The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-10-09
LYNCH LAW.

Gordon, accused of the murder of John Gantz in
gambling saloon in that place, was, after trial
! acquitted on some point of jurisdiction, and by
order of the Court, set at liberty.
/ The Marshal unbots the chains, and as they
fell clanking to the floor, there arisesa deep and
| swelling sensation among tue auditors. There is
a rush towards the door Of the court room The
prisoner moves from his criminal seat to one be-
side his counsel; his face before marked with
calmness now becomes flushed with emotion; turns
pale; now erimsoned !; gazes upon the door with
uneasness; turns towards the Court, and manifests
the feeling OF who has passed one trying
ordeal to undertake another and more severe one.
Some time before Gordon was discharged ru-
mors flew about The streets that he would soon be
acquitted. Crowds rushed to the Courthouse to
ascertain the facts, out of curiosity, others
breathing vengeance. The rumor proved true
The news spread like wild fire over the city, and
the crowd augmented.
The prisoner was now free to 60 wherever he
pleased, but dare not leave the court for fear
OF the angry crowd without. 1t was now apparent
that an attempt, would be made to lynch him.
AT this time the excitement was SO intense that
clearly there no other way to save Gordon's
life except by taking him to the county Jail.
Accordingly he placed himself under charge of
the Mayor, and moved out of the court house.
When he entered the hall a scene of the widest
don and posse of about fifty men, started down
the hall, and as the tossing crowd surged to and
fro, pressing against the officers and striving get
at the prisoner, it was commotion such only
mad crowd of human beings can get up Down
into the street they went, the crowd yelling "Hang
him hang him and the brave, stern officers
closing around him, made firm wall of protection
Finally, bEsdfnt Of great frmness the Mayor land
ed har rsafely in Jail. But the serious trouble
had just commenced: The crowd increased round
the Jail and became more and more furious. Men
armed with muskets, knives and revo1vers, gather
ed thick and fast, and as the shades of night came
on, large bonres were built up all around the JAIL
throwing their lurid light far out over the city;
and the wild demoniac yels of the infuriated peo-
pie made it scene terribly vivid and fearful.
During all this time, Mayor Mcdowell made
several speeches, urging obedience to the law, and
requesting the people to return home in quiet
That he was determined to enforce the law at all
hazards. 1t was finally agreed between the Mayor
and the ring-eaders OF the riot that Gordon should
be delivered over to Sheriff Middaugh, and that
all further disorder and riotous proceedings should
cease on that being done. To this arrangement
the ruling spirits of the mob solemnly agreed At
this juncture the Mayor left the Jail for few
ments to attend to some matters on this side of
the Creek. In his absence, and contrary to his
intentions, Gordon brought out Of jail and
turned over 20 Sheriff Middaugh, and now COM
menced scene of mad fury that beggars descrip-
ton. The crowd rushed upon Gordon, crying like
demons, "Hang him! hang him p They forced
him down into the narrow and rocky glen north of
the jail 1t was then about o'clock at night,
and thick darkness had settled upon the whole
city, and this fierce crowd ragged in the dark glen
like demons 1t was terrible But the brave Off
GERS stood by the prisoner like gallant men, and
almost overborne, they still recovered
and pressed forward holding Gordon safe in their
charge. Several times the crowd had a halter
around his neck, but each time officer cut the |
rope and thus they struggled up out of the ravine,
and then followed a tumult and strife between the
officers and rioters that desperate to the last
degree, up Fourth street to Shawnee, and down |
Shawnee to the Planters House. Here the crowd |
halted and the contest for half an hour was fierce
aud terrific. The din, howl and confusion was
now worse than pandemonium, the prisoner beg
ging to be hung, killed or anything to take him |
out of such agony By this time every stitch Of
clothing torn off him.
The Mayor at last succeeded n Organizing
fresh body of citizens, and with these he closed |
solidly around Gordon, and again started for the
Jail, which, though distance of about ten squares
and across ravine, finally reached, after
desperate struggle, and the prisoner again safely
landed from the fury of the NIB ......
Gordon is very badly bruised, cut and lacerated,
and the Sheriff is also injured ..-. |
IMPORTANT D!scovERY.-Dr. Oiler, celebra- |
ted French physician, has discovered that bone |
does not Immediately die when the heart ceases to
beat. For, after the death of an animal DIR. Oier |
has removed bone from the body to that of living |
ANIMAL and the bone thus introduced, has united |
Itself to that properly belonging to the ANIMAL
There seems to be no doubt, therefore, that we |
may mend and replace our bones as easily as a
able leg.
BRUTAL MURDER.-We learn from the Wash
ngton Despatch that another brutal murder was |
oerpetrated on the body of MissLucretia Adams,
maiden lady, about 35 years of age, on Thursday |
he goth of Sept, at the house of Bryan Grimes,
Esq, in the lower part of Pitt county.
Miss Adams was acting as house-keeper for Mr
crimes, who absent from home, she being the |
,nly white occupant of the house in which the
murder was perpetrated. An overseer slept in
louse about 80 yards off. The murder was com
nitted In the night, and was not discovered until
lext morning, when an inquest was called, which,
md strangled. On her right hand and arm were
wo severe bites, showing distinct Impressions of
eeth
The verdict of the jury is, that the deceased
vas murdered by slave, named Henry, the pro-
,erty of Mr. Grimes, who has been committed to
wait his trial
sa-The population of Petersburg, Va, is 49,
82 an inereace of over 3 1900 since 1850 |