A QUICK TRIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 697, 17 December 1902, Page 2

A QUICK TRIAL.

Id MAN CONVICTED AND HANGED 11 IN TWO HOURS. at _____ Jim Buchanan, a colored man, the murderer of the Hicks family, was tried 1- in Texas last month. A plea of guilty 3' was accepted by the Judge, and the negro j r was legally hanged within two hours after r sentence had been passed. Buchanan o was taken to Nacogdoches under the protection of five companies of militia. Upon his arrival he was immediately turned over to Sheriff Spradley who told the people that he would bo given a speedy 3 trial s The town began to fill up rapidly, ana y the excitement was intense. The telee graph wires were cut; the railroad tracks were torn up for a short distance, and it was announced that an attempt wouid bo ! made to get possession of Buchanan. District court was at once convened, a jury impanelled without delay, and the prisoner’s plea of guilty was accepted by the court. The judge ordered that the death sentence be executed on November 17tb. but many people announced that they would have no delay. Buchanan then waived the thirty days allowed him by law, and was hanged in the gaol-yard in the presence of a large crowd. Ten days before the dead bodies of Farmer Hicks, his wife, and daughter were found in the Hicks’ borne, and Sheriff Spradley began a search for the murderer! A week later, Jim Buchanan was arrested and confessed to the murder. News of the confession spread rapidly, and a mob of several hundred people marched after the sheriff and his deputies, with the intention of securing possession of the prisoner and burning him at the stake. Sheriff Spradley and his deputies refused to give Buchanan up, and later they were joined by Sheriff Bowers, of San Augustine County. The two officers, through a ruse, finally succeeded in spiriting the negro away to the parish gaol at Shreveport. Buchanan was next taken to the gaol at Henderson, and a company of militia was ordered out to protect him from violence. A mob formed, and it was feared a collision with the troops would result in serious bloodshed. Two more companies of militia were despatched to Henderson, and when moved for trial the prisoner was guarded by five CQDjj'a* uies pf militia, ‘ j