of law and inaugurate an entirely new form of punishment for the murder.
They absolutely refused to make any inquiry as to the sanity or insanity
of their prisoner, but set the day and hour when in the presence of
assembled thousands they put their helpless victim to the stake, tortured
him, and then burned him to death for the delectation and satisfaction of
Christian people.

Lest it might be charged that any description of the deeds of that day are
exaggerated, a white man's description which was published in the white
journals of this country is used. The _New York Sun_ of February 2, 1893,
contains an account, from which we make the following excerpt:

PARIS, Tex., Feb. 1, 1893.--Henry Smith, the negro ravisher of
four-year-old Myrtle Vance, has expiated in part his awful crime by
death at the stake. Ever since the perpetration of his awful crime this
city and the entire surrounding country has been in a wild frenzy of
excitement. When the news came last night that he had been captured at
Hope, Ark., that he had been identified by B.B. Sturgeon, James T.
Hicks, and many other of the Paris searching party, the city was wild
with joy over the apprehension of the brute. Hundreds of people poured
into the city from the adjoining country and the word passed from lip
to lip that the punishment of the fiend should fit the crime that death
by fire was the penalty Smith should pay for the most atrocious murder
and terrible outrage in Texas history. Curious and sympathizing alike,
they came on train and wagons, on horse, and on foot to see if the frail
mind of a man could think of a way to sufficiently punish the
perpetrator of so terrible a crime. Whisky shops were closed, unruly
mobs were dispersed, schools were dismissed by a proclamation from the
mayor, and everything was done in a business-like manner.