Haggard, Richmond KY Climax, July 17, 1895

Bob Haggard was hanged by a mob at Winchester, Monday night. The trouble that caused the hanging it set forth in the Democrat as hereunder given:

Late Saturday afternoon Bob Haggard, a mulatto, about twenty-one years old, attempted to commit rape upon Miss Myrtle Elkin, near Ford.

The victim is the second daughter of Ezekiel Elkin, who lives on Two Mile creek between Elkin and Ford. She has been living with her grandmother, Mrs. Betsy Richards, who lives farther on towards Ford. Mrs. Richards’s youngest son lives with her and the negro, Haggard, has lived about the place for some time and this year is raising a crop there.

At the time of the assault, Mr. Richards had been summoned to the death bed of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Will Richards, in Bath county, and had left the negro to protect the two women.

About sundown Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Richards went to the garden to gather vegetables for the morrow. Hearing screams from Miss Elkin she rushed to the house and found the latter struggling in the clutches of the burley negro and nearly exhausted. The negro loosened his hold and ran out but soon came back and pleaded with the women not to tell, offering his horse and his crop if they would say nothing. As the house stands at some distance from any other and they were in the power of an armed and desperate negro they pretended to acquiesce. He stayed and watched until noon the next day when he left and went to Madison county.

The women told their story and several searching parties were at once organized. About eight o’clock that night the party, headed by the girl’s father, met him in the road near the scene of the crime. Mr. Elkin at once began shooting at him and emptied his pistol, only one shot taking effect, making a wound in the negro’s arm. He fell from his horse but got up and ran. He was caught in a short time and preparations for lynching were begun. No rope was at hand, however, and in a short time another posse, led by Marshal Andry Vice, came up. The officer prevailed on the lynchers to desist and he was taken to Ford from where he was brought yesterday by officers Vice and F.P. Merritt, and lodged in jail here. He has confessed his guilt and says he doesn’t know what impelled him to commit the crime.