The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-14

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Aspecimen OF kentucky Mob Law.
The spirit of rebellion and the des-
perate power of prejudice still live In
the State of Kentucky, despite the su.
premacy of Government authority, AND
the existence of the Civil Rights bill
The one defies public sentiment and
transfers the contest from the field Of
battle to the polls; the other exhibits It's
hereditary tendencies by wreaking It's
malice upon the individual members oi
race whose Acknowledgement from
servitude has left bitter and vengeful
hostility In Unbalanced minds. Al
DanviIle, Kentucky, on the 24th day OF
December last, a negro man was at.
tempted to be subjected to arrest by 8
civil officer, for the offence of carrying
upon his person, exposed to view, q
pistol. The laws of Kentucky author.
lied a forfeiture of such weapons, borne
upon the person of, or owned by negro
The negro resisted the arrest, and fired
two shots at the officer, neither of which,
we have reason to believe, took effect
By the aid of others closely adjacent
at the time, the negro was arrested, dis.
armed, and in close custody led toward
the Jail, over two squares distant. Dur
ing the transit to prison the officer con-
tinually beat the negro upon the head
with large hickory stick, reducing il
externally to the consistency of jelly,
while the bystanders along the route
offered weapons to shoot the prisoner.
When in proximity to the prison the
Oh, Al.
back, the ball passing around the body
and inf1icting severe, but not neces-
sarily fatal wound. The negro was
then lodged in confinement, wounded,
| resistless and bleeding, A humane
physician examined his injuries and
administered medical aid. This oc-
Cured about five o'clock in the evening.
Threats were made BIZ a number 81
persons to hang the prisoner, but nc
advance in that direction was made at
the time.
About IL o'clock at night, with a
bright moonlight shining, a number oi
pedestrians upon the streets, and a cold
bleak wind sweeping sharply along the
thoroughfare, band of men, whose
number is unknown, save that five en-
tered the Jail, obtained the keys from
the jailor's wife, by threats and men,
aces, entered the cell, seized the negro,
and dragged him out, he being too weak
from his wounds to walk. The plead
ings of the prisoner for mercy are said
to have been heart-rending, and so
touched the better nature of. one of the
party that he suggested that the law be
| left to take its course, but his humane
counsels we're met with curses and i'm
precautions from his accomplices, and
the voice of mercy was silenced.
The dead body of the negro was found
upon the ensuing morning hanging
suspended by the neck to an elm tree,
in an old graveyard, within the limits
OF Danville. It was soon cut down,
and lay upon the ground during the
entire day, a horrible spectacle, and
visited by scores of citizens. Late in
the evening it was buried by the rela-
tiyes of the negro. The Coroner's jury
found that he came to his death by
Changing by some persons unknown"
No effort was made by said jury to dis
cover the "persons unknown"
And this in DanSille, KY, a town
noted for the refinement, intelligence
and literary culture of its citizens
This in community and State claim.
| ing to respect the rights of man and the
common principles of justice. This in
country claiming the adoption oi
| Christianity and a due obedience to the
laws of God. Verify, the fruits o.
slavery are the delights of Satan. Had
I the officer OF the law, when his authori
|
| gered, slain the negro, justice would
have pronounced it rightly an act o.
seIf-defence, and pleaded justification
But when the negro was under arrest
in prison, disarmed, bleeding from hi:
many wounds, unable to walk, subjec
I to the sentence of a lawthat never lose:
! its victims whose color is primG Edci'
evidence of guilt, the act of hanging
was nothing short of absolute and inc
| yitable murder.
Now what is the secret to this terrible
| tragedy 1t is this: The civil officer /!
held to bail by the civil courts in Iht
sum of $500 to answer the charge o
shooting with intent to kill, but no maj
supposes that it is other than matte
of form. Even il convicted, he will no
| be punished. No citizen in the commu
nifty where the tragedy was perpetrateC
dare publicly to condemn the unlawful
proceedings, for fear of insult, con
tumely, and. probably, personal yio
lence. The life of n citizen would b
haZarded by the free enunciation of hi
sentiments in behalf of law and jus
The occurrence ofsuch affairs in Ken
lucky demand the immediate interpo
sition of the Legislature of the State
CfneinHGtI Gazette.