Bushrod, Louisville Courier-Journal, September 27, 1897

A Rope

And Willing Hands and Judge Lynch’s Court Was Over— Negro Ravisher Hanged— An Unmasked Mob At Hawesville Took Bushrod’s Life— The Sheriff Was Outwitted— Was Just About To Remove the Criminal To Owensboro For Safe-Keeping— Confessed and Then Prayed

Hawesville, Ky., Sept. 26– Special Judge Lynch held a large court here to-day, but there was only one case on the docket. Raymond Bushrod, negro, aged twenty, third time ravisher, is in eternity, sent there by the hands of an outraged community as a reward for his crime. When the Courier-Journal’s correspondent left the fragmentary mob at 3 o’clock this morning and the local telegraph office had closed it was evident that the rumblings and the mutterings of the people were only a forecast of the awful storm that was gathering from all points. Never before in the history of this county had the people been so aroused as over this black and diabolical crime, although the James gang, the Youngers, McGruder, Sue Mundy, Bill Davison and the fearful Colter held sway during the war. Jails and private institutions have been blown to pieces, feuds have been organized and shot and killed for the game of politics, yet there has never been an occurrence that has caused such wild excitement as that which happened at 5 o’clock this quiet Sabbath afternoon on Court square, even under the shadow of the principal churches of the city.

The people in their homes knew of the crime and knew the guilty man was in jail. They saw the clouds, heard the moan of the winds and knew the storm would soon burst.

The present officers of the city and county are standing for re-election, and never before had such responsibilities upon their hands. They knew that resistance would be fatal, for in the unmasked faces before them they saw and recognized men from all parts of the county who had stood for all that was good for a lifetime. They were bewildered.

Effort to Save His Neck,

Judge John Adair communicated with Judge Owen at Owensboro. The Circuit Judge wired to get the negro on a train for either Owensboro or Louisville if possible; if not, to have the Sheriff place a heavy guard about the jail. The Louisville train arrived here at 4:40 o’clock, and Judge Adair and the Sheriff knew they dared not get the prisoner on it. They then concluded to try the Owensboro train, which arrives at 3:04 o’clock after dark. 

In the meantime the mob had placed spies at every road and at every man’s ear, and they discovered the plot. A rumor reached them that militia from Owensboro would arrive on the 4:40 train. They placed sentinels on Lovers’ Leap, commanding a view of the trains. 

“The soldiers are coming,” was the cry, and then there was hurrying to and fro. There was death in the air. The Sheriff, by the Judge’s order, gave the alarm that the negro had escaped from jail, and 500 people rushed pell-mell down the streets and across the hills in pursuit.

“The mob has been deceived,” cried the older and meeker citizens. “The officers will save him for trial.” 

But not so. The Sheriff and assistants rushed to the jail and got the negro out, but he mistook their motive and held back, thinking the officers were part of the mob. The hesitation cost him his life. The mob soon saw through the scheme and came swiftly to the jail. The Sheriff’s men stepped aside and the guilty, trembling wretch was taken to the court square. There was no rope at hand. The suspense was indescribable. Eight hundred people were on the square, men, women and children— many from the neighboring Indiana towns. These towns were more excited even than staid old Hawesville.

“What have you to say?” asked the leader.

“I am the man,” said the wretch, “and this is my third offense.”

“Rope,” “rope,” shouted half a thousand.

“Here’s a rope,” said one.

“Give the man time to pray,” said Benjamin Roberts, the father of the outraged girl.

The negro then prayed and confessed several times. The rope was out around his neck and several men climbed a tree next to the fence, threw the rope across a limb, and everybody made for it. In an instant Hancock county’s only ravisher was suspended between earth and Heaven, and half a dozen strong men were pulling down on his legs. He died quickly. 

Had Committed Other Crimes

Raymond Bushrod, the victim of today’s proceedings, is twenty years old and a native of Rockport, Ind. A few months ago he was arrested here for stealing, and was only released a few days ago. He was driven out of town yesterday, and while on his way home overtook his victim. He came to his death exactly at the same hour to-day that he made his assault yesterday.

A few years ago Bushrod criminally assaulted a white girl in Rockport, but nothing came of it. Later he ravished his aunt, a woman over sixty years old. 

It is safe to say that this Hawesville mob breaks all records. It did its work by daylight and on Sunday. Not a drunken man was to be seen anywhere, not an oath was heard, not a mask on any face. Nothing— nothing but quiet, plain people of the hills and valleys who had assembled with the solemn vow to protect their homes. 

After the hanging thousands of people viewed the black corpse as it swung to and fro. And there was not one in all the crowd who said the hangmen were guilty. All the negroes in the town were ready and willing to take part, had it been necessary, many negro women watching the execution with seeming pleasure.

No one here blames any officer of the city or county, as a regiment could not have stayed the work. City Marshal Thomas took the prisoner from the jail at 2 o’clock this morning and guarded him with a strong posse in the cemetery on the hill, where no one would suspect the hiding place. 

The father and friends of the negro’s victim express themselves as well pleased with the work. Not that it helped the suffering girl, but that it may be the means of saving other homes from the blight. 

A stranger in the city, so and old and bent that he could scarcely totter, twirled the negro’s feet as the body hung from the tree, raised his hat and said: “This is in defense of our wives and daughters; may God bless the braves.”

Half a dozen girls from neighboring Indiana towns pushed through the mob and stood within ten feet of the spot while the hanging took place. Strangers who have since entered the city have almost torn away the tree, seeking souvenis [sic].

The Coroner’s jury rendered the following verdict;

“We, the jury, find that the deceased came to his death from the hands of an unknown mob.” 

Cloverport People Disappointed

Cloverport, Ky., Sept. 26– Some twenty-five persons were at the depot this evening waiting for the 7:39 o’clock west-bound train for Hawesville to be present at the proposed lynching. The news came just before train time that the negro had been hanged. There was great excitement prevailing here over the affair by both white and colored, who are in sympathy with the lynchers.