NEGRO LYNCHED BY MOB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15298, 10 May 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEGRO LYNCHED BY MOB.

MURDERED TWO OFFICIALS. ;■-■ ': .'. '/ „ •' ,-.■'■■ ; .-:": 1 . ;■•-;•: .-,. ■- •: ■' After shooting to death Sheriff Courtney :. and "Deputy [ Sheriff Burmaster, J. C Collins, & negro, charged with beating a woman, was hanged to a telephone pole, and his clothes ..set on fire on April 5 by a committee of citizens. The mob overpowered the officials. and broke into the gaol, where Collins was held prisoner. Collins, ; who .was employed by : a bridge :construction company, was boarding with' : a negro named Clay Beat. Beat sold his house and property to another negro • named /Patterson When Patterson came to take possession of 'his property, it is alleged that Collins • attacked Mrs. Patterson, beating her .■ severely. , ._ . ■~,. \.. ;Wlien Sheriff Thomas Courtney; and his deputy, • Richard Burmaster, arrived, they swore in a deputy named Wilson to help them. The party then went to the camp .where Collins i was at work. . , 'Wilson was sent on ahead to the office to inquire where Collins was working. As he (Stepped into the office, -Collins held him lup at the point of a gun and took away his arms. Collins stepped out past.; I Wilson and almost collided, with Sheriff Courtney," who • was about to enter . the office. •': Collins ;fired twice at the sheriff, ; killing him instantly. He then turned upon 'Deputy Burmaster, shot him five times through the ; body, and ran into the bush. A posse of citizens was quickly or-; ganised and took up the trail of the slayer. He eoon was surrounded, and, seeing that escape was impossible, gave himself up. Officials took charge of Collins and took him to Mondak. On arriving there the party was met by a mob. Collins,-however. was put in gaol, but only for, a short time. Angry citizens quickly overpowered the officials, stormed the gaol, and tookCollins to a telephone pole, where they hanged him, riddled his body with bullets, and then set ifire to his clothing.