Both were Lynched

Case(s)
Source Type: Newspaper
Publisher: St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Place of publication: St. Louis, MO
Date of publication: 2/18/1894
Transcript:

Both were Lynched
How Alabama Farmers Disposed of Mrs. Rucker’s Negro Assailants
Special dispatch to the Globe-Democrat
Selma, ALA, February 17.- Complete Details of the murder of Mrs. Jesse Rucker, of Stanton, Chilton county, and the subsequent lynching of her two negro assailants, have been received.
Wednesday morning last Mr. Rucker, who lived about two miles from Stanton, told his wife that he would be absent from home, and as he could not tell when he would return, advised her to go to her Aunt Martha’s, about a mile distant, and spend the night. There was a negro boy about 19 years old hired on Mr. Rucker’s place, who overheard this conversation, Not far off was the residence of Mr. Sexton. Here a strange negro had been hired a few days before. With this man the young hired man of the Ruckers arranged a plot to waylay Mrs. Rucker while she was on her way to her aunt’s. The house of the Ruckers was situated about a quarter of a mile from the road known as the Clinton road. About 4 o clock Wednesday afternoon Mrs. Rucker started for the home of her aunt. It was just as she was reached the main Clinton Road that the assault was made upon her. From the confession of the young fiend who was hired on the Rucker place, Mrs. Rucker had a pistol, and with this attempted to defend herself, firing one shot, but the negroes overpowered her and in wrenching the pistol from her hands broke one of her fingeres, as was indicated when the body was found. The two men then outraged the person of Mrs. Rucker and after crushing her head with a wood know shot her through the head and tumbled the body down a revine near the road
Mr. Rucker, coming home and finding that his wife did not return, went to the aunt’s house to see if she was there, but could learn nothing about her. About 8’ o clock Thursday afternoon the mangeled and bloody remains were found in the ravine and the neighbors organized. The hired negro at Rucker’s was the first one arrested. The appearance of his clothing covered with blood fixed his guilty plainly and he made a confession, giving the details narrated about. It was short work with him. He was hanged on the spot where his crime was committed as quick as he could be hoisted with a rope and his body was literally riddled with bullets. His companion in crime left the Sexton place immediately, however after the murder and made his way toward Stanton. He was soon captured and quickly paid the penalty
The murdered wife was only 18 years old being married to Mr. Rucker last October. Before her marriage she was a Miss Foshee. Mr. Rucker is an industrious young farmer

Citation:

“Both were Lynched.” St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, MO), February 18, 1894.