Horrid Atrocity

(From the Mazion (aliss.) Republican, May 28.3 HORRID ATROCITY-BURNING A NEGRO AT THE STAKE IN MISSISSIPPI. The Scene Witnessed by three thousand Citi- zens and two thousand Slaves. Some time since we published the account of the murder of Miss Thornton, an interest- ing young girl, residing near Gaston, Ala- bama. Immediately after the murder and detection of the negro, his immediate punish- ment was seriously contemplated by the people of Sumpter county, but after mature deliberation, the law-abiding citizens deliver- ed him into the custody of the proper officers, and he was committed to prison. At the last term of the Circuit Court of Sumpter county, the attorney appointed by the Court, in the discharge of his duty, moved for a change of venue to Green county. The Judge, as the motion was sustained by the proper affidavit, sustained the application. On Wednesday last, the citizens of South Sumpter assembled en masse at Mr. William McElroy’s and unanimously passed a series of resolutions, reflecting seriously upon the conduct of the Judge, and after having pledge d themselves to sustain each other, they proceeded to Livingston, and took the mis- erable criminal by force from the jail where he was confined. On Friday last, after due preparation, they carried him to the spot where he so cruelly murdered his innocent victim, and burnt him aliveat the stake. About three thousand persons were pres- ent, who witnessed, with various emotions, the dreadful spectacle. We were present, but hope that we will never again witness a scene like it. The pyre was composed of several cords of light wood, in the centre of which was a green willow stake, selected in consequence of its indestructability by fire. On the top of the pile of light wood the cri- minal was placed, and securely chained to the stake. While in this situation he confessed his guilt, stating that he had no accomplice- that he was actuated by lust alone-that he had attempted to violate her person, but had failed, and to conceal the attempt he had cruelly murdered her, by beating the poor innocent creature with a stump: that while he was doing this, she implored him to carry her home to her father, and that she would conceal the violence he had inflicted. He then left, but soon returned, and after again beating her, lie concealed her body in the very hole where the stake was planted to which he suffered. After this confession was made the match was applied, and in a few moments the de- youring flames were enveloping the doomed negro; his fearful cries resounded through the air, while the surrounding negroes who witnessed his dreadful agony and horrid con- tortions sent up an involuntary howl of hor- ror. His sufferings, though exerpciating, were short ; in a few minutes the flames had enveloped him entirely, revealing now and then, as they fitfully swayed, hither and thither, his black and burning carcass, like a demon of the fire, grinning as if in hellish triumph at his tormentors. Soon all was over, nothing was left but the burning flesh and charred skeleton of the human devil, who could thus so deliberately perpetrate so foul a crime. The horrid outrage was fearfully avenged, and though the heavens were reek- ing with the stench of burning flesh, yet justice was satisfied; the law of retaliation was inflicted as nearly as it could be, while the example made of this wretch had, no doubt, a salutary effect upon the two thou- sand slaves who witnessed his execution. We are far from approving of the infliction of mob law, yet, in aggravated cases like this, popular ebullition will manifest itself, and in view of the enormity of the wretch’s offence, we, as a public journalist, cannot ap- prove, yet we have neither time nor inclina- tion to censure Sumpter. Justice of the inflicted people of the conduct South was by them, and a thousand deaths of the kind were too good for a devil like negro Dave. (From the Mazion (aliss.) Republican, May 28.3 HORRID ATROCITY-BURNING A NEGRO AT THE STAKE IN MISSISSIPPI. The Scene Witnessed by three thousand Citi- zens and two thousand Slaves. Some time since we published the account of the murder of Miss Thornton, an interest- ing young girl, residing near Gaston, Ala- bama. Immediately after the murder and detection of the negro, his immediate punish- ment was seriously contemplated by the people of Sumpter county, but after mature deliberation, the law-abiding citizens deliver- ed him into the custody of the proper officers, and he was committed to prison. At the last term of the Circuit Court of Sumpter county, the attorney appointed by the Court, in the discharge of his duty, moved for a change of venue to Green county. The Judge, as the motion was sustained by the proper affidavit, sustained the application. On Wednesday last, the citizens of South Sumpter assembled en masse at Mr. William McElroy’s and unanimously passed a series of resolutions, reflecting seriously upon the conduct of the Judge, and after having pledge d themselves to sustain each other, they proceeded to Livingston, and took the mis- erable criminal by force from the jail where he was confined. On Friday last, after due preparation, they carried him to the spot where he so cruelly murdered his innocent victim, and burnt him aliveat the stake. About three thousand persons were pres- ent, who witnessed, with various emotions, the dreadful spectacle. We were present, but hope that we will never again witness a scene like it. The pyre was composed of several cords of light wood, in the centre of which was a green willow stake, selected in consequence of its indestructability by fire. On the top of the pile of light wood the cri- minal was placed, and securely chained to the stake. While in this situation he confessed his guilt, stating that he had no accomplice- that he was actuated by lust alone-that he had attempted to violate her person, but had failed, and to conceal the attempt he had cruelly murdered her, by beating the poor innocent creature with a stump: that while he was doing this, she implored him to carry her home to her father, and that she would conceal the violence he had inflicted. He then left, but soon returned, and after again beating her, lie concealed her body in the very hole where the stake was planted to which he suffered. After this confession was made the match was applied, and in a few moments the de- youring flames were enveloping the doomed negro; his fearful cries resounded through the air, while the surrounding negroes who witnessed his dreadful agony and horrid con- tortions sent up an involuntary howl of hor- ror. His sufferings, though exerpciating, were short ; in a few minutes the flames had enveloped him entirely, revealing now and then, as they fitfully swayed, hither and thither, his black and burning carcass, like a demon of the fire, grinning as if in hellish triumph at his tormentors. Soon all was over, nothing was left but the burning flesh and charred skeleton of the human devil, who could thus so deliberately perpetrate so foul a crime. The horrid outrage was fearfully avenged, and though the heavens were reek- ing with the stench of burning flesh, yet justice was satisfied; the law of retaliation was inflicted as nearly as it could be, while the example made of this wretch had, no doubt, a salutary effect upon the two thou- sand slaves who witnessed his execution. We are far from approving of the infliction of mob law, yet, in aggravated cases like this, popular ebullition will manifest itself, and in view of the enormity of the wretch’s offence, we, as a public journalist, cannot ap- prove, yet we have neither time nor inclina- tion to censure Sumpter. Justice of the inflicted people of the conduct South was by them, and a thousand deaths of the kind were too good for a devil like negro Dave.