The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-13
A COURT BROKEN UP BY A MOB,

Some months ago the Virginia newspapers
contained an account Of the inhiction of Lynch
Law, (the favorite law where the Higher
Law is discarded) upon the person of Mr..
Cornut, citizen of Grayson county native
Of Virginia and Stakeholder His offence
was holding anti-slavery opinions, and harbor-
ing the intention of emancpating his slaves
and bequeathing them property. For this, his
neighbors seized him, summarily condemned
him stripped him, tied him to u tree, and whip
ped him Something was said about an ex-
odus of slaves about that time, and suspicion,
it is alleged, fell upon Cornut but nothing was
ever proved against him. Lynch tribunals
are never without prctcxts. We stated the
real cause of his punishment-the suspicion 1"
talked Of was but a shabby pretext MIR. Cor
nut appealed to the Law for redress What
followed is related in the article copied below
from the Richmond (Va) Times. The violence
to which the Court was subjected shows at
once the innocence of Cornut, the desperation
of the mob and the utter barbarity of an in
stituton which relies upon such means for its
security.
MORE TROUBLE IN GRAYSON.
The Richmond Times of Friday morning
contains the following statement:
The Clerk of Gravson County Court hav-
ing on the LIST inst 1.-THE first day of Judge
Browns term rendered his resignation, and
there being no applicant for the office, and it
being publicly stated ut the bar, that no one
would accept said appointment, Judge Brown
found himself unable to proceed with business,
and accordingly adjourned the Court until the
first day of the next term
Immediately upon the adjournment of the
Court public meeting of the citizens OF the
county was held, when resolutions were adopt
ed expressive of the determination of the PEG.
! pie to maintain the stand recently taken ex-
horting the committees of vigilance To increased
activity in tcrreting out all persons tinctured
with Abolitlonlsm in the county, and Offering
a reward of 500 for the apprehension and
delivery OF one Jonathan Roberts to any one OF
the committees Of vigilance
We have II letter from credible correspond
ent IN Carroll county, which gives to the af-
lar still more serious aspect Trusting that
there may be- some error about il, we have no
comments to make until the facts are known
with certainty Oar correspondent whose let
ter bears date the 9Th inst, SAYS
II learn from an authentic source that the
Circuit Court that was to sit in Grayson coun-
| ty during last week, was dissolved by violence.
The circumstances were these. After the exc
cution OF the negroes in that county, some time
ago, who had been excited to rebellion by a
certain Methodist preacher, by the name of
Bacon of which you have heard, the citizens
held meeting and instituted a sort of inquisi-
ton to find out If possihle who war, the ,r
completes Of said Bacon Suspicion soon rested
on n man by tho name of Cornut and on being
charged with being an accomplish he acknowl-
edged the fact and declared his intention of
pcrsever'ng in the cause upon which he was
severely lynched, Cornut then instituted suit
against the parties, who afterwards held
meeting and passed resolutions, notifying the
court and lawyers not 10 undertake the case
upon pain OF coat of tar and feathers The
court however convened at the appointed time
and true 10 their promise, II band of armed
men marched around The Courthouse tired
their guns by platoons, and dispersed the court