Again, the daring fiend defiles, purity by his polluted touch, and pays the penalty at the muzzle of angry guns
- Title
- Again, the daring fiend defiles, purity by his polluted touch, and pays the penalty at the muzzle of angry guns
- Source Type
- Newspapers
- Author
- N/A
- Publisher
- The Bibb Blade
- Publication Place
- Six Mile, AL
- Publication Date
- June 9, 1887
- Transcript
-
"Purity by his polluted touch and pays the penalty at the Muzzle of Angry Guns.
Last Friday Blocton, a quiet mining town in western Bibb, was thrown into a state of intense excitement by horrible deed committed in open daylight. Mrs.Crawford, a highly respected white lady, was out with her little son gathering blackberries when she was attacked by a burly negro by the name of Johnston. His intent was plainly shown, and the lady made a break for home, hoping to save herself in that way. Nothing daunted the negro pursued her and even ran into her house and locked the door after him. Here he overpowered her and treated her in almost brutal manner. In the scuttle the lady’s arm was very badly hurt. Her little boy ran out and gave the alarm. At once about a hundred men gathered and went to the scene. They found the lady unconscious and unable to tell the extent of her injuries. Ere long they caught the black devil, and at once tied him up to a tree and riddled his body with bullets. Seven holes were put through his vile carcass and he was left dead. Saturday morning the body was still where they had left it. The white men refusing to bury it, the negroes afraid to go near.
He was a negro whom the lady had known for a long time, and there could have been no mistake. He paid for his deviltry in a horrible way, but none too bad for the crime he committed. This thing is getting quite frequent in its occurrence and if it keeps on this county, always so peaceful and safe, will be a place of danger. It will probably reflect on our name to send out the news that a negro was killed by a mob; but there is another name that must be kept sacred-the name of our fair women- and this is the wat all such criminals may expect to be handled. Our people are law-abiding and orderly, but the law is insufficient to meet the demands of such occasions and they do not care to trouble the courts with it. " - Sources for
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