The Cordele sentinel. (Cordele, Ga.) 1894-????, April 28, 1899, Image 3

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1 II. MAKES CONFESSION OF HORRIBLE CRIME AND IS TORTURED TO DEATH IN THE PRESENCE OF 2,000 ONLOOKERS. DOOMED VICTIM WAS MADE TO SUFFER UNDESCRIBABLE AGONIES. His Ears Were Cut Off Before He Was Executed and After the Burning There AVas a Scramble For the Charred Bones of the Victim, Which Were Carried Away as Souvenirs. ■Sam Holt, th« negro murderer of Alfred Cranford and the assailant o* Cranford’s wife, was burned at the stake one mile and a quarter from Newnan, Ga., Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Fully 2,000 people surrounded the small sapling to which he was fastened and watched the flames eat away hjs flesh, saw his body mutilated by knives and witnessed the contortions of his body in his extreme agony. Two counties, Campbell and Coweta, direotly interested in the crimes of the negro, and the entire state have waited with impatience for the moment when the negro should pay the penalty for his fiendish deeds. Such suffering has seldom been witnessed, and through it all the ne gro uttered hardly a cry. During the contortions of the body, several blood vessels bars ted. The spot selected was an ideal one for such an affair and the stake was in full view of those who stood about and with unfeiguing satisfaction saw the negro meet his death and saw him tortured before the flames killed him. For sickening sights, harrowing de tails and bloodcurdling .incidents, the burning of Holt is unsurpassed by any occurrence of a like kind ever heard of in the history of Georgia. A few smouldering ashes scattered about the place, a blackened stake, are all that w r as left to tell the story. Not even the bones of the negro were left in peace, but were eagerly snatched by a crowd of people drawn from all directions, who almost fought over the burning body of the man, carving it with their knives and seeking souvenirs of the occurrence. Self-confessed and almost defiant, without a plea for mercy and no ex pectation of if, Holt went to the stake with as much courage as any one could possibly have possessed; fit such an ■ occasion, and the only fnurmur that issued from liis lips was when an gry knives plunged into his flesh and his life’s blood sizzled in the fire be fore his eyes. .,___ [ Oh, Then he cried, “Oh, my God! Jesus!” Crowd Orderly But Determined. The crowd that burned Holt made no mistake, as the man was identified by a dozen people. He admitted his guilt and told of the murder. He con fessed that he bad murdered Cranford and said the deed was done with the expectation of obtaining a reward of $20 from one Lige Strickland. He confessed while being brought ' in by his captors, confessed when con fronted by Mrs. McElroy, the heart broken mother of Mrs. Cranford, and confessed when he was taken from the fire and asked to tell tbe truth about the crime. He told the details,always implicating Lige Strickland. Although Holt was tqrned over to the sheriff and plaeed in the Newnan jail, his fate was sealed from the mo ment his captors put in an appearance with him. The remonstrance of ’ W. Y. Atkinson and Judge A. D. Freeman, two of the most prominent citizens of Coweta county, were of no avaj], The awfnl crime of the murderer and assailant- was fresh in the minds LICE STRICKLAND’S BODY Lige Strickland, the negro who by Sam Holt, was lynched early The body of Lige Strickland about a mile from Palmetto early were cut off and on the body was words: pkgtect «'\VE must Lige Strickland wns arrested on miles from Palmetto, at 10 o’clock SPANISH GOVERNMENT WINS. Majority of the Senate Is Larger Thao In IIou*e of Deputies. A Madrid special says: The Spanish senatorial elections for the new cortes were held Sunday and passed tranquilly throughout the country, They have resulted in giving the gov ment a larger majority in the senate than it has secured in the chamber of deputies re-asserted in different reliable It is attempts of Don quarters that the security Carlos to raise a loan on the of his Italian and Austrian estates have failed. REPRESENTATIVE BAUM) DEAD, Xouisianun „,ar rn”uW ° fR1,eU ' i ! mhmgton stricken with acute rheumatism. of these people. The agony of the living victim of his criminality and the wails of a broken-hearted mother were fresh in their ears. There was noth is here •“ were t few b who r desired r pp > d to , ‘T stop l ^ Qm * J. B. aud J. L, Jones, the captor of Sam Holt, won the admiration of the entire county when the news that the negro had been captured by them was received, aud the fact that the reward money they will receive is to be given to the widow cf Alfred Cran ford has won for them still further praise and admiration. One of the strangest features of the entire affair is the part played in the execution by a northern man. This man, whose name would not be di vulged by those who knew him, nn nounced that he was from the north, while he calmly saturated Holt’s clotk j ing with kerosene oil. The intention and desire of those who had the negro in charge was to burn him at the home of Mrs. Cran ford, and the people of Palmetto, when they learned of the capture, made elab orate preparations for the execution, but they were disappointed. permitted Mrs. Cranford was not to see the negro, although she was in Newnan at the time, and it was sug gested that he be carrie<Ubefore her. She is ill, and it has been feared her brain is deranged. It was thought the shock would be too great for her, and the crowd was satisfied with the positive identification by Mrs. Cran ford’s mother and a number of others. No identification was necessary, but the crowd was cool and went about its work carefully and almost with a sys tem. Masks played no part in the lynch ing. There was no secrecy, nd effort to prevent any one seeing who lighted the fire, who cut off the ears or who took the lead. Story of the Capture. Sam Holt, the murderer of Alfred Cranford, and the assailant of Mrs. Cranford, was captured at Marsliall ville, Ga., Saturday night at 9 o’clock by Messrs. J. B. and J. L. Jones. He liafl ftecTx ill lr-' .l-iwp. r'- - 1 -- - e mother sin'eo ifio Friday afte^ the crime. blackened Wnen found his face was with soot iu au attempt at disguise. The story of the capture was told by Mr. J. B. Jones as follows: I read of the terrible crime and | took particular notice of the descrip ] | tion of the murderer, A to few plau- days after a strange negro came my given talion. He filled the description to The Constitution, aud my suspi cions were at once aroused. The negro worked for me about two years ago, but under another name, and when he left he had been indicted by tbe grand jury for attempting to assault an old negro vomau in Macon comity, My close observation of Holt seemed to have aroused his suspicions, and he ' left the place. It was several days J before I could again locate him, and then I had to enlist the aid of another i party. This person was intimate with Holt and agreed to deliver him into ; my hands last night. Holt was en ticed to a certain place, and as he was 1 passing through a dense grove of I woods my brother and myself sprang he upon him and secured him before j had time to offer any resistance. HANGING FROM A TREE. implicated in the Cranford murder night. found swinging to the limb of a tree morning. The ears and fingers a placard containing the following SOUTHERN WOHEX.” farm of Major Thomas, about seven night, and carried off to the -woods. NASHVILLE LINE PURCHASED. The Baltimore Trust and Guarantee Com pany Secures More Franchises. The Baltimore Trust and Guarantee j company, of Baltimore, Md., and asso | dates have purchased the franchise and property comprising the Nashville and Suburban Railroad company of Nashville. Tenn. The details of the sale are not known, but it is understood on good authority that the purchasers of this j property cently purchased are the same the Nashville parties who Street re Railway and the Cumberland Light ana Power company. j SAY COGIILAN WAS INDISCREET. ■ “° n ; nitli dignified silence.” THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS SINE DIF. BUTTLE FOR SENATOR FRUITLESS Unless Kxtra Session Is Culled. State Will Have Hut One Senator For Next Two Yeurs. A special from Harrisburg, Fa., says: The great battle for United States senator ended Wednesday with ou * an election and unless Governor Stone calls an extra session at which there should be an election, Pennsyl tive r“ in H‘ the ir: United t'i States r senate ,op rr dur ing the next two years. After the taking of ballot in joint convention a motion was offered ottered bv by Mr. Fow', democrat, of Philadelphia, and adopted, that a vote of thanks be tendered the officers and that-tke con vontiou adjourn sine die. The legislature adjourned Tliurday noon. There was no change in the last day’s voting, the friends of Senator Quay standing by him aud the anti Quay republicans by B. F. Jones, of Pittsburg, while the democrats cast their votes for George A. Jenks, who had been their candidate since the deadlock began. The senatorial contest began on January 17tb. On that day Senator Quay received his highest vote, 112 senators and representatives casting their ballots for him. This was thir teen less than the number neosisary to a choice and lie never came iearer. an election during the more than three months of the struggle. No such bit ter political contest has probably ever before been waged in tbis distinctly country. The fight has been Quay and anti-Quay lines, and both sides had numerous representatives at all times keeping a close watch on the numbers aud on each other. The seventy-ninth ballot, the last to be taken for a United States senator at the present session of the legislature, resulted: Quay, republican, 93; Jenks, democrat, 85; Jones, republican, 69. Total, 247. Necessary for a choice, 124. Paired oi’ not voting, 6. THE SECOND DOLLAR DINNER. This One Given Under Auspices of Work ing Men at New York, The second of the “one-dollar” Bryan dinners, that under the auspi ces of the workingmen, w-as held Wed nesday night at the Grand Central palace in New York City. , < cage platform democrats in the same place on J^*”"*****? night about 1,000 men and women being present. closed his address When Mr. Bryan Wednesday night there was a mighty demonstration. Men and women made frantic efforts to shako him by the hand and it required the eerriees of several policemen to rescue him and escort him to one of the reception rooms. He remained until tbe crowd had largely dispersed Bartholdi. and then was he driven to the hotel, As emerged into the street and got into his carriage he w*s greeted again by cheers, several hundred people waiting t° get a farewell glimpse of him. The striking difference between the two dollar dinners was the seating of the guests of lionpr Wednesday night on the platform, where they were plainly visible to everybody painted in he hall. Back of tho speakers, on a large canvass, was the following: “A system of political economy will yet dawn which will perform as well as promise; with will rain the riches of nature info tie laps of the starving P °r< r 'i Colonel i Wijliam vv IV J. T Bryan T> entered i •. the hall soon dter 7 o’clock. He was received with great applause. ers were seat el as follows: Walker; Presiding MrfBryan . pffleer, to his John right, Brieben with N. O. Nelsof?, of St. Louis; Eev. Dr. Edward Met lynn, Charles Frederick Adams am/1 John S. Crosby at Mr. Bryan’s riiilt. At the chairman’s left were Maw Samuel M. Jones, of To ledo; Oli U H. P. Belmont and Wil liam Temj.e Emmet, great-grandson of-Robert iilmmett. The touts and speakers were as fol lows: “iVunieipal Ownership of Pub- I lic Frailllises,” Mayor S. M. Jones: “What/rJust Economic System Would Do fot Women,” Charlotte Perkins Stetso,n “The Foes Which Beset Move/n nts in the Interest of People ” Rev. ' Idward McGlynn; “Practical Adjnidnent >/eson; of Social Problems,” N. O. “All Government Derives Its flowers from the Consent of the Go^eued,” William Temple Emmett; “Tlhmas Jefferson,” William Jen- [ ni Jc, Bryan. 1 o menu was of tbe haddock,' simplest It J Vegetable soup, egg ,ty „ v ,e, roast beef, roast turkey cran- : ’ J sauce; pickles, ice cream, cake coffee - JURY FAILED TO AGREE. / 11™"’* A11 ^" Lake City. to reach a verdict. 01 THE H RNIXG Ol SAM HOLT AT NEWNAN, GA. 1 HE BLAMES THE COLORED PEOPLE For Not Assisting In the Suppression o Crlmo nml Lawlessness Thus Acqui- I escing By Their Inaction. When asked , what , he , thought ,, , . of . the ,, , , >«rmngof the negro, Sam Holt, at ewman, Ga., Sunday Governor Can l “ er sa ^ ' u part: 1 . About 11 o clock this . morning . I advised that Holt had been eapt-, ilea at once from theie to z'LT JNewnan. ^ immediately called up Newnan by telephone and asked for the sheriff. operator said he would send for ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ of fifteen or twenty minutes he informed me that , the sherifi . had gone out in the country, and ho could not tell when ho would be back. Iu order to ex baust every means I then sent a tele gram to the , sheriff, , directing .... him not , to receive the prisoner, who had not yet reached Newnan,and did not reach here till 2 o clock, anywhere exept the jail in Newnan. I did this because 1 feared that because of the large re wards offered the parties having linn 111 charge might deliver him to the sheriff out m town, or before they reached town, thus giving the mob an opportunity to lynch him, and still elaimf th® rewards. If delivered at the jail I presumed the sheriff would at once lock him up and then receipt for liim. I heard no more from either Newnan, Griffin or Palmetto until 3 o’clock, when the sheriff of Coweta county called me up by telephone aud said he had received my telegram; that Holt had been delivered to him at the jail iu Newnan, and receipted for by him, but that after he had receipted for him and before he had locked him up, the mob, consisting of 500 or 1,000 men, took him in a hack aud went off in the direction of Pal metto. In reply to my inquiry the sheriff said he did not know a single man iu the crowd. I directed him to summon a posse and follow the crowd and, if possible prevent violence. He replied that he had done all he could do. Ihn ty minutes , , later , I learned that Ho t had been burned I again called up the sheriff who informed me that it uas hue, that he had done all in his power to prevent it, without avail, iVaich have not been published, and • are too horrible for publication, is the most diabolical iu tbe annals of crime. The negroes of that community lost the best opportunity they will ever have to elevate themselves in the es‘ timation of their neighbors. The dia bolical lino™™ nature of er.rv“ the double crime aZ was 1£ „ 0 ]1 tl'cv - perpetrator was wed known, and owed it to the race to exhaust everv means of bringing Holt to Lre justice. This course would have don. to elevate them in the estimation of good people and to protect their race against the mob than all the rewards and proc lamatmns of all the governors for the next fifty years. But they lost the opportunity, and it is a deplorable fact that while scores of intelligent negroes, leaders of their race, have talked to me about the motto lynching, not one of them has ever, in the remotest way, alluded to either the burning of Palmetto, which provoked the lynching, nor to the diabolical crime of Holt. I do not believe these men sympathized with Holt or the Palmetto incendiaries but * lfe 7 a!e ^ )lincled -T race prejudice, ami can see but one side of the tion. This is unfortunate The Ny must learn to look at both sides Lai want «„/» to protect them rtoleneeTufl iu every right g,u„ sl m „,, stand ready to employ every resource of the 3tate in doing so; but they must i i realize that in order to merit and re ceive the protection of the community, they must show a willingness to at least aid in protecting the community theiV against the lawless element of i own race. THE PLUT0N WAS RIDDLED. Remains orsunken Spanish Torpedo Boat Found By Divers. NTews come from Santiago that the Spanish torpedo boat destroyerPnton, which was sunk in the great battle t ^ iat resulted in the destruction of Ad- j miral Cervera’s squadron, was discov- 1 ered Friday about three miles west of “orro castle iu eight fathoms of water, U was found by divers from the Yankton, who made a thorough in spection, finding the hull lying on the port side aud with no indications of having been struck by a heavy shell, as was originally reported. The ves- 8aI . however, is badly stove and liter ally riddled with six-pound shot. j A “FIFTEEN-SHOOTER.” Au.tr!a Claim* a Quick and Numerou. imperial arsenal. 10H EXTRA SESSION OF THE ALA* KAMA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MEET IN MONTGOMERY MAY 2. Principal Purpose I* to Consider the Bepeal of the Constitutional Convention Act. Governor Johnston, of Alabama, has issued a call for an extra session of tbe state legislature to assemble in Montgomery May 2. The proclama tion is as follows : a Proclamation. The general assembly of Alabama is ins •ssjt ^. s;t }8{)9> ^ ^ ^ foUo p 0 ,, ea> ou ]y : To consider the question of re pealing an act entitled, “An act to provide for holding a convention to ^vise and amend the constitution of this state, and for the submission of ^ho q lie8 tion—convention or no conven tion—to a vote of the electors of the state,” approved December 16, 1898. 2 - To consider and submit amend ments to the constitution of the state, 3 To consider a primary r 17 election , QW , In ^ itneS8 whereof j bave here unto get my hand and cansed the great Rea l of the state to be affixed at the capitol j n the city of Montgomery, on this, tbe 20 th day of April 1899 J os . S. Johnston, Governor. B tbe „ overnor r, p. M’David, -L Sec. of State. In connection with his proclamation calling the general assembly in extra session the governor gave to the press a statement to the people, which in part says: ‘To the People of Alabama: “I have determined that it is my duty to convene the general assembly in extra session tp repeal the con vention act, submit amendment to the present constitution, and adopt a primary elec tion law. . “I am satisfied that if the act be not repealed a bitter campaign will ensue, the convention be overwhelmed by a vote of the people and desirable amend ments postponed for years to come. “An extra session should not cost over $10,000; the election alone under tbfe aotj evon if f ru itless, would cost over $30,000. The money will come in auy ovent out p f ^he pocket* of the people. “In my last biennial message to the g ene ral assembly, whilst conceding tbat tbe constitution needed some re vision, I said: ‘Our state is now en joviwr«repose most eraieful fj‘P J “ lii!’ H’if “„t,mM,d Tilltil itettro7 toIhe j ‘ (lils 0D ,, ' such . I whether rd L i !? 7 be nec0ssar y could not , , 1 1 more certainly;and less ! nT ftmetfdment^nTMMrft^elTOtton , tman a general election. 7, “‘lYfi V i-wi T1 “. i“7 ™ “>>'? ^ -mm 1 U f. deCK ‘.. to 8U to .1 , 16 lon 0,8 , , e ' : 5,"” ’ “ ° " J f “ It a0 0 , d wiShold id not feel ]iberty y to mv assent yVoter from a mea9u £t re thatpermited deoTdTfor 6 whether in tbe ' B e to convention^to himseU bo a be held taJe « not Since thcn a democratic CO n Ve ques?ffi nt on has Her been heW bSm and lubrnS- without ' t the J n^ ?othe£m^r»£^Torh^ng n Winir them^ kn attemn* b ee considered T?® by 7 ™’ “ aKe “ pt >L °, tak , ® aw ay c fr ,°? the m \ he hS , . ^ . i ri fnr e for tliemael ves whetfew K they de fu'®, •. , f C °°7 e h ° n ° r not »/ nd ^ 1)mtl I i flpproved n ^ f andlon s,,; P!1 ce or not. This 7 has been fol ^ i ' Wed a P ; h * - threa ■ thftt i ao ™ lu e ' >s “ .°/ cou fy conventions shall aisodfj , o th ® WIshes of tbe convention, which . »«• «d dteUr. for tho —nsti.totional convention or be driven ° J. m,toa<J of , ,, non-partisan ,. con . ^ the general assem y tbe P| an now seems to be to g.ve I , 8 7 political >r advantages , 7 r for /' S those 0D g in eermg and directing the cause. MANY CIGARS SEIZED. Revenue Agents Discover That Cauntev felt Stamps Are Being Used. internal revenue bureau at Washington has so far been notified °f the discovery of over half a million cigars manufactured by Jacobs at Lan caster, Pa., and bearing counterfeit stamps. Three hundred thousand of tLese were found in Jacobs’ own factory at Lancaster, 70,000 in San Francisco; 32,000 in Philadelphia, 150,000 in Cincinnati 19,000 in Toledo and 8,o00 in the first New York district. It i« believed that this amount will be largely increased as the search goes OIL. LYNCHING COMES HIGH Agcurflu* to ^rfonn" f ^ J 0 “* h ^ i hers of the supreme bench concurring, i 2 . JURY PROMPTLY ACQUITS IIIM OF CONSPIRACY CHARGES. ggy jjqNE jddi APPOINTS HIM. Friends of Defendant Shower Their Con gratulations—Verdict Was Expected In View of the Sudden Turn In Case. Matthew Stanley Quay has been de dared by a jury of his peers to be not guilty of the charge of conspiring to use for his own unlawful gain and profit the funds of the state of Penn sylvania deposited in the People’s ' bank of Philadelphia. The verdict was announced by the foreman of the jury just as the hands °f the courtroom timepiece pointed to H o’clock Friday morning. There was an attempt at demdnstration, but this was sternly repressed by the court officers, Tbe officers were unable, however, to keep back those who strug gled to get to Senator Quay and con gratulate him. Chairs were upset, tables were brushed aside and hats were smashed by the onrushing crowd, Senator Quay, with a broad smile on Rig face , responded pleasantly to the greetings and congratulations of those who crowded around, Although the court officers prevent ed the cheering in the courtroom, thwr jurisdiction did not extond to the cor ridors of the city hall aud the first group of men who left the courtroom . sent up a mighty shout, which was taken up and repeated by the crowd gathered just outside the “dead line” drawn by the watchmen, beyond which only possessors of tickets were nllow-ed to pass. As soon as Senator Quay could get away from those anxious to shake his band and congratulate him, he made bis way, accompanied by his counsel, to the elevator to descend to the street from the sixth floor of the municipal building. Here the scenes in the courtroom were repeated. Everybody wanted to say something pleasant to him and crowds gathered near the el evator shaft on each floor to watch the car carrying the distinguished party as if descended the street. The avenue surrounding the city ball is wide and smooth and the neighborhood is the stamping ground for the politicians of the town. Here the enthusiasm was immense as tha senator emerged from the door of tha building. A group of enthusiasts rushed forward and attempted to hoist him to their shoulders, but the senator waved them back, saying: old “Oh, no; ob, no; I’m too a man the vetdiet ‘wtlv “ ° a "W«H. -fr I expected it.” . Governor Appoints Quay. Immediately on receipt of the news a t Harrisburg that Col. Quay was ac dotted of the charges against him ' Governor Stone appointed . him United Stote! > to fiU “h 1 * 1 the next legislature meets and notified Yice President Hobart as follows: Bj virtue of the power vest ed in me as the executive of the state of Pennsylvania under article 1, clause 2 > section 3 of the constitution of the United States, I hereby make tempor ar y appointment of the Hon. Matthew Stanley Quay to be United States sen ator Pennsylvania until the next meeting of the Pennsylvania legisla tl,re to fil1 the vacancy now existing in tbis state - Very respectfully, Stone “VVilliam Penn’svlvania A “Governor of " vT ” 1 1 The authority mentioned by lu the I governor says that the governor of any. 8tate ,nftke tem P oral T meats during a recess to hoid until the t ta ! 1 «« 18 5» dls tnre P ut< “ ?<t e »* by s - those _ ^wmterpre- who , say ttiar Uw vacancy did not occur during *“• «“ W m session. Mr. Quay’s acquittal in Philadel- . phia and his appointment to the United States senatorsbip created the greatest excitement in political circles at the state capital. The fiiends of Quay are wild with glee and say that he has achieved two triumphs now that must certainly react in his favor. WASHINGTONIANS ROUTE REBELS. Outpoats of the Regiment Fiercely At tacked l>y the Filipino*. A Manila dispatch says: A force of about two hundred rebels Thursday afternoon attacked the ourposts of the Wasbington regiment near Tagnig, south of Pasig and Pateros. Two companies immediately engaged the enemy and advanoed on to the open in skirmish order. The rebels were checked and routed ^er two hour, of , fighting, , leaving twelve men killed on the field and sev e r al 'wounded. The American troop. >«o obtained possession of naany Mau rifles and many other rfccountre BRYAN’S OLD REGIMENT. Seoun.l Snutl^Carolina^I. Muatere* not been annoui ced.