Negro Bullet Riddled

• Cleveland Hardin

NEGRO BULLET-RIDDLED. Cleveland Harding, Who Attempted to Assault Mrs. Rice, Killed by a Mob. Florence, Ala., March 25 Cleveland Harding, the negro who attempted assatalt Mrs. Rice near here Friday, and who was frightened off by Mrs. Rice’s shepherd dog, was summarily executed yesterday by a mob of 200 300 person Tied to a tree with arms up, the negro was riddled with bullets, the first shot. It Is said, being fired by Rice, following which every man In the crowd emptied his revolver at the prisoner. Over 1,000 shots were fired. The negro was captured half mile below town and was taken before Mrs. Rice, who fainted at sight of him. Upon recovering she fully Identified her assailant and on being asked what should be done with him, told the negros captors to do as they thought best. Harding was taken a short distance from the Rice home, where a conference of the mob leaders was held. Some said burn him, but shooting was decided on. Beyond confessing his guilt, the negro had nothing to say and was stolidly indifferent, it seemed, to his fate. The body was left tied to the tree the mob, members of which made attempt to shield their identity. The sheriff overtook the crowd of lynchers, but his appeals were unavailing,

“Negro Bullet-Riddled.” Knoxville Sentinel (Knoxville, TN), March 25, 1907.