| Case(s) | |
|---|---|
| Source Type: | Newspaper |
| Author: | n.a. |
| Publisher: | The Marion Times Standard |
| Place of publication: | Marion, AL |
| Date of publication: | 3/29/1907 |
| Transcript: | NEGRO IS LYNCHED; RIDDLED WITH BULLETS Tied to Tree With Hands Up And Put to Death. WOMAN WAS SAVED BY CANINE Would-Be Assailant Was Captured, and, After Being Identified by Mrs. Rice, Was Shot to Death Near Her Home. Florence, Ala., March 25. The negro, Cleveland Harding, who attempted to assault Mrs. Ben F. Rice near here Friday, and who was driven off by Mrs. Rice’s shepherd, dog, was summarily executed Sunday by his intended victim’s husband and some 200 or 400 sympathizers. Tied to a tree, with his arms up, the negro was riddled with bullets, the first shot being fired by Rice, following which It is said every man in the crowd emptied his revolver at the prisoner It is said that over 1,000 shots were fired. The negro was captured half a 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 negro’s captors, to do as they thought best. Harding was taken a short distance from the Rice home, where a conference of the mob. loaders 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 by the mob, members of which made no attempt to shield their identity. The sheriff overtook the crowd before the lynching, but his appeals were unavailing. . |
| Citation: | “Negro Is Lynched; Riddled With Bullets.” The Marion Times Standard (Marion, AL), March 29, 1907. |