Was Shot Full Of Holes

Case(s)
Source Type: Newspaper
Author: n.a.
Publisher: The Reporter
Place of publication: Elyria, OH
Date of publication: 3/25/1907
Transcript:

WAS SHOT FULL Of HOLES. An Alabama Negro Who Attempted to Assault a Woman Pays the Death Penalty for His Crime. Florence. Ala., March 25.–Cleveland Harding, a negro who attempted to assault Mrs. Ben F. Rice near here Friday and who was driven oft by Mrs. Rice’s shepherd dog, was summarily executed Sunday by a mob of 200 or 300 persons. Tied to a tree with his arms up the negro, was riddled with bullets, the first shot was said, being fired by Rice, following which every man in the crowd emptied his revolver at the prisoner. 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 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 leaders was held. Some persons favored burning him, but shooting was decided on. Beyond confessing his guilt, the negro had nothing to say and seemeed indifferent to his fate. The body was left tied to the tree by the mob the members of which made no attempt to shield thier identitity. The sheriff overtook the crowd before the lynching, but his appeals were unavailing.

Citation:

“Was Shot Full of Holes.” The Reporter (Elyria, OH), March 25, 1907.