Burned at the Stake

Title

Burned at the Stake

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

The Wilmington Messenger

Publication Place

Wilmington, NC

Publication Date

10/05/1900

Transcript

BURNED AT THE STAKE NEGRO PAYS THIS TERRIBLE PENALTY A HEINOUS CRIME AFTER CONFESSION OF GUILT He is Chained to a Stake, Pine Faggots Piled Around Him and the Torch Ap- plied by the Husband of His Victim. He Confesses Implication in a Similar Crime, for Which a Negro Was Lynched a Fortnight Ago, and Others Contemplated. Wetumpka, Ala., October 2.-Winfield was Townsend, alias Floyd, a negro, burned at the stake in the little town of Eclectic, fifteen miles from this place, a half hour after midnight this morning. The negro's crime was an at- assault upon Mrs. Lennie Har- brands tempted rington, Townsend's fire to the whose husband set which reduced body to ashes. Yesterday afternoon about 1 o'clock the negro, a nephew the of Floyd who was hung in the Wetumpka negro last, outrage for jail week before attempted asault, attempted to was Mrs. Harrington. Mr. Harrington at a cotton gin in Eclectic and engaged lives one Mrs. The negro Har- mile out of town. to the house and told him rington came that her husband had sent him 20 cents from her. She told to get had no change. Then the negro min- left, she but returned in about ten utes. The woman's screams were who heard was by Bob passing along the road at the to see Nichols, another negro time. to the house in time rington negro ran alarm. conscious- Mrs. Har- the He escape. As soon as the was brought back to ness Nichols gave the The and saw mills shut down; all the the news spread rapidly. All gins in Eclectic were closed; the road stores left their wagons in and gath- and their of the negro. people plows in the field The ered for pursuit some scouring the woods crowd divided, of the crime and others near the scene pen, for bloodhounds. went to the were not brought to were the The dogs until nearly dark. They tracks dis- scene to where the negro's ensued. taken and an exciting chase tree in appeared dogs stopped finally the at a outskirts The front of Odion's store on coming up of the discovered town. The the crowd negro sitting on a soon and limb. was brought down his crime. at once There taken He to confronted the scene of by his victim who positively he was identified him. the other search- Word was sent the to negro had been ing parties and about that 11 o'clock in the little a crowd vil- found, several hundred was then taken to the of lage. The the negro village was and, surrounded fear. The edge of mob, shivered with were quickly by preparations the for death of arranged. was flung over men the stood limb ready a A oak rope and a hundred the rope. to big lend a a halt hand was at called by and the the mob. man- To Then death discussed vote was taken ner of the matter showed a a majority the decide and the balloting to favor death at of the crowd and the stake. stake was prepared with chains. negro was were piled the husband The bound to it about him and Pine knots were fired by As they leaped the flames negro's victim. his wild cries of to the the God wretch's for mercy flesh and help could his be upon miles. deaf to heard The for crowd an looked hour on, the negro was re- cries and in duced to ashes. being bound also con- fessed Townsend the crime with Alexander and weeks Floyd, ago for Pear- who an before said he was implicated couple of Kate son, attempted hung a attempt Floyd Miss planned that He for to was assault on at that time. in the had but said he and of like character, a stop other Floyd's crimes being hung put 2.-Town- them. Wetumpka, Ala., confession October implicating crime. As this seven is the this second vicinity within conspiracy a month, send made other negroes a white in his woman as- saulted believed in there One is of a the negroes Town- it among is the negroes. the confession charged of with implicated send was and in in jail as threats here sent to of Montgomery lynching deputy burglary made he was keeping. The fourteen sheriff tonight were had for a safe wild the country drive of and a crowd had he of miles through minutes later train would been here by who thirty left him. After negroes reaching have who intercepted men two other the crime were Frank ar- Montgomery are implicated the deputy. in They brothers are of We the Floyd rested and by Jake who Floyd, was lynched at negro tumpka Floyd September 9th.

Sources for

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