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FORK OF JUDGE LTHCH.tad i, Bash Me® torn Die M; Jail and Strang tip,An Armed Body of 100 Men Oome in from the Country and Bo the Jot).The Negro's NaJted Body Left Dangling from the End of a Bops In the FuU Glare of the Electric Light—Doom of the Jail Broken, and fined Open—Guards Over-Powered—Marshal Meson Brutally Kicked—The Inquest.Samuel 3. Bnth, the negio who was positively identified as the brute who outraged Mrs, William H. Vest in Ml. Zion township May 80th, was forcibly taken from the body of the county jail at 2;i5 o’clock this morning and was executed by hanging* aa a quick punishment for his hideous crime. There were no specially exciting features connected with the eammery lynching. Inside of an hour after the attack on the jail was commenced Bush was strung up, and iu 12 minutes he was pronounced dead by Dr, H. D. Beil and Dr. T. B. Spalding, who were in the crowd and were oalled upon to examine him. The ravisher diSd of strangulation,THH OfiOWD.Despite the rain which fell early last evening the crowd of several thousand people, including many women and children, stood near the oourt house and in front of the jail. The rain could not drive thaw awey. They expected something to happen and they seemed bent on staying up to eee it out. Every tew minutes there were rumors afloat to the efteot that the Mt. Zion people were Oonungin, sod the falsa reports kept the otowd surging to and fro. There was no attempt made to dear the streets or disperse the people, Everybody waslsimply waiting. In the arowd and at the street corners were farmers from the country who were on the watch and waiting, Thyy kept close to the jad, front and rear, but they said nothing—they were only waiting. Ten, eleven, twelve and one o’clock struck from the court bouse ^ower, and still the lynching gang expected from the country did not appear, The crowd gradually thinned out. It was believed by those who had grown tired of waiting that there would be no trouble and they went off home.OAMB IS A BOIIJ.At a few minutes before two o’clock a large body of hwd an foot, three abreast, numbering about one hundred, came toward the jail from the tasb on Wood street, They marched steadily and without detoonetration straight for the jail. None of them wore masks, and there .were many In the party who were armed with double-barreled shotguns, rifles revolvers aod oorn-kGrsm Many long oilcloth coats were worn, ar.d nearly every man had his hat .drawn down over bis foiebead. There were also about 20of whom kept up theory: “Bang him. tmvwa to.It was probably ten minutes before Iks negro was tat hoisted in the air. He was led to the electric light pole at the comer near Keck A Weigand's cigar store, at the owner of Opera House block, and then was a wait. Mr. Yeet, the husband of the outraged woman, wm talking with Bush, who insisted that he was innocent, Then be was given tune to prey, and Bush prayed and sang in plantation style. He hoped that he would ute^l the people putting him to death in heaven. Those on the outside wondered at the delay, and they called out, “String him up,” and up he went in a few moment*.The lyuohsre had failed to proride themselves with a rope. Nous could be obtained, and halters were taken off horses end tied together. Bash’s hands were tied behind his book. He made no resistance and made no effort to escape. He made no plea for mercy. His eyee rolled from able to aide, and he looked about without hope of rescue. The uooeewse formed, and it was adjusted by somebody near by, and then a party with a broad-brimmed hat climbed up the pole and.threw one end of the rope over 8 guy wire. Willing hands palled at the rope, raising Bosh about four feet from the ground. Just then one section of the ropa parted, and the negro fell heavily upon tba brick pavement, striking on his side. His head was bruised by the fall. The man wa« partly strangled, aod he presented a sickening sight. “String him np again! was the cry, and another party climbed the pole, taking the end of the rope with him. Ae the rope woe too short, a carriage was driven np to the pole, and two men lifted Bosh on top o! the rig. The negro was seemingly trying to climb on top of the carriage himself, when he was given a boost. Another pull at the rope and the carnage moved off, Jetting Bnsb dangle in the air, part of his naked body swinging above the heads of the people. The knot of the nooee was not under the ear, but at the baok of the head. It was a plain case of slow strangulation, and death resulted within 12 minutes.The crowd appeared to be thoroughly astiofied. They gave cheers for Mt. Zipn «nd Decatur, and then the lynohers speedily left the eoene,Coroner Bendure got notioe that a negro had been hung and shortly before four o’olook the body wsa cut down and removed to Brintlinger's undertaking rooms where the inquest willlne held.Pieces of the rope were quickly appropriated aa gceweome sonveuiie of the hanging, and to-day Undertaker Brint-lingor was handing out rope ohunke at hia place of bueinee,MASON WOLO’^TSTOI' IT.White the pounding et the jail door was in progress, Marshal Mason, accompanied by Officers Dempsey and Mutb-erapaugh ’made a rush for the jail. The? got in through the offioe door, Mason led the way. In the name of the law ire commanded the men to stop and disperse. The only answer Mason got was a rush at bita by several men who foro-ibly ejected him. He was pushed down the steps, and as he was going some fellow kicked him on tbe stomach, the kick giving him considerable pain and causing illness, The policemen were pushed out with threat* of violence, Tue man who kicked Mason should be prosecuted to the extent of the law.
Newspaper Details
Decatur Daily Republican
Decatur, Illinois, US
Sat, Jun 03, 1893
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Decatur P.
IL, USA 17 Jul 2023
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