The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-17

WINDOW ana asked, w no Is lnere
Some one in, the crowd responded,
ave have a prisoner for you" Mr..
Blondel and Mr.. Virtue, his assistant,
then came to the door and opened it,
when a party rushed in, seized both the
officers with drawn pistols, and demand
ed the key of Toliver's cell. The keys
were taken by force, the jailers. were
thrust into 2, room and guarded, and
presently the party emerged from the
Jail, bringing Toliver with them, clothed
in his shirt and pantaloons. His feet
were ironed, and his hands were tied be-
hind his back. He was placed in q
wagon which was found convenient, and,
surrounded by the horsemen and followed
bv a large crowd on foot, was conveyed
out of town. He uttered no cry and
seemed sullenly resigned 20 his fate.
Everything up to this time had been
conducted very silently. The men
spoke only in whispers and an occasional
command from the Colonel was the only
word uttered aloud. But when the
party started from the jail bearing Toll
yer to his death, three ringing cheers
rent Ine dlr dHu aIouseu sh0 "'"i w"
citizens.
At two or three places along the route
the mob wanted to stop and make short
work with the murderer, but their COM
mander urged them on until they hBd
proceeded about mile and half from
the town to a place where the Warm
Spring road crosses the Cumberland
Valley railroad. Here the wagon was
driven under tree, rope was put
around the victims neck and he was
summoned to confess his crime.
He declared that he was innocent
His protestation was hooted at and he
was again urged to confess. Again he
denied his guilt and asked permission to
pray. 1t is said that his prayer was sub
stantially as follows:
"Ol merciful and heavenly Father, |
am called before you this evening to an
swer for crime which Thou knowest |
innocent of; and oh kind and mercitul
Father, in Thy goodness and mercy par,
don me for the sins / have committed
during my life. Oh, merciful Father,
pardon my eXccutiOncrs, for they KNOW
not what they do; and oh! | do pray that
little Annie Butlcris in heaven. l know
she looks down this night and pitles me-
and now may the blessing Of God rest on
all my fellow mOrtaIs.'
After this prayer the rope was securely
fastened to limb above the doomed
mans head and the wagon was driven
away. 1t is said that his neck was broken
and death very speedily ensued. The BODY
was left hanging and the mob melted
away. Passengers on the early train to-
ward Martinsburg saw the corpse dangling
in all its ghastliness by the roadside, and
soon after daylight crowds OF people
went out from Martinsburg to witness
the spectacle. 4 coroner's jury was sum-
moncd and verdict rendered that John
Tolivcr came to his death at the hands OF
an organized band Of men unknown to
the jury. The body was taken down
and buried.
1t is said that before leaving the tree
where Tolvcr was hanging the crowd
passed resolution demanding that
McSsrS. Blackburn and Lamon should
leave the town. Mr.. Blackburn also re-
ccivcd very abusive and threatening
letter ofthc sumcimport. lam glad to find,
however, that tins is almost universally
condemned. a party Of the raiders who
seemed apprehcnsive lest some of the
more rash and vindictivc ones should
modest Mr.. BLACKBURN, remained near
his house several hours, for his protection.
He assured them that he felt no fear. 1t
it is an old adagc that "thrcatcncd men
live long The excitement Is rapidly
subsidIng and there is no danger ofany
further outbreak. The popular cry for
vengeance on the lcchcrous murderer of
nu innocent child has been appcascd md
now that cooler reflection Is taking the
place of passion, some are beginning to
think that after all it were better to have
let the law take its course.
On Friday night there was some fear
among the citizens lest the negroes might
resort to some lawleSs act in retaliation
for the hanging of Tolivcr, and according
~ in extra police force was placed on
duty BY far the greater number of the
negroes, however, very earnestly CON
dcrnncd and denounced Tolivcr, and
deemed his punishment no more than
just. Its not likely that they will seek
to avcngc him.
In Judging the deed that has been
committed here, the public should re-
member the atrociouS character of the
original crime and that Toliver had, after
II fair trial, been found guilty and had
been sentenced to death by n court of law.
These facts rob the affair of some portion
of the condemnation that mob violence
always merits. y.