Negro Slays a Policeman And is Lynched in Alabama
(By The Associated Press)
Sheffield, Ala., Nov. 12.—George Whitesede, a negro, self-confessed slayer of John Graham, a policeman of Sheffield, was taken from the Colbert county jail by a mob early today and lynched. Shortly afterwards the mob left for Russellville, 20 miles south of here, some of their leaders declaring they would lynch Henry Willingham and Charles Hamilton, two other negroes arrested in connection with the killing. They were taken to Russellville for safe keeping after William Bird, another negro implicated in the affair, had been lynched Sunday night.
Today's article of interest comes to us through the pages of The Sedalia Democrat (Sedalia, Missouri) dated July 9, 1901:
CONFESSED A HOAX
A New Way of Getting Clear of a "Lover."
"YARN" OF ILLINOIS GIRL
It Came Near Resulting In the Lynching of One of Her Numerous Attendants.
The announcement of the marriage of Ed Elliott and Miss Reba O'Hair has brought to light some interesting and novel facts concerning the young lady's escapade a few weeks ago, in which she figures as the victim of a mysterious assault and Ed Butler came near being lynched, says a Charleston, Ill., dispatch of the 8th.
On the night of June 8, about 10 o'clock, Miss O'Hair, the 20-year-old daughter of Ellsberry O'Hair, a wealthy farmer of Hickory township, was found unconscious on the doorstep. On her recovery she claimed to have been called to the door just as she was retiring and was seized and choked.
Her clothing bore evidence of a terrible struggle, and bloody finger prints were on her nightrobe, but no scratch or mark was visible on her body.
Suspicion at once pointed to Butler, who worked on the O'Hair farm, and who stood in the light of a rejected lover. He was missing, but was at once run down in a neighboring town and an angry mob wished to lynch him. He was only saved by the fact that his body bore no wound or mark from which the blood on Miss O'Hair's garments could have come.
A week or two went by, Miss O'Hair gradually recovered, being attended constantly by a physician. She could give no more coherent account of the mysterious assault than at first.
Meantime her father offered a reward of $300 for the villain's apprehension and police officers and constables for fifty miles around watched the highways and scrutinizing passing trains.
Today Miss O'Hair confessed that it had been a deliberate plan of herself and young Elliott, her favorite lover, to get rid of Butler. Elliott it was who stood at the door and seized the fair maid, and the blood of a slain chicken on his hands left its markings on her clothing.
Butler, of course, after his narrow escape from death at the rope's end, left for parts unknown.
Yesterday Elliott and Miss O'Hair were married, and today she told her father the thrilling story of how she foiled an unwelcome suitor.
If Butler had been hanged by the mob that found him next day while she was pretending unconsciousness, it would have set a new pace in love affairs.
Thank you for joining me, and as always, I hope I leave you with something to ponder.
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