of Dyersbu,
VINO witnessed these horrors rememh
Ell the immortal words. "Inasmuch
10 u'u lt unto one Of these n
brethren, even these least, We did it ,
to mo-" ~
At Estill. Springs in Tenn, a Neg
charged with killing two white m,
was In like manner tortured and bu
ed amve. The Chattanooga Times tn,
describes what occurred:
(TO BE CONTINUED