South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-08-21
Lynch Law.
Taliferro Hung by Disguised
Crowd at Midnight.


JOHN TALIFERRo, Who was convicted of
the murder OF ANNIE BUTLER, il no more.
As We write these lines, Friday morning,
his lifeless body is still daOglins from a tree
near where the Cumberland Valley R,il-
road crosses the Wiliiamsport pike, north
Of town. lie was taken out OF Jail about
midnight Of Thursday, By party of noun
ted men, partially disguised, and humber
ing from 10 10 100. Tue whole affair was
conducted very quietly aud although there
has OF late been many runners that on this
or thai night TALIFERRo woull be taken
out and hung, yet but few, ii any persons,
not directly 10 the secret, knew or believed
it would be doue OF Thursday night, al
though there may have been rumors TO that
effect. At tho time the lynchers began to
assemble, the town was comparatively CUT
e., aud tho streets almost entirely deserted.
Aoou, half past eleven o'clock pistol was
discharged OF the street near tho post Office,
which being unusual, aroused number OF
persons, and caused q small gathering of
fjotmeu in the vicinity of the jsil.-Tbere
was considerable reconnOitering prior to the
general and hnol movement on the iail.
At about quarter past Il o'clock, Il compa-
ny OF mounted men, some Of them fully
and others partially disguised, charged
down several of the streets converting at
the Jail, and formed in column, with The
right resting on west King street. They
numbered about sevOnty-ige or one hun
dred, under command Of "Colonel," who
seemed to hold them pretty we'll in hand.
Various orders wero given and obeyed with
mi Ilcr hn
had been properly stationed, ono horse
wagon, for the purpose of hauling the pris-
oner, was driven up tho alley in front Of
the Jail door, and the Colonel" with sov-
eral aida, Knocked at the jail door and "a
reused Mr.. BLoNDEL. He put his head
cut Of the widow aud inquired what they
waited. The spokesman said they had
prisoner, and asked him TO come down and
take him in. He said all right, and disap-
peared from the window, aud appeared at
the door in few minutes after. As soon
az no opeued the outside door, several men
reached in and seized him. He WAS soon
overpowerod and the keys taken from him.
With these, the entrance to TALIFERRo's
cell was easy, and but few minutes e.
apsed until he was brought forth and pa-
ced In the wagon, which wa. heavily guar
ded. The wagon, containing TALIFERRo,
then moved out to King street and the mon
took position according to commands, and
the column moved of down east King street
the party giving three loud cheers as they
moved eff They went down King St, to
the foot of tho hill, turned to the left and
crossing under the railroad bridge over
Burke street, and wao: out High street a
round to the Williamson pike, ana thence
to point where the Warm Spring road
crosses the G. Y. Il. r., and here the pris.
oner was hung to the limb of small tree.
lie was given fftcon minutes in which to
pray, and he improved every moment OF the
time most earucstly. lie asserted his 10
nocence to tho last, and died declaring he
was not guilty.
The affair seemed to have been systomat-
ically arranged, AMI was well Organized
Being, perhaps, the first instance of Lynch
law which ever occurred in this c1mmuui-
ty, it was the general topic of coDversation
among all classes when it became generally
known next morning. Hundreds OF people
went TO the scene OF the tragedy, and took
lookat the lifeless body dang ing 10 tho air
guard was put around the body, and
a Ccrouer's jury summoned to meet at .
o'clock After full examination Of all
the facts which could DO elected in the case
verdict was rendered that JOHN TAHFER.
no came to his death at the hands of au
organized band Cf men ulkno8a to the Jury.
We have not room for comment at pres
ent, but unhesitaiing'y and empka.caiy
declare our disapprob4noo of mob law or
Lynch law 10 a community whore civil law
ia in full force. We do not condone the
hcinous crime Of TALIFERRo, but the law
although its delays are sometimes grievous
should always be respected aud enforced
TAL1RERRo had been declared guilty by 40
honest and impartial jury of his owa choos-
ing, and should have suffered the full pen.
ally of bis crime against outraged law
but ho should have paid tho full penalty
under the law and according to it's provi-
sions. NartiHsJurQ AdeDeadenLA tug. ID
MartinSburg Lynching Affair.