I have had multiple people ask about my sources. At the top of every article I list the newspaper the article came from. That newspaper is the source. If I post something from a book, I add the author and title. I do not claim to be an expert on lynchings. I do not even have a college degree. I do, however, have a curiosity of the past and an indignant rage about the murders of so many people. I grew up in the south and still live in the south, but I was never taught the depth of lynchings. I feel the very important history of people of color in America is not taught. I only wish to inform and to leave judgments to the reader. I try to cover lynchings from all over the country and lynchings of all races. I try to cover victims that were obviously guilty as well as ones who were most definitely innocent.
I come back today with the lynching of Sam Hose. If you are squeamish, I warn you that this lynching is grotesque. Sam Hose was mutilated before being burned alive. Please keep that in mind before reading the articles.
First we have a proclamation from the Governor of Georgia found in The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Ga) dated April 15, 1899:
A PROCLAMATION.—GEORGIA: By Allen D. Candler, governor of said state. whereas, official information has been received at this department that assault and murder was committed in the county of Campbell, on the 12th day of April, 1899, upon the body of Alfred Cranford, by Sam Hose, colored, as is alleged, and that said Sam Hose has fled from justice. I have thought proper, therefore, to issue this my proclamation, hereby offering a reward of $250 for the apprehension and delivery of said Sam Hose to the sheriff of Coweta county at Newnan, or to the sheriff of Fulton county, in the city of Atlanta. And I do moreover charge and require all officers in this state, civil and military, to be vigilant in endeavoring to apprehend the said Sam Hose in order that he may be brought to trial for the offense with which he stands charged.
Given under my hand and the seal of the state, at the capitol in Atlanta, this the 14th day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and of the independence of the United States of America the one hundred and twenty-third.
A. D. CANDLER,
Governor
By the Governor.
PHILIP COOK, Secretary of State.
Description—Sam Hose is of a yellow color, five and one-half feet high, one or two front teeth out and carries his head a little to one side. Is 21 or 22 years old. When last seen was wearing a brown-spotted hat.
Given under my hand and the seal of the state, at the capitol in Atlanta, this the 14th day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and of the independence of the United States of America the one hundred and twenty-third.
A. D. CANDLER,
Governor
By the Governor.
PHILIP COOK, Secretary of State.
Description—Sam Hose is of a yellow color, five and one-half feet high, one or two front teeth out and carries his head a little to one side. Is 21 or 22 years old. When last seen was wearing a brown-spotted hat.
Catch the Criminal!
The only effective way to enforce the law is to deliver criminals up to justice!
An atrocious crime has been committed in Campbell county—a respectable farmer has been murdered; his children were dipped in his blood, and his wife was submitted to an outrage, the nature of which exhausts the power of law to properly punish!
The criminal is at large. It is through the commission of such crimes of which he is guilty that people are goaded into inflicting summary vengeance. If his people do not make themselves prominent in effecting his capture, then they must be content to share the obloquy which his crime brings upon them. This is plain language, but it is true, and they might as well understand it first as last.
The governor of the state has offered a reward of $500 for the arrest and delivery to the officers of Sam Hose.
The people of Palmetto have added to this $250 more.
With a combined reward of $750 outstanding, the criminal is still at large! For six days Crime has defied Law, and it becomes the duty of those who appeal to Law to work together for its enforcement.
The Constitution hereby offers an additional reward of $500 for the arrest and delivery of Sam Hose to the sheriff of the county in which the crime was committed.
This makes $1,250 in all.
Read this description and pass it around
Sam Hose weighs 140 pounds, is five feet eight inches tall and a mulatto of a coppery tint. He has a small black mustache and holds his head to one side while talking. He wears his hat well down over his forehead and has an affection which causes him to jerk his head at intervals. When last seen he had on a pair of almost new shoes, No. 7, a pair of gray jeans pants, brown sack coat and a mottled hat.
The Constitution makes this offer, fully convinced of the fact that we have reached a critical period—one in which the safety of the home must be measured against the chances for criminals to escape. The people of Georgia are orderly and conservative, the descendants of ancestors who have been trained in American methods for 150 years. They are a people intensely religious, home-loving and just. There is among them no foreign or lawless element. When, therefore, a lynching occurs among such people, it has connected with it premeditation and purpose, and it follows that when such a people can be so moved behind it there is a motive so strong and overpowering that all the bonds of conservatism have been broken.
Georgia is an agricultural state. Her people are forced to the isolated life of the farm, and as the farmer goes about his daily labor, he must leave mother, wife or daughter in the lonely cabin to await his home-coming. Are they safe? The answer comes from the humble home in Campbell county, where an industrious citizen who bore his part toward family and state was brutally murdered by the negro to whom he had given food and employment.
The searching for Sam Hose should be kept up, and his punishment should be made summary enough to serve notice upon those who sympathize with him that there is protection in Georgia for women and children.
Twelve hundred and fifty dollars reward for the capture of Sam Hose and his delivery to the sheriff of Campbell county!
Of this sum The Constitution will pay $500.
Keep up the chase!
This article covers the search and comes from The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) dated April 16, 1899:
HOSE IS A WILL O' THE WISP
TO HIS DETERMINED PURSUERS
Negro Has Cleverly Evaded All Efforts of the Searchers To
Effect His Capture,
GRIM MEN ARE FOLLOWING HIM
LateReports (sic) Announce That His Capture
Is Expected.
NEGROES DRIVEN FROM PALMETTO
Excitement Still Continues Intense,
and It Is Openly Declared That
if Sam Hose Is Brought in
Alive He Will Be
Burned.
By Daniel Carey.
Palmetto, Ga. April 15.—(Special.)—Like a will o' the wisp Sam Hose has today evaded all efforts to effect his capture. He has concealed himself in swamps, he has dodged his pursuers when they thought his capture only a matter of a few hours, and has slipped almost from beneath their touch, which will not be gentle.
He has proven himself almost as shrewd as those who are hunting for him, but not quite. At a late hour tonight word was received here that the posse is hot on the trail near LaGrange, and it is now thought, even by those who were disposed to believe the negro had escaped, that he will be brought to Palmetto this afternoon or that his bullet-riddled body will be left swinging to a limb by those who are now running him down to his doom.
With unabated zeal and with tireless energy the search for Hose has continued today. This negro, the murderer of Alfred Cranford and the assailant of his wife, is being tracked swiftly and with accuracy by cool, determined men, who have so far done what they said they would do when they left their homes to begin the search, and what the women advised them to do--remain away until every trace of the negro had vanished.
Undaunted by failure, they have followed every trail, they have left clews after following them for hours to find them worthless for fresher traces of the negro, and every failure has but served to spur them to renewed effort. Since early last Thursday morning, ten hours after the crimes had been committed, this search has continued. Although almost exhausted in body from sleeplessness and fatigue, the parties are still pushing on, not with the same vigor with which they set out, but with, if possible, greater determination to capture the fleeing negro.
Excitement Continues.
At this place the intense excitement continues. Never before in the history of the town has its people been so wrought up. The residents have shown no disposition to abandon the search in the immediate neighborhood of Palmetto; their ardor has in no degree cooled, and if Sam Hose is brought here by his captors he will be publicly burned at the stake as an example to members of his race who are said to have been causing residents of this vicinity trouble for some time.
There is, however, little probability of the capture of the negro while he is alive. He is known to be a desperate character, or had such a reputation among the people of this place and of Coweta county, even before the crimes of Wednesday night. It is also known that he is armed with a pistol, as he exchanged shots with his pursuers Thursday night near Strickler's bridge, while a negro, John Smith, is said to have admitted giving him a pistol on the night of the murder, although the latter negro says he did not know of the crimes of Hose.
The facts being true, it is very probable that Hose will make a fight for his life, as he has probably already been warned by negroes that it is the intention of his captors to burn him at the stake. It may be that the negro, who uses a pistol well, will wound at least one of his pursuers before he goes down before their shots, and there is great anxiety in Palmetto among the relatives of the searchers.
The searching party is divided into several bodies, but possibly the greatest interest is centered in the man who is following some negro, believed to be Hose, down the Southern railroad toward Savannah. This man is a resident of Palmetto, and is one of the tireless and courageous citizens of this place. He telephoned from Barnesville Friday night that he believed the negro had gone to Macon on a freight train, and announced his intention of following.
Yesterday morning word was received from him from Macon, stating that he had traced his man to several places in Macon, both by his attempt at passing confederate money, which he obtained from the Cranford home on the night of the murder, and by description. Shortly afterwards a message was received from the same man saying the negro he was following had left Macon for Savannah. The Palmetto resident said he would continue the search, and left Macon this morning of an early train.
Ten Minutes To Leave.
Palmetto residents are determined to rid their neighborhood of what they believe to be undesirable persons, and with this object in view they yesterday morning gave John Floyd, a young negro, ten minutes in which to leave town. The negro was approached openly at his home during the morning and was told that he had ten minutes in which to say goodby to his family.
For several minutes he loitered around, and was then told that when the ten minutes allowed him for preparation for departure expired he would be shot through the heart. There was the ring of earnestness in the words he heard, and he no longer hesitated. He wore his hat at the time, but did not stop to reach for his coat, and as he left at a brisk walk, exclaimed: "Fo' Gawd sake. Yo' ain't neber gwine terse me 'round dis here place no more." When Floyd was safely out of gun range he began running, and when last seen was going in the direction of Atlanta.
More Negroes Leave
Yesterday four negroes left Palmetto with their families, having been notified to depart by notices tacked in public places through out the city. They are Ben Bridges, Tom Jackson, Noah Zellers and Professor Kelly. Two other negroes, George Tatum and John Jamison, both of who were in the warehouse when the negroes were killed several weeks ago, but who escaped injury, were also notified to leave; but they are in the county jail at Fairburn, and when told of the warning, said they would not mind obeying.
Professor Kelly, a negro school teacher, left early Wednesday morning. He had opened his school near Palmetto, when someone informed him that he had been publicly warned to leave. Kelly took his hat and coat and left for parts unknown at once, not even waiting to dismiss from school the children he was teaching.
George Woodward and Henry Briggs, two negroes, voluntarily left with their families yesterday morning, going to Atlanta. It is estimated by citizens that since January 24th, when the first store was fired by the incendiaries, about 200 negroes have left the vicinity. Those who remain are badly frightened, and at S--montown, directly across the railroad from Palmetto, three and four negro families are sleeping, like sheep, in one house for protection.
Searchers Are Persistent.
With unusual persistence, the searchers at Hogansville are today following the trail of their man. This is the same party which, Friday night, chased a negro supposed to be Sam Hose and answering to his description through Moreland and the surrounding country, and the posse is still after the same man. As the day passed they were drawing closer to him, and every time he was heard from, the distance between pursuers and pursued was less.
Late this afternoon the party wired to Palmetto that unless the negro made some move not then anticipated by the searchers he would be captured tonight, and many residents of this place surround both the telegraph and telephone offices as this is being written with the expectation of hearing of the capture. If this party is after Hose and succeeds in taking him alive. Palmetto will be deserted tonight, as the residents will go to meet the captors with their prize.
It was this party which is said to have taken drastic measures this morning to extract knowledge from a negro; but if the man knew anything, according to report, he did not tell it. He was found near Mountville, just after the party left that place, it is said, and was thought to know the direction in which the negro supposed to be Hose had gone. The strange negro represented that he knew nothing.
A rope is said to have been placed around his neck, and he was led to a nearby tree, where he was informed that unless he told in which direction the fugitive had gone, within two minutes opportunity for telling would be gone. With his knees trembling and with his entire body quaking with fear, the negro swore that he knew nothing. The party then allowed him to go, being satisfied that had he known he would have told.
A Frightened Merchant.
It was the same party which badly frightened a merchant at St. Marks, between Mountville and Hogansville today. With three days growth of beard on their faces and their clothes soiled from constant pursuit, the party trooped into the store of the merchant and the leader informed him that the members of the party would like to speak with him privately for a few moments.
The merchant stood still for a moment, his jaw dropping and then like a flash he darted through a rear door, leaving the party in possession of his store., He was seen running toward the woods as fast as his legs could carry him, and could not be induced to stop by friendly shouts. A resident of the neighborhood finally undertook to tell him who composed the party in his store, and the merchant returned to his place of business. He said he thought he had been attacked by brigands. He told what he knew of the direction taken by the negro and the searchers pushed on.
Searching the Neighborhood.
Sam Hose is believed by many to still be in the vicinity of the place where his crimes of Wednesday night were committed. Tonight a party assembled near the Cranford home to go on a quiet search for the negro throughout the entire neighborhood, and if he is there he will probably be captured before morning unless some of his friends learn of the intended hunt and warn him.
There are only a few in this party, not more than ten, and it is the intention to visit all the old haunts of the negro and to steal quietly through the woods with the hope of catching him in an unguarded moment.
An idea of public sentiment not only here, but in Coweta, Pike, Meriwether and Paulding, all of which counties have been visited by the searching parties, maybe be had from the aid given the various posses. Not only have women cheered them on while the men waved their hats and gave vent to other demonstrations of sympathy as the party passed, but practical aid has been rendered the searchers.
Horses and mules have been taken from between the plowshares to be ridden by the members of the posse and buggies have been given them. When the searchers left Palmetto and other places in this vicinity they were on foot; now they are mounted or on buggies. The horses and conveyances are driven about ten or fifteen miles and then sent back to their owners and fresh teams are secured.
If determination, energy and persistence count for anything, Sam Hose will pay the penalty for the crime and it is only feared here that his captors will kill him on sight instead of bringing him here for the death in contemplation for him at this place.
HOT ON THE TRAIL OF HOSE.
FLEEING NEGRO MAY BE CAPTURED NEAR LA GRANGE.
Posse Has Been Swelled in Numbers and Is Only a Few Hours Behind the Fugitive.
LaGrange, Ga., April 15.—(Special.)—In response to a telegram asking for help, a posse left LaGrange this afternoon at 5 o'clock to give chase to the negro Sam Hose, who so brutally murdered Mr. Cranford and then assaulted his wife near Palmetto.
Reports from Mountville tonight at 10:30 o'clock are to the effect that the posse, which has been increased by the crowd from LaGrange, is in hot pursuit of the negro, being only two or three hours behind him. It is thought he will be captured some time in the morning.
The negro has left the Hogansville and Mountville road and is headed toward Greenville. The surrounding country is aroused as it has never been before, and men who are fresh are taking the places of those who are worn out.
HOSE ALMOST IN THEIR GRASP.
FALSE REPORT SAVED THE NEGRO LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.
But for Being Called of Trail, Griffin Citizens Believe They Would Have Caught Murderer.
Griffin, Ga., April 15.—(Special.)—Had not some one sent a dispatch yesterday to the posse which for the past several days has been pursuing Sam Hose, the negro would have already paid the penalty for his horrible crime.
When the dispatch was received by the posse stating that Hose had been arrested and carried to Palmetto, they had the murderer and assailant located, and would doubtless have captured him before the sun rose this morning. After receiving the dispatch the men supposed they were on the wrong track and dispersed, leaving Hose to go on his way unpursued.
The persons sending the dispatch which called of his pursuers evidently had what they considered authentic information of the arrest of Hose, but it proved to be a serious mistake.
Abe Rogowskie, of this city, was one of the posse, and to a Call reporter today he related how the negro was tracked from place to place. Hose was first heard of at Digby, and from there he went to Drewryville, where he tried to pass a $5 confederate bill.
He was followed to Hollonville, and there he again attempted to pass the confederate money for some tobacco at Mr. Marshall's store.
The posse was not very far behind the negro and pushed on with all possible haste until they reached J. P Crawford's plantation, about a mile and a half this side of Concord.
They learned from Mr. Crawford that a negro filling the description of Hose had applied to him that morning about 10 o'clock, asking for employment, claiming he was from Jasper county. He was hired, and left saying he would return this morning and go to work.
In a negro house on this plantation were found the blood-stained clothes which Hose had left to be washed, with the understanding that he would call for them last night.
The pursuers were then satisfied they were on the right track and would capture the negro before midnight.
Shortly afterwards a dispatch was received stating that Hose had been captured and carried to Palmetto, where he would be dealt with at once.
The men were non-plused at this information and wired for fuller particulars, stating that they were sure they had the right man located.
The message came to them again that Sam Hose was beyond all doubt under arrest in Palmetto, and it was then that the neighbors of Mr. and Mrs. Cranford gave up the chase and hastened back to Palmetto hoping to get there in time to witness the death.
Mr. Rogowskie says a few members of the party remained in the neighborhood several hours longer, and then went to Concord for the night. He was indignant when he learned the negro had not been arrested, and was confident his party would have caught Hose but for the unfortunate dispatch.
Citizens living in Concord still believe the negro is in that neighborhood, and at 10 o'clock this morning wired to Griffin for a posse to come down and help them to capture him.
The posse was formed, and left about noon, but nothing has been heard from it, and it is feared the negro has escaped.
It was this party which is said to have taken drastic measures this morning to extract knowledge from a negro; but if the man knew anything, according to report, he did not tell it. He was found near Mountville, just after the party left that place, it is said, and was thought to know the direction in which the negro supposed to be Hose had gone. The strange negro represented that he knew nothing.
A rope is said to have been placed around his neck, and he was led to a nearby tree, where he was informed that unless he told in which direction the fugitive had gone, within two minutes opportunity for telling would be gone. With his knees trembling and with his entire body quaking with fear, the negro swore that he knew nothing. The party then allowed him to go, being satisfied that had he known he would have told.
A Frightened Merchant.
It was the same party which badly frightened a merchant at St. Marks, between Mountville and Hogansville today. With three days growth of beard on their faces and their clothes soiled from constant pursuit, the party trooped into the store of the merchant and the leader informed him that the members of the party would like to speak with him privately for a few moments.
The merchant stood still for a moment, his jaw dropping and then like a flash he darted through a rear door, leaving the party in possession of his store., He was seen running toward the woods as fast as his legs could carry him, and could not be induced to stop by friendly shouts. A resident of the neighborhood finally undertook to tell him who composed the party in his store, and the merchant returned to his place of business. He said he thought he had been attacked by brigands. He told what he knew of the direction taken by the negro and the searchers pushed on.
Searching the Neighborhood.
Sam Hose is believed by many to still be in the vicinity of the place where his crimes of Wednesday night were committed. Tonight a party assembled near the Cranford home to go on a quiet search for the negro throughout the entire neighborhood, and if he is there he will probably be captured before morning unless some of his friends learn of the intended hunt and warn him.
There are only a few in this party, not more than ten, and it is the intention to visit all the old haunts of the negro and to steal quietly through the woods with the hope of catching him in an unguarded moment.
An idea of public sentiment not only here, but in Coweta, Pike, Meriwether and Paulding, all of which counties have been visited by the searching parties, maybe be had from the aid given the various posses. Not only have women cheered them on while the men waved their hats and gave vent to other demonstrations of sympathy as the party passed, but practical aid has been rendered the searchers.
Horses and mules have been taken from between the plowshares to be ridden by the members of the posse and buggies have been given them. When the searchers left Palmetto and other places in this vicinity they were on foot; now they are mounted or on buggies. The horses and conveyances are driven about ten or fifteen miles and then sent back to their owners and fresh teams are secured.
If determination, energy and persistence count for anything, Sam Hose will pay the penalty for the crime and it is only feared here that his captors will kill him on sight instead of bringing him here for the death in contemplation for him at this place.
HOT ON THE TRAIL OF HOSE.
FLEEING NEGRO MAY BE CAPTURED NEAR LA GRANGE.
Posse Has Been Swelled in Numbers and Is Only a Few Hours Behind the Fugitive.
LaGrange, Ga., April 15.—(Special.)—In response to a telegram asking for help, a posse left LaGrange this afternoon at 5 o'clock to give chase to the negro Sam Hose, who so brutally murdered Mr. Cranford and then assaulted his wife near Palmetto.
Reports from Mountville tonight at 10:30 o'clock are to the effect that the posse, which has been increased by the crowd from LaGrange, is in hot pursuit of the negro, being only two or three hours behind him. It is thought he will be captured some time in the morning.
The negro has left the Hogansville and Mountville road and is headed toward Greenville. The surrounding country is aroused as it has never been before, and men who are fresh are taking the places of those who are worn out.
HOSE ALMOST IN THEIR GRASP.
FALSE REPORT SAVED THE NEGRO LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.
But for Being Called of Trail, Griffin Citizens Believe They Would Have Caught Murderer.
Griffin, Ga., April 15.—(Special.)—Had not some one sent a dispatch yesterday to the posse which for the past several days has been pursuing Sam Hose, the negro would have already paid the penalty for his horrible crime.
When the dispatch was received by the posse stating that Hose had been arrested and carried to Palmetto, they had the murderer and assailant located, and would doubtless have captured him before the sun rose this morning. After receiving the dispatch the men supposed they were on the wrong track and dispersed, leaving Hose to go on his way unpursued.
The persons sending the dispatch which called of his pursuers evidently had what they considered authentic information of the arrest of Hose, but it proved to be a serious mistake.
Abe Rogowskie, of this city, was one of the posse, and to a Call reporter today he related how the negro was tracked from place to place. Hose was first heard of at Digby, and from there he went to Drewryville, where he tried to pass a $5 confederate bill.
He was followed to Hollonville, and there he again attempted to pass the confederate money for some tobacco at Mr. Marshall's store.
The posse was not very far behind the negro and pushed on with all possible haste until they reached J. P Crawford's plantation, about a mile and a half this side of Concord.
They learned from Mr. Crawford that a negro filling the description of Hose had applied to him that morning about 10 o'clock, asking for employment, claiming he was from Jasper county. He was hired, and left saying he would return this morning and go to work.
In a negro house on this plantation were found the blood-stained clothes which Hose had left to be washed, with the understanding that he would call for them last night.
The pursuers were then satisfied they were on the right track and would capture the negro before midnight.
Shortly afterwards a dispatch was received stating that Hose had been captured and carried to Palmetto, where he would be dealt with at once.
The men were non-plused at this information and wired for fuller particulars, stating that they were sure they had the right man located.
The message came to them again that Sam Hose was beyond all doubt under arrest in Palmetto, and it was then that the neighbors of Mr. and Mrs. Cranford gave up the chase and hastened back to Palmetto hoping to get there in time to witness the death.
Mr. Rogowskie says a few members of the party remained in the neighborhood several hours longer, and then went to Concord for the night. He was indignant when he learned the negro had not been arrested, and was confident his party would have caught Hose but for the unfortunate dispatch.
Citizens living in Concord still believe the negro is in that neighborhood, and at 10 o'clock this morning wired to Griffin for a posse to come down and help them to capture him.
The posse was formed, and left about noon, but nothing has been heard from it, and it is feared the negro has escaped.
Lastly, we have an article covering the lynching found in April 25, 1899 edition of The Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, NC):
GEORGIA CITIZENS LYNCH NEGROES.
Terrible Punishment of Sam Hose, the Murderer and Rape Fiend.
TORTURED AND BURNED ALIVE
Confessed the Murder of Farmer Cranford
Declared a Negro Preacher
Hired Him to Commit the Murder
The Preacher Subsequently
Captured and
Put to Death By
the Mob.
NEWNAN, GA., April 23.—In the presence of nearly 2,000 people who sent aloft yells of defiance and shouts of joy, Sam Hose, a negro who committed two of the basest acts known to crime, was burned at the stake in a public road one and one-half miles from here this afternoon. Before the torch was applied to the pyre, the negro was deprived of his ears, fingers and other portions of his anatomy. The negro pleaded pitifully for his life while the mutilation was going on, but stood for the ordeal of fire with surprising fortitude. Before the body was cool it was cut to pieces, the bones were crushed into small bits and even the tree upon which the wretch met his fate was torn up and disposed of as souvenirs. The negro's heart was cut into several pieces, as was also his liver. Those unable to obtain these ghastly relics direct, paid their more fortunate possessors extravagant sums for them. Small pieces of bone went for 25 cents, and a bit of the liver, crisply cooked, sold for 10 cents. One of the men who lifted the can of kerosene to the man's head is said to be a native of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His name is known to those who were with him,but they refuse to divulge it. The mob was composed of citizens of the Newnan, Griffin, Palmetto and other little towns in the country round about Newnan, and of all the farmers who had received word that the burning was to take place.
Hon. W. Y. Atkinson, former governor of Georgia, met the mob as he was returning from church and appealed to them to let the law take its course. In addressing the mob he used these words: "Some of you are known to me and when this affair is finally settles in the courts, you may depend upon it that I will testify against you." A member of the mob was seen to draw a revolver and level it at Governor Atkinson, but his arm was seized and the pistol taken from him. The mob was frantic at delays and would hear to nothing but burning at the stake.
Hose confessed to killing Cranford, but denied that he had outraged Mrs. Cranford. Before being put to death the negro stated that he had been paid $12 by "Lige" Strickland, a negro preacher at Palmetto, to kill Cranford. To-night a mob of citizens is scouring the country for Strickland, who has left his home and will be lynched if caught.
Sam Hose killed Alfred Cranford, a white farmer near Palmetto and outraged his wife ten days ago. Since that time business in that part of the State has been suspended, the entire population turning out in an effort to capture Hose.
Governor Candler has been asked to send troops here to preserve order for a day or two, as it is feared the negroes may wreak vengeance, as many threats to that effect have been made.
The Detailed Story.
Hose has been on the farm of the Jones brothers, between Macon and Columbus, since the day after he committed his horrible crime. His mother is employed on the farm, and to her little cabin he fled as a safe refuge. She fed him and cared for him, but it is not believed that she knew he was being hunted by the authorities. The Jones brothers were not aware of the crime until a few days ago, and were not sure that he was the much wanted man. Saturday morning one of the Jones boys met Hose and he was talking to him when he noticed that his "ginger" face was ebony black, and just below the collar of his shirt the copper color was discernible. Convinced that the negro had blackened his face to escape detection, Jones became convinced that he was the negro for whom the authorities, assisted by bloodhounds, had been scouring the country for ten days, and then determined to arrest him. Sunday morning they brought the negro into Macon and put him aboard the Central of Georgia train with the intention of bringing him to Atlanta. At Griffin some one recognized Hose and sent word on to Newman [sic], the next station, that the negro was on the train bound for Atlanta. When Newnan was reached a great crowd surrounded the train and pushed into the cars. The Jones brothers were told that the negro could be delivered to the sheriff of Campbell county, and that it was not necessary to take him to Atlanta. This was acceded to, and the negro was taken off the train and marched at the head of a yelling, shouting crowd of 500 people to the jail. Here they turned him over to Sheriff Brown, taking a receipt for the prisoner, thus making themselves sure of the $1,250 reward for the "arrest and delivery to the sheriff of Campbell county, of one San Hose." Word was sent to Mrs. Cranford at Palmetto that it was believed Hose was under arrest and her presence was necessary in Newnan to make sure of the identification. In some way the news of the arrest leaked out, and as the town has been on the alert for nearly two weeks the intelligence spread rapidly. From every house in the little city came its occupants, and a good size crowd was soon gathered about the jail. Sheriff Brown was importuned to give up the prisoner, and finally, in order to avoid an assault on the jail and possible bloodshed, he turned the wretch over to the waiting crowd. A procession was quickly formed and the doomed negro was marched at his head through several streets of the town. Soon the public square was reached.
An Appeal Made.
Here they formed and ex-Governor Atkinson, of Georgia, who lives in Newnan, came hurriedly upon the scene and, standing up in a buggy, importuned the crowd to let the law take its course. Governor Atkinson said:
"My fellow citizens and friends: I beseech you to let this affair go no further. You are hurrying this negro on to death without an identification. Mrs. Cranford, whom he said to have assaulted and whose husband he is said to have killed, is sick in bed and unable to be hereto say whether this is her assailant. Let this negro be returned to the jail. The law will take its course and I promise you it will so quickly and effectively. Do not stain the honor of the State with a crime such as you are about to perform.
Judge A. D. Freeman, also of Newnan, spoke in a similar strain and implored the mob to return the prisoner to the custody of the sheriff and go home. The assemblage heard the words of the two speakers in silence, but the instant their voices had died away, shouts of "On to Palmetto," "Burn him," and "Think of his crime"arose, and the march was resumed.
Identified.
Mrs. Cranford's mother and sister are residents of Newnan. The mob was headed in the direction of their house and in a short time reached the McElroy home. The negro was marched in the gate and Mrs. McElroy called to the front door. She identified the African, and her verdict was agreed to by her daughter, who had often seen Hose around the Cranford place. "To the stake" was again the cry, and several men wanted to burn him in Mrs. McElroy's yard. To this she objected strenuously, and the mob, complying with her wish, started for Palmetto.
Just as they were leaving Newnan word was brought that the 1 o'clock train from Atlanta was bringing 1,000 people to Palmetto. This was thought to be a regiment of militia, and the mob decided to burn the prisoner at the first favorable place rather than be compelled to shoot him when the militia put into sight.
Leaving the little town whose Sunday had been so rudely disturbed, the mob, which now numbered nearly 1,500 people,started on the road to Palmetto in a line of buggies and vehicles on all kinds, their drivers fighting for position in line, following the procession at the head of which, closely guarded, marched the negro.
Confessed the Crime.
One and a half miles out of Newnan a place believed to be favorable for the burning was reached. A little to the side of the road stood a strong pine tree. Up to this the negro was marched, his back placed to the tree and his face to the crowd, which jostled closely about him. Here was the first time he was allowed to talk. He said: "I am Sam Hose. I killed Alfred Cranford, but I was paid to do it. Lige Strickland, the negro preacher at Palmetto, gave me $12 to kill him."
At this a roar went up from the crowd as the intelligence imparted by the wretch was spread among them. "Let him go on; tell all you know about it," came from the crowd. The negro, shivering like a leaf, continued his recital. "I did not outrage Mrs. Cranford. Somebody else did that. I can identify them. Give me time for that."
The Horror Begins.
The mob could hear no more. The clothes were torn from the wretch in an instant. A heavy chain was produced and wound around the body of the terrified wretch, clasped by a new lock, which dangled at Hose's neck. He said not a word to this proceeding, but at the sight of three or four knives flashing in the hands of several members of the crowd about him, which seemed to forecast the terrible ordeal he was about to be put to, he sent up a yell which could be heard for a mile.
Ante-Mortem Mutilation.
Instantly a hand grasping a knife shot out, and one of the negro's ears dropped into a hand ready to receive it. Hose pleaded pitifully for mercy, and begged his tormentors to let him die. His cries were unheeded. The second ear went the way of the other. Hardly had he been deprived of his organs of hearing before his fingers, one by one, were taken from his hand and passed among the members of the yelling and now thoroughly maddened crowd. The shrieking wretch was quickly deprived of other portions of his anatomy, and the words,
"Come on With the Oil"
brought a huge can of kerosene to the foot of the tree. The negro, his body covered with blood from head to foot, was striving and tugging at his chains. The can was lifted over the negro's head by three or four men and its contents poured over him. By this time a good supply of brush, pieces of fence rails and firewood had been placed about the negro's feet. This pyre was thoroughly saturated and a match applied.
The Burning
A flame shot upward and spread quickly over the pile of wood. As it licked the negro's legs he shrieked loudly and began tugging at his chains. As the flames crept higher and the smoke entered his eyes and mouth, Hose put the stumps of his hands to the tree back of him and with a terrific plunge forward of his body severed the upper portion of the chain which bound him to the tree. His body, held to the tree only as far as his thighs, lunged forward, thus escaping the flames which roared and crackled about his feet. One of the men nearest the burning negro quickly ran up and pushing him back said:
"Get back into the fire, there," and quickly coupled the disjointed links of the chain.
The road for a distance of half a mile on each side of the burning negro was black with conveyances and was simply impassable. The crowd surrounded the stake on all sides, but none of these nearer than 100 feet of the centre were able to see what was going on. Yell after yell went up and the progress of the flames was communicated to those in the rear by shouts from the eye witnesses.
Horrible Souvenirs.
The torch was applied about half past 2 and at 3 o'clock the body of Sam Hose was limp and lifeless, his head hanging to one side. The body was not cut down. It was cut to pieces. The crowd fought for places about the smouldering tree and with knives secured such pieces of his carcass as did not fall to pieces. The chain was severed by hammers, the tree was chopped down, and, with such pieces of firewood as had not been burned, was carried away as souvenirs.
The Constitution's Summary.
ATLANTA, April 23.—The Constitution will say to-morrow: "The terrible retribution which Sam Hose was forced to pay for his crime will arouse a flood of discussion, carried on by those who know the facts on the one side and by those who do not care for facts on the other.
"But, while the form of the criminal' [sic] punishment cannot be upheld, let those who are disposed to criticise it look into the facts—and by these facts temper the judgment they may render.
"An unassuming, industrious and hard-working farmer, after his day toil, sat at his evening meal; around him sat wife and children, happy in the presence of the man who was fulfilling to them every duty imposed by nature. At peace with the world, serving God and loyal to humanity, they looked forward to the coming day.
"Noiselessly, the murderer, with up lifted axe, advanced in the rear and sank it to the hilt in the brain of the unsuspecting victim.
"Tearing the child from the mother's breast he flung it into the pool of blood oozing from its father's wounds.
"Then began that the culmination of which has dethroned the reason of the people of western Georgia during the past week. As critics will howl about the lynching, we will be pardoned for stating the plain facts.
"The wife was seized and choked, thrown upon the floor, where her clothing lay in the blood of her husband, and ravished.
"Remember the facts! Remember the dark night in the country home! Remember the slain husband, and above all, remember that shocking degradation which was inflicted by the black beast, his victim swimming in her husband's warm blood as the brute held her to the floor!
"Keep the facts in mind! When the picture is painted of the ravisher in flames, go back and view that darker picture of Mrs. Cranford outraged in the blood of her murdered husband!"
Special Train from Atlanta,
ATLANTA, April 23.—One special and two regular trains carried nearly 4,000 people to Newnan to witness the burning of Sam Hose, or to visit the scene of the horrible affair. The excursionists returning to night were loaded down with ghastly reminders of the affair in the shape of bones, pieces of flesh and parts of the wood which was placed at the negro's feet.
One of the trains as it passed through Fort McPherson, four miles out of Atlanta, wasstoned—presumably by negroes. A number of windows were broken, and two passengers were painfully injured.
Prepared for Trouble.
Governor Candler stated during the evening that he had been advised that a mob of citizens of Fayetteville and Woolsy were coming to Atlanta to take George W. Kerlin from jail here and lynch. Kerlin murdered Miss Pearl Knott near Woolsy several days ago and threw her body in the river. The Governor immediately ordered eight companies of the Fifth infantry (State militia) to be in readiness to march to the jail under orders. It is believed, however, that the troops are held in readiness to be sent to Palmetto in case of an uprising of negroes.
What Gov. Candler Says.
ATLANTA, April 23.—Gov. Candler to-night gave the Associated Press the following statement on the burning of Sam Hose near Newnan, Ga: "The whole thing is deplorable and Hose's crime, the horrid details of which have not been published, and are too horrible for publication, is the most diabolical in the annals of crime. The negroes of that community lost the best opportunity they will ever have to elevate themselves in the estimation of their white neighbors. The diabolical nature of the double crime was well known to every one of them; the perpetrator was well known, and they owed it to their race to exhaust every means to bring Hose to justice,[sic] This course would have done more to elevate them in the estimation of good people and to protect their race against the mob than all the rewards and proclamations of all the governors f9or the next 50 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 Palmetto lynching, not one of them has ever, in the remotest way, alluded to either the burning of Palmetto, which provoked the lynching, nor the diabolical crime of Hose. I do not believe these men sympathized with Hose or the Palmetto incendiaries, but they blinded by race prejudice, and can see but one side of the question. This is unfortunate. They must learn to look at both sides. I want to protect them in every legal right and against mob violence, and I stand ready to employ every resource of the State in doing so, but they must realize in order to merit and receive the protection of the community, they must show a willingness to at least aid in protecting the community against the lawless element of their own race. The good and law-abiding negroes must separate themselves from the lawless and criminal element. They must denounce crime and aid in bringing criminals to justice, whether they be black or white. In this way they can do no more to protect themselves than all the courts and juries in the State can do. To secure protection against lawless whites, they must show a disposition to protect the white people against lawless blacks."
An Appeal Made.
Here they formed and ex-Governor Atkinson, of Georgia, who lives in Newnan, came hurriedly upon the scene and, standing up in a buggy, importuned the crowd to let the law take its course. Governor Atkinson said:
"My fellow citizens and friends: I beseech you to let this affair go no further. You are hurrying this negro on to death without an identification. Mrs. Cranford, whom he said to have assaulted and whose husband he is said to have killed, is sick in bed and unable to be hereto say whether this is her assailant. Let this negro be returned to the jail. The law will take its course and I promise you it will so quickly and effectively. Do not stain the honor of the State with a crime such as you are about to perform.
Judge A. D. Freeman, also of Newnan, spoke in a similar strain and implored the mob to return the prisoner to the custody of the sheriff and go home. The assemblage heard the words of the two speakers in silence, but the instant their voices had died away, shouts of "On to Palmetto," "Burn him," and "Think of his crime"arose, and the march was resumed.
Identified.
Mrs. Cranford's mother and sister are residents of Newnan. The mob was headed in the direction of their house and in a short time reached the McElroy home. The negro was marched in the gate and Mrs. McElroy called to the front door. She identified the African, and her verdict was agreed to by her daughter, who had often seen Hose around the Cranford place. "To the stake" was again the cry, and several men wanted to burn him in Mrs. McElroy's yard. To this she objected strenuously, and the mob, complying with her wish, started for Palmetto.
Just as they were leaving Newnan word was brought that the 1 o'clock train from Atlanta was bringing 1,000 people to Palmetto. This was thought to be a regiment of militia, and the mob decided to burn the prisoner at the first favorable place rather than be compelled to shoot him when the militia put into sight.
Leaving the little town whose Sunday had been so rudely disturbed, the mob, which now numbered nearly 1,500 people,started on the road to Palmetto in a line of buggies and vehicles on all kinds, their drivers fighting for position in line, following the procession at the head of which, closely guarded, marched the negro.
Confessed the Crime.
One and a half miles out of Newnan a place believed to be favorable for the burning was reached. A little to the side of the road stood a strong pine tree. Up to this the negro was marched, his back placed to the tree and his face to the crowd, which jostled closely about him. Here was the first time he was allowed to talk. He said: "I am Sam Hose. I killed Alfred Cranford, but I was paid to do it. Lige Strickland, the negro preacher at Palmetto, gave me $12 to kill him."
At this a roar went up from the crowd as the intelligence imparted by the wretch was spread among them. "Let him go on; tell all you know about it," came from the crowd. The negro, shivering like a leaf, continued his recital. "I did not outrage Mrs. Cranford. Somebody else did that. I can identify them. Give me time for that."
The Horror Begins.
The mob could hear no more. The clothes were torn from the wretch in an instant. A heavy chain was produced and wound around the body of the terrified wretch, clasped by a new lock, which dangled at Hose's neck. He said not a word to this proceeding, but at the sight of three or four knives flashing in the hands of several members of the crowd about him, which seemed to forecast the terrible ordeal he was about to be put to, he sent up a yell which could be heard for a mile.
Ante-Mortem Mutilation.
Instantly a hand grasping a knife shot out, and one of the negro's ears dropped into a hand ready to receive it. Hose pleaded pitifully for mercy, and begged his tormentors to let him die. His cries were unheeded. The second ear went the way of the other. Hardly had he been deprived of his organs of hearing before his fingers, one by one, were taken from his hand and passed among the members of the yelling and now thoroughly maddened crowd. The shrieking wretch was quickly deprived of other portions of his anatomy, and the words,
"Come on With the Oil"
brought a huge can of kerosene to the foot of the tree. The negro, his body covered with blood from head to foot, was striving and tugging at his chains. The can was lifted over the negro's head by three or four men and its contents poured over him. By this time a good supply of brush, pieces of fence rails and firewood had been placed about the negro's feet. This pyre was thoroughly saturated and a match applied.
The Burning
A flame shot upward and spread quickly over the pile of wood. As it licked the negro's legs he shrieked loudly and began tugging at his chains. As the flames crept higher and the smoke entered his eyes and mouth, Hose put the stumps of his hands to the tree back of him and with a terrific plunge forward of his body severed the upper portion of the chain which bound him to the tree. His body, held to the tree only as far as his thighs, lunged forward, thus escaping the flames which roared and crackled about his feet. One of the men nearest the burning negro quickly ran up and pushing him back said:
"Get back into the fire, there," and quickly coupled the disjointed links of the chain.
The road for a distance of half a mile on each side of the burning negro was black with conveyances and was simply impassable. The crowd surrounded the stake on all sides, but none of these nearer than 100 feet of the centre were able to see what was going on. Yell after yell went up and the progress of the flames was communicated to those in the rear by shouts from the eye witnesses.
Horrible Souvenirs.
The torch was applied about half past 2 and at 3 o'clock the body of Sam Hose was limp and lifeless, his head hanging to one side. The body was not cut down. It was cut to pieces. The crowd fought for places about the smouldering tree and with knives secured such pieces of his carcass as did not fall to pieces. The chain was severed by hammers, the tree was chopped down, and, with such pieces of firewood as had not been burned, was carried away as souvenirs.
The Constitution's Summary.
ATLANTA, April 23.—The Constitution will say to-morrow: "The terrible retribution which Sam Hose was forced to pay for his crime will arouse a flood of discussion, carried on by those who know the facts on the one side and by those who do not care for facts on the other.
"But, while the form of the criminal' [sic] punishment cannot be upheld, let those who are disposed to criticise it look into the facts—and by these facts temper the judgment they may render.
"An unassuming, industrious and hard-working farmer, after his day toil, sat at his evening meal; around him sat wife and children, happy in the presence of the man who was fulfilling to them every duty imposed by nature. At peace with the world, serving God and loyal to humanity, they looked forward to the coming day.
"Noiselessly, the murderer, with up lifted axe, advanced in the rear and sank it to the hilt in the brain of the unsuspecting victim.
"Tearing the child from the mother's breast he flung it into the pool of blood oozing from its father's wounds.
"Then began that the culmination of which has dethroned the reason of the people of western Georgia during the past week. As critics will howl about the lynching, we will be pardoned for stating the plain facts.
"The wife was seized and choked, thrown upon the floor, where her clothing lay in the blood of her husband, and ravished.
"Remember the facts! Remember the dark night in the country home! Remember the slain husband, and above all, remember that shocking degradation which was inflicted by the black beast, his victim swimming in her husband's warm blood as the brute held her to the floor!
"Keep the facts in mind! When the picture is painted of the ravisher in flames, go back and view that darker picture of Mrs. Cranford outraged in the blood of her murdered husband!"
Special Train from Atlanta,
ATLANTA, April 23.—One special and two regular trains carried nearly 4,000 people to Newnan to witness the burning of Sam Hose, or to visit the scene of the horrible affair. The excursionists returning to night were loaded down with ghastly reminders of the affair in the shape of bones, pieces of flesh and parts of the wood which was placed at the negro's feet.
One of the trains as it passed through Fort McPherson, four miles out of Atlanta, wasstoned—presumably by negroes. A number of windows were broken, and two passengers were painfully injured.
Prepared for Trouble.
Governor Candler stated during the evening that he had been advised that a mob of citizens of Fayetteville and Woolsy were coming to Atlanta to take George W. Kerlin from jail here and lynch. Kerlin murdered Miss Pearl Knott near Woolsy several days ago and threw her body in the river. The Governor immediately ordered eight companies of the Fifth infantry (State militia) to be in readiness to march to the jail under orders. It is believed, however, that the troops are held in readiness to be sent to Palmetto in case of an uprising of negroes.
What Gov. Candler Says.
ATLANTA, April 23.—Gov. Candler to-night gave the Associated Press the following statement on the burning of Sam Hose near Newnan, Ga: "The whole thing is deplorable and Hose's crime, the horrid details of which have not been published, and are too horrible for publication, is the most diabolical in the annals of crime. The negroes of that community lost the best opportunity they will ever have to elevate themselves in the estimation of their white neighbors. The diabolical nature of the double crime was well known to every one of them; the perpetrator was well known, and they owed it to their race to exhaust every means to bring Hose to justice,[sic] This course would have done more to elevate them in the estimation of good people and to protect their race against the mob than all the rewards and proclamations of all the governors f9or the next 50 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 Palmetto lynching, not one of them has ever, in the remotest way, alluded to either the burning of Palmetto, which provoked the lynching, nor the diabolical crime of Hose. I do not believe these men sympathized with Hose or the Palmetto incendiaries, but they blinded by race prejudice, and can see but one side of the question. This is unfortunate. They must learn to look at both sides. I want to protect them in every legal right and against mob violence, and I stand ready to employ every resource of the State in doing so, but they must realize in order to merit and receive the protection of the community, they must show a willingness to at least aid in protecting the community against the lawless element of their own race. The good and law-abiding negroes must separate themselves from the lawless and criminal element. They must denounce crime and aid in bringing criminals to justice, whether they be black or white. In this way they can do no more to protect themselves than all the courts and juries in the State can do. To secure protection against lawless whites, they must show a disposition to protect the white people against lawless blacks."
My next post will also be about the Sam Hose lynching. There was a lot of discussion and editorials about the lynching afterward; that I think it would be too long to cover them in this post.
Information on the lynching of Lige Strickland can be found here.
Thank you for joining us, and as always, we hope we leave you with something to ponder.
Information on the lynching of Lige Strickland can be found here.
Thank you for joining us, and as always, we hope we leave you with something to ponder.
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