This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Barton, Wesly, Wesley, Lewis Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/5875 Message Board Post: Cameron Herald – Thur., 20 Oct 1902 Trial - Reddick Barton and Jim Wesly, both negroes, were tried in the district court at Hempstead for the murder of Mrs. Lewis. Barton was tried first and he confessed his guilt. He was returned to jail. In the afternoon of the same day, Wesly was tried and he too confessed. Both were sentenced to hang in 30-days. The city was packed with a mob and both men were taken and hung on a telephone pole in the heart of the city and remained there until the next day. Hon. Wells Thompson, the district judge, telephoned Austin for state troops to preserve the peace when a mob began to assemble. Soon after, he was assured by the leaders of the mob that the law would be permitted to take its course and he countermanded his order for state troops. When the prisoners were lynched, he was mortified, claiming the citizens had not kept faith with him. The crime the men were charged was of the blackest nature, outrage and murder.