Sarver, Cincinnati Enquirer, March 8, 1882

SWIFT AND SURE

BOWLING GREEN., March 7.—Your correspondent has just returned from the scene of the lynching of Bob Sarver, colored. It occurred on the edge of Simpson County last night.

On Friday evening, as Tina Ruley, a bright and handsome young lady, aged about fifteen, but fully developed, was returning from school, she was set upon by a burly negro and thrown to the ground. He attempted to accomplish his most hellish purpose, but was frightened off by the loud and continued screaming of his unfortunate victim.

Miss Ruley, as soon as she was able, went to her aunt’s near by, when the alarm was given. She knew and described the fiend, and at once the neighborhood, infuriated and excited, arrested Bob Sarvers, who was forthwith brought into the presence of the young lady. Her aunt, Mrs. Walters, fearing an execution then and there, persuaded the girl not to identify him, when Sarvers was released. This done, the girl at once said: “That negro, Sarvers is the man.”

In the mean time Sarver had fled. Pursuit was begun, and he was traced to Warren County, where he was arrested on Sunday. That night he was taken to Franklin and lodged in jail. Monday the whole country was in a state of ferment, the negro having confessed the whole thing. The authorities, fearing a mob, the culprit was placed in charge of Deputy Sheriff Robert Nerly and guard to take to Bowling Green for safe-keeping. The train reached Franklin, north-bound, about eight o’clock, and Sarver, with his guards, took passage.

As the train was about to move out the engineer was approached by two men, revolvers in hand, and ordered to extinguish his lights, and not to move without orders from them. The engineer obeyed. The train was then surrounded by at least a hundred men. Three men with weapons drawn entered the coach where the officers and prisoners were, and at the point of the bayonet took Bob Sarver from the custody of the Sheriff. Not a word was said, but they immediately proceeded to the place where the outrage was attempted, some eight miles north of Franklin. His hands and feet were tied, a rope placed around his neck, a convenient limb took the place of a scaffold, and Bob Sarver was launched into eternity. Who did it no one knows, but all say it was a swift and just retribution.