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MURDER AND ROBBERY
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the awning from which the Chinese were hanged. He was as active as any one in doing the hanging. His childish voice sounded strangely at that time and place, as he called aloud for more victims to sacrifice to the demon-god; and it was a stranger and sadder sight still to behold him lay his hand to the rope, and help them haul them up. And in the background was a woman looking on. Her brogue betrayed her extraction. She loudly congratulated the lynchers on the performance of their diabolical work, and encouraged them to continue." Three of the four Chinamen who fired at the officers escaped, and only one of those killed is known to have in any wise offended the law. It was a most inhumane massacre of innocent men.

Satiated somewhat with blood, the mob now permitted the sheriff to drive such unslaughtered Asiatics as he could find to prison for safe-keeping. Then the work of robbery began, which action stamps at once the character of those by whom the murdering was done. Locks were broken and general pillage followed. Every room of the Chinese houses in Negro alley was ransacked, and every shelf, trunk, and drawer cleared of its contents. Even the pockets of the murdered men were picked, and from one, a Chinese doctor, the clothes were stripped while he was yet hanging. From one was taken $400 while on his way to jail; $7,000 was found in the money-box of a store; the amount secured by the mob was estimated at from $20,000 to $30,000, The whole affair occupied about four hours, closing with half-past nine on the night of Tuesday the 24th, At 11 o'clock all was quiet in Negro alley, but it was the quiet of death and desolation.

Attempts were made to bring the murderers to justice; but law is poor and puny, in such a case it did what it could. At the coroner's examination witnesses were extremely careful how they testified lest they should implicate a friend or bring upon them