Negro Lynched By Alabama Mob

Livingston, Ala.,  January 25- Richard Burton, sixteen year old negro, was lynched by a mob near Boyd Station, Sumter county, and Lige Burton, his cousin, and Steve Knight, two other young negroes, are in jail here as a result of the robberies of the store of Miss Kate Peale, thirteen miles from Boyd’s. The lynching was done quietly between midnight last night and daylight this morning. The young negro’s body was riddled with bullets, as was the tree from a limb of which his body dangled. A plow line was used by the lynchers.

Miss Peale who lives with her mother and sisters, thirteen miles from Boyd Station, operates a small store about fifty miles from  her home. Five times recently the store has been robbed and Miss Peale sent for her brother, Willis Peale, who lives just across the Mississippi state line. Peale was at home last night when noises were heard at the store. Investigating, he found three negroes breaking into the store. Two of the negroes escaped, catching Richard Burton.

Burton attacked Peale with a knife, severely and seriously stabbing him repeatedly in the head, face, and neck, but the latter held on and overpowered the negro. Miss Peale assisted her brother and tied the negro hand and foot, with a rope. The neighbors were called and Clarence Dial, a nearby resident started to Livingston with the negro in charge. A mob, which had been quietly formed, overtook Dial and his prisoner one mile from the scene of the crime, and Dial was advised to “make tracks for home,” which he did.

Early this morning Sheriff E.C. Godfrey was notified that the negro’s body was hanging from the limb of a tree. He found the body riddled with bullets, as was the tree from which it was hanging. Shot, buckshot and pistol bullet filled the body and the tree trunk, Steve Knight and Lige Burton, the names of which were given by Richard Burton before the lynching are jail, here. Sheriff Godfrey and coroner T.S. Seale have composited a jury and are making strenuous efforts to identify members of the mob that lynched the negro. Both say that they will see these men brought to trial as soon as identities can be established.