The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-08-29
BY N. QUAD.

TENCE.
BY N. QUAD.
Would you believe that Joe, five feet
five, light complexion, auburn hair, beard
less, and face all freckles, could be mis-
taken for Richard Roe, six feet high, heavy
black whiskers, weight one hundred and
sixty pounds, and voice as gruff as thun,
der
You say you would not, but still you
may be no keener than the half dozen
witnesses who once swore my life away,
and who swore only to what they really
believed to be positive truth. Let me tell
you about it:
In the year 1S41, was one day tramp
ing along the dusty road leading into
Lynchburg, Virginia, from the north.
was journeyman printer then, or a
"tramping jour-" as the craft puts it.
had worked in half dozen offices in as
many months, but my restless disposition
kept urging me to leave every place as
soon as l had enough money to pay my
way to the next town sporting weekly
paper. This time l had no funds, or
should have been in the stage instead OF
plodding along over highway. l was,
however, quite contented. The well-known
hospitality of the Virginians insured me
supper and lodging when night came,
and was quite sure that should strike a
job next day on getting to Lynchburg.
About four o'clock in the afternoon,
when about fifteen miles from Lynchburg,
a man, such as described above, came out
of piece of woods few rods ahead of
me. He walked fast, so that l was unable
to overtake him, as at first sought to do.
l wondered at his great haste as the wealth
er was very warm, but forgot all about
him after time, as bend in the road hid
him from my sight.
After passing on about mile, and feel,
ing very thirsty, turned aside and ap-
preached farm house which stood back
from the road about twenty rods. AS
was within a few feet of the house, three
or four men rushed out of the woods, a
few rods south, having guns in their hands,
and shouted loudly for me to stop. Com
ing nearer they presented their weapons at
me and sternly told me to throw away my
knife and revolver or they would shoot me
down as l stood.
Greatly surprised and considerable fright
ened, l answered that l had no weapons.
I was then ordered to hold up my arms,
and as did SO they all rushed upon me,
my arms with rope which he carried.
"You cursed hound We ought to cut
your heart out" exclaimed one of them.
"Let's hang him up! Don't wait for
the others ~ cried second
"Drag him in and let her see him r'
shouted third.
l was so completely COMPOUNDED that
could not utter a word for some time
When could speak l demanded an expla-
nation, and cried out loudly against the
rough treatment. All the answer given
me was heavy kick, and they dragged me
into the house. Here 1 beheld eight or
ten women grouped around a bed on which
was lying the unconscious form of female.
Her face was cruelty gashed, her cloth
ing tern, and her hands were bleeding from
many scratches and cuts.
"We've got the villain "' exclaimed one
of the men as we entered. 81 wonder if
Mrs. Ryder will know him."
One of the women replied that the vic
tim had not yet Enclosed her eyes nor
spoken word, and that they feared she
was dying.
"See there! See your beastly hellish
work % exclaimed one of my captors,
dragging me up to the bed and pointing to
the woman.
use, here men," replied, looking from
face to face, 81 am as innocent as any
person in this room of any wrong deed.
do not know what you mean. l demand
an explanation. My name is, and
am on my way to Lynchburg. AS God is
my judge, never saw that woman until
the present moment ~
At this moment half dozen men enter
ed, greatly excited, and they came near
numbering me in the room. think they
would have done 50 but for the interfer,
ence of the women, one of whom suggest,
ed that be taken out and hung.
"That's it Hang him ~ yelled the
crowd, and l was rushed out to cherry
tree and preparations made for hanging
me. 1t had not been fifteen minutes since
turned off the road, and here l was with
a moose around my neck There was such
hubbub that l could not make myself
heard, and those at the free end of the
rope were getting ready to pull me up,
when two men on horseback came riding
up.
"Here, what's this? What are you go.
| ing to do?" shouted one of the men, al
old man with pleasant, good natured
face.
"He's killed the widow Ryder ~ replied
one of the men, cor has assaulted and
stabbed her so that she will soon die. We
are agoing to lynch him ~
The crowd was silent for moment, and
had chance to speak. Addressing my
self directly to the old man, told him
who | was, where l had worked last, anC
denied having anything to do with assault
ing the widow.
"Why, this is rather a queer way o.
doing business" he replied, addressing the
men; perhaps you had better find out il
he is guilty before you hang him '''
"We didn't see him assaulting the
widow, but we saw him running away y
shouted half dozen voices.
"Well, well, take off that rope and well
go according to law" replied the man
If he is guilty, the law is heavy enough
if he is not, you don't want to have hi.
blood on your hands"
The man was Justice of the Peace 70,
that township, and his word was sort O
command to the crowd. The rope was re
moved from my neck, and while two OF
three of the men guarded me, the other.