Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell

THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Thirteenth Year - Number 34
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, October 23, 1902

NEGROES MOBBED.
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Taken From Presence of Court and Executed.
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       Wesley and Reddick Barton self confessed murderers of Mrs. Lewis, were taken from the officers at Hempstead at 5 p m Tuesday and hanged.
       The negroes were under sentence of death having been tried by juries before whom they plead guilty.  The trial judge refused to order their immediate execution, claiming that it could not be done by law and the constitution within 30 days after the verdict.  This did not suit the crowd and the hanging followed.
       On each jury were six negroes and six whites.
       It is stated that the negroes wanted to do the hanging act themselves but the whites reserved that privilege.

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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas