Horrid Atrocity

[From the Marion (Miss.) Republican, May 28.] 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- bama. Immediately after the murder and ing young girl, residing near Gaston, Ala- detection of the negro, his immediate punish- ment was seriously contemplated by the people of Sumpter county, but after mature ed deliberation, him into custody prison. citizens deliver- officers, the law-abiding the of the proper and he was committed to At the last term of the Circuit Court of Sumpter county, the attorney appointed by the Court. in the discharge of his duty, moved The Judge, as the motion was sustained by for a change of venue to Green county. the proper affidavit, sustained the application. Sumpter assembled en masse at Mr. William series On Wednesday last, the citizens of South and unanimously passed a pledge conduct of McElroy’s resolutions, after other, the having they mis- the reflecting seriously upon of the Judge, and d themselves to sustain each to Livingston, and took he erable proceeded was criminal confined. jail after the where spot due by force from the On Friday last, preparation, they carried him to innocent where he so cruelly murdered his stake. victim, and burnt him aliveat the About three thousand persons were pres- who witnessed, with various emotions, ent, the dreadful spectacle. We were present, but like it. The pyre was composed of of hope that we will never again witness a scene cords of light wood, in the centre several consequence which was green wood selected the by fire. cri- in a willow stake, of its indestructability On the top of the pile of light the was placed, and securely chained to stake. minal his guilt, stating alone-that accomplice- he confessed he While in this situation that he had no that he was actuated by lust but to violate her person, had had had failed, cruelly attempted beating attempt that the he and to conceal the murdered her, by poor while he was doing this, she implored she innocent creature with a stump him her home to her father, and that to would carry conceal the violence he had inflicted. after again He beating her, he concealed-her body to then left, but soon returned, and in the very hole where the stake was planted which he suffered. After this confession was made the match de- was flames were enveloping the applied, and in a few moments the doomed youring his fearful cries resounded through who negro; while the surrounding negroes witnessed the air, his dreadful agony and horrid con- hor- tortions sent up an involuntary howl of ror. in a few minutes the flames His sufferings, though excruciating had were enveloped short; hither and and him entirely, revealing now then, as they fitfully swayed, like demon of the fire, grinning as if in was thither, his black and burning carcass, hellish a triumph nothing was left but the burning who at his tormentors. Soon all flesh over, skeleton of the human devil, and could crime. charred thus fearfully reek- foul so deliberately perpetrate so The horrid outrage was a avenged, and though the heavens were yet justice inflicted as nearly as it could be, no ing was satisfied; the law of while with the stench of burning flesh, retaliation the was example made of this wretch had, thou- sand slaves who witnessed his execution. doubt, a salutary effect upon the two We far from approving of the infliction like this, of popular ebullition will manifest wretch’s itself, mob are law, yet. in aggravated cases in view of the enormity of the offence, and we, as a public journalist, cannot inclina- ap- prove, tion to censure the conduct of the people yet we have neither time nor of South Sumpter. Justice was inflicted were by too good for a devil like negro Dave. them, and a thousand deaths of the kind [From the Marion (Miss.) Republican, May 28.] 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- bama. Immediately after the murder and ing young girl, residing near Gaston, Ala- detection of the negro, his immediate punish- ment was seriously contemplated by the people of Sumpter county, but after mature ed deliberation, him into custody prison. citizens deliver- officers, the law-abiding the of the proper and he was committed to At the last term of the Circuit Court of Sumpter county, the attorney appointed by the Court. in the discharge of his duty, moved The Judge, as the motion was sustained by for a change of venue to Green county. the proper affidavit, sustained the application. Sumpter assembled en masse at Mr. William series On Wednesday last, the citizens of South and unanimously passed a pledge conduct of McElroy’s resolutions, after other, the having they mis- the reflecting seriously upon of the Judge, and d themselves to sustain each to Livingston, and took he erable proceeded was criminal confined. jail after the where spot due by force from the On Friday last, preparation, they carried him to innocent where he so cruelly murdered his stake. victim, and burnt him aliveat the About three thousand persons were pres- who witnessed, with various emotions, ent, the dreadful spectacle. We were present, but like it. The pyre was composed of of hope that we will never again witness a scene cords of light wood, in the centre several consequence which was green wood selected the by fire. cri- in a willow stake, of its indestructability On the top of the pile of light the was placed, and securely chained to stake. minal his guilt, stating alone-that accomplice- he confessed he While in this situation that he had no that he was actuated by lust but to violate her person, had had had failed, cruelly attempted beating attempt that the he and to conceal the murdered her, by poor while he was doing this, she implored she innocent creature with a stump him her home to her father, and that to would carry conceal the violence he had inflicted. after again He beating her, he concealed-her body to then left, but soon returned, and in the very hole where the stake was planted which he suffered. After this confession was made the match de- was flames were enveloping the applied, and in a few moments the doomed youring his fearful cries resounded through who negro; while the surrounding negroes witnessed the air, his dreadful agony and horrid con- hor- tortions sent up an involuntary howl of ror. in a few minutes the flames His sufferings, though excruciating had were enveloped short; hither and and him entirely, revealing now then, as they fitfully swayed, like demon of the fire, grinning as if in was thither, his black and burning carcass, hellish a triumph nothing was left but the burning who at his tormentors. Soon all flesh over, skeleton of the human devil, and could crime. charred thus fearfully reek- foul so deliberately perpetrate so The horrid outrage was a avenged, and though the heavens were yet justice inflicted as nearly as it could be, no ing was satisfied; the law of while with the stench of burning flesh, retaliation the was example made of this wretch had, thou- sand slaves who witnessed his execution. doubt, a salutary effect upon the two We far from approving of the infliction like this, of popular ebullition will manifest wretch’s itself, mob are law, yet. in aggravated cases in view of the enormity of the offence, and we, as a public journalist, cannot inclina- ap- prove, tion to censure the conduct of the people yet we have neither time nor of South Sumpter. Justice was inflicted were by too good for a devil like negro Dave. them, and a thousand deaths of the kind