ROASTED TO DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6163, 16 February 1888, Page 3

ROASTED TO DEATH.

i A Scene of Intense Horror. A shocking scene iB reported by American papers to have been witnessed at Webberville, Michigan, , recently. The town lock-up, a one - storey wooden structure, was discovered to be on fire. Above the crackling of the flames cries were heard from an inmate of one of the cells. When the citizens arrived, the doomed man was Been frantically beating the bars of his cell, and crying for help. The people were powerless to reßcue him, although many tried to do bo, and in the presence of the crowd he slowly roasted to death. Little by little the doomed man was forced back, but only when the bars became red hot did he abandon all hope of escape. The horror of the Bitnation proved such a frightful mental strain on the prisoner that he became insane. Tearing his scorched clothing, off, he dashed himself against the bars, and grabbed the red-hot irons in the vain effort to escape. An odour of burned flesh pervaded the air. Frantically cursing the crowd for not helping him, the roasting man rushed madly around the narrow enclosure, while the spectators stood rooted by horror to the spot. Gradually his cries grew weaker, and he was seen to sink to the floor, and soon all waa over. The prisoner was Nowhall Tyler, 38 years old. He had been imprisoned for striking a boy on the head. ''