Riddled With 1,000 Bullets

Case(s)
Source Type: Newspaper
Author: n.a.
Publisher: The Journal and Tribune
Place of publication: Knoxville, TN
Date of publication: 3/25/1907
Transcript:

RIDDLED WITH 1,000 BULLETS. Was the Negro Who Attempted Assualt at Florence, Ala. Victim Stolidly Indifferent to His Fate. Every Member of a Mob of 200 or 300 Persons Emptied His Revolver at the Negro. Florence, Ala.. March 24. Cleveland Harding, the negro who attempted to assault Mrs. Rice near here Friday and who was driven off by Mrs. Rice’s shepherd dog, was summarily executed today by a mob of 200 or 300 persons. 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. 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 the 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:

“Riddled With 1,000 Bullets.” The Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN), March 25, 1907.