The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-12
Murderer Is Chained to
Roof of School, Build
ing Set AbIaze.
1000 SEE LYNcHINe
Crowd Takes Killer From
Sheriff Leading Him Into
Missouri Court.
By United Press

AA41A1, IhO', Jan. II.
"A mob seized Raymond
Gum, Negro, who confessed
Staying a young woman teach
er, today, marched him four
miles to the Schoolhouse
where the crime was com
mitted, chained him to the
roof, set fire to the building
and burned him to death.
The roof of the one-story str,lc-
ture where Gum admitted attack
ing and Staying Velma Golfer. 20.
was saturated with gasoline from
automobiles Of the mob.
A torch was applied. Flames en-
veloped the Negro.
A crowd of more than onn
watched him die in the blaze.
Gum was seized by the mob az
he was being taken into court here
today to plead guilty to the murder
Of Miss Golfer.
He was half led, half dragged
four miles from MaryvilIe to the
schoolhouse.
Killer Pleads for Mercy
Handouts were left on him dur
ing the trip.
The Negro pleaded repeatedly for
mercy.
The mob was a noisy one as IL
marched toward the schoolhotIse
until it neared its goal. Then it Be-
came silent
Directions for the execution were
given by leaders in subdued voices.
Gum was marched past the RuI-
ley in which he lay in wait for Miss
Golfer until her classes were dis
missed on the afternoon of Dec. IL.
Then he was led into the school
house, where he had sneaked ttAt
afternoon to seize the young woman.
attack and kill her.
Shingles were ripped from a sec
ton of the roof. The bare rafters
formed an improvised stairway on
which Gum was led to the TOP Of
the roof.
Offers No Resistance
A heavy chain was brought. II
was Topped around the Negroes
Cody and fastened to the rafters.
Gunn had Steeled himself for the
ordeal he knew awaited him at thu
end of his death march.
He didn't say word and offered
no resistance as he reached the
Scnoolhouse, and preparations were
made to burn him alive.
He lay down on the roof at the
orders OF mob leaders, and waited
to be chained.
He made just one movement, that
TO adjust his coat under him SO
that he would be more comfortable.
The Negro reclined in silence
while gasoline was brought and
poured around him on the roof
Automobile tanks were drained 10
furnish the fuel.
Crowd Watches in Silence
Then those who had prepared for
the execution stepped down from
the roof.
The torch was applied and almost
instantly the roof was enveloped in
flames.
The crowd watched in silence as
the IRE ate rapidly through the
Light structure.
Suddenly there was a vail q
agony from the Negro
Then all was still again, save for
the roar of the flames.
In few moments the roof of the
school building crashed in on tbs
desks below, carrying with it Gums
body.
The fire was left to burn itself
out and the body of the Negro killer
was almost burned away as it lay In
the center Of the fiery room.
Small Group BUSHES Sheriff
1t was a comparatively small
group Of men that rushed Sheriff
HarYe English as he was taking
Gum from the jail to a rear en-
trance OF the courthouse today for
arraignment on charge Of murder
ing Miss Golfer.
A crowd that had been milling
about the courthouse Joined the
ringleaders after they had seized
the prisoner, and a procession was
formed for the march to the school.
house.
From homes and stores peonIe
poured out to join the procession Is
it passed through the streets 81
MarysYille. Farmers left their vofx
along the way to join it.
Guardsmen Are Inactive
Word went ahead that Gum was
to be lynched, and a crowd vas
waiting at the schoolhouse wher
the prisoner reached there.
A group Of fifty or sixty national
guardsmen had been modified At
the Maryville armory for use in
case an effort was made to lynch
Gum today.
The guardsmen did not leave ths
armory. It was explained no rec
quest for their use had been nnade
by the sheriff and that without such
a request they we're powerless "a
act.
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