| Show NEGRO BURNED ALIVE BY r MOB OF MISSISSIPPIANS Wretch Confesses Outrage and Murder and Publicly Admits He Deserved His Fate I C CORINTH Miss 1 Sept 29 Writhing 0 Writhing In n th the flames of or burning fagots piled l high by the hands of citizens Tom Toni Clark alias Will Gibson a n. negro was burned burnell at the stal stake e here at a n. late hour Sunday Sunda after atter confessing to one onG of at the most atrocious crimes In the history history his his- tor tory of or north Mississippi the Mississippi the assault and ind murder of Mrs Carey Whitfield on Au August last Before the tOI ch was waR applied Cla Clark k stated tate that he he deserved his fearful tearful fate Last August t Mrs 1115 Whitfield the wife of a n. well-known well citizen was found dead at her home Investigation showed that tha t the oman roman had been assaulted assaulted assaulted as as- and her head practically severed severed severed sev sev- ered from Crom her bod body with a ra razor or Both and his wife were related to several of the most prominent families In the South and amI the Indignation of the people knew no bounds Corinth and the surrounding lInb country were scoured In an effort to apprehend the tho murderer but diligent search failed to disclose e his identity Finally a committee committee com com- of twelve citizens was called to continue the search On Monday last it became known that Tom Toni Clark a negro living neal hear near here had had trouble with hl his wife and the latter laller threatened to lo disclose e the seC secret et of the crime Officers Officer J apprehended apprehend apprehend- ed the woman and she told enough to warrant the belief that Clark had murdered murdered murdered mur mur- i dered Mrs Whitfield Clark was arrested arrested ar ar- ar- ar rested and Satur Saturday ay brought before I the committee I The negro confessed to the murder and also to other crimes that he had committed among them the killing of or two men on an on excursion train In Mis Us UsI I The committee decided that the ne negro ro should be hanged from a telegraph telegraph tele tele- j graph pole In the street Clark said he deserved death but bur Basked asked that the execution be delayed until until until un un- un- un til Sunday so that he could have a farewell farewell farewell fare fare- well interview with his mother and brother who lived in Memphis The rhe request was wa granted and the two relatives relatives relatives rela rela- tives were tel telegraphed for but it was learned that they toe were in Mississippi Meanwhile the news of the negros negro's arrest and confession spread rapidly over the surrounding country and to today's today's to- to days day's Incoming trains brou brought ht hundreds of or people Into the city to witness the execution The crowds became s ro o great that at mid day the main street of or the town was ordered cleared and the announcement announcement announcement announce announce- ment was made that It had been decided decided decided de de- to burn Clark at o'clock In Inthe Inthe inthe the afternoon This statement cau caused ed intense e excitement and surging crowds began besan to gather about the place selected select select- ed Nt for tor the enactment of the tragedy At 2 o'clock pine fagots and larger pieces s or of wood were carefully laid about I an in iron rod which was waa driven deep into ho tho ground and half hair an hour later it was vas announced that all was In readiness readi readi- ne ness g. g At 3 o'clock the prisoner heavily llY manacled was taken from the Jail by bya a f posse of oC armed men and followed b by bya a large and excited crowd of or men and boys hos led to the c. cast t gate ate of or the negro cemetery situated sHunted In the western part of the city Fagots and wood had been piled high around the stake and the thene ne negro Jo was securely fastened to the Iron rod lod od Clark was asked if It he cared to make makei i n statement lIe He again said that he deserved the fate Cate prepared for tor him and asked ed that a letter he be delivered to his mother and nd brother He appealed to hIs Ills brother to raise e his children properly properly properly prop prop- erly admonishing them to beware of oC evil companions Finally all was In readiness land and the wor word l wa was given to fire the funeral pyre The fhe husband and brother of or Clarks Clark's victim stepped forward and applied the torches and In a 1 moment the flames leaped upward enveloping the trembling trembling trembling trem trem- bling negro In smoke and fire The clothing of or the doomed man was soon Ignited and as ag the flames grew hotter holter the skin akin began to parch I IThe The negro moaned piteously and the agonizing look upon hl his face told of or the awful torture he was undergoing Final Finally his head fell forward upon his breast and In a n. few minutes all was over The flames were fanned by b- the the crowd until the bod body was wap burned to a crisp The crowd then dl dispersed p and the town soon Its normal con condition |
