Shepherd Dog Saved Woman

• Cleveland Hardin

SHEPHERD DOG SAVED WOMAN. Husband Fired the First Shot Which Resulted in the Death of the Miscreant. 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 300 sympathizers. Tied to. a tree with his arms up, the negro was riddled with bullets, the first shot being fired by Mr. Rice, following which it is said every man in the crowd emptied a revolver at the prisoner. It is said that over 1,000 shots were fired. The negro was captured Sunday a half mile below town and was taken before Mrs. Rice who fainted at sight of him. Upon- recovering she fuljy 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 leaders was held. Some said to burn him, but shooting was decided upon. Beyond confessing his guilt the negro had nothing to say and was stolidly indiffererent, it seemed, to his fate.

“Shepherd Dog Saved Woman.” Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY), March 25, 1907.