Negro Shot to Pieces

Case(s)
Source Type: Newspaper
Author: n.a.
Publisher: Austin American-Statesman
Place of publication: Austin, TX
Date of publication: 3/25/1907
Transcript:

NEGRO SHOT TO PIECES. He Attempted Assault, Was Driven Off By Dog and Later Captured. Florence, Ala.. March 24. 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 today by his intended victim’s husband and some 200 or 300 sympathizers. Tied to a tree with his arms up the negro was riddled with bullets, the first 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 1000 shots were fired. The negro was captured today 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 wiat 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- he mob’s 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 by the mob, members of which made no attempt to conceal their identity. The sheriff overtook the crowd befere the lynching but his appeals were unavailing.

Citation:

“Negro Shot to Pieces.” Austin American-Statesman (Austin, TX), March 25, 1907.