The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-27
TEE LYNCHING CASES.
81 FURTHER tAcc0 UNITS.

The startling cases Of lynch.law In Yves
Virginia are believed TO be in some degre
the result Of an inefficient judiciary and
bad administration of law generally. Their
is public fear that the danger to life Is in
creased by the delinquency Of the admins
traitors Of justice, and this fear in some 10
calties Is SO great that the people have de
termined to take fine law in their own hand
to degree sufficient to stimulate the officer
Of the law to more vigorous and faithful
performance Of their duties.
An Intelligent gentleman from West vir
ginia communicates to us the following fact
concerning the
LyncRNinG of Dawson and Esaept at
Charleston.
a man named Lee lived near Maiden. HI
had been an Incorporate man, but about a
year ago, shocked by the violent death Of
brother, bad reformed, and was leading
correct and devoted life. On Christmas las
two young men, among others. named DaW
son and Estept, persuaded him into saloon
and got him drunk. He started for home q
little after dark. The young men ran after
him, shouting. AS be came TO high bridge
over Campbell's creek bis mule baked. and
he was Ovcrtakep. A struggle occurred
and his body was found the next moring in
the creek below pierced with thirty-six
wounds with knives. Dawson and Estept
were arrested.
A mob, led by two sons of Lee, surround.
ed the Jail few nights afterwards and de
manded Estept aud Dawson. They were
spirited away by the sheriff 10 BarboursyiIIe.
1t is but fair to say that the mob was orderly.
acted with military precision, was very quiet,
and declared from the first that their strong
est motive was the fact that out Of seventeen
murderers in Kanawha county not one man
had been banged, and they did not believe it
safe to submit to the laws delays.
Part Of the mob rode there, when they
were again anticipated, and the nurderers
taken 10 Point Pleasant. A short time ago
they were brought back for examination.
They were sent on, but through fears Of the
mob were again removed. Their trial was
set for Monday last, and they were brought
back to Charleston.
On Tuesday at z. II. party of miners
numbering more than one hundred stood
about the courthouse waiting toe decision
of the court on motion for change Of Uenue,
with the distinct declaration that they would
not interfere with prompt trial, but the men
should not be removed. The judge reserved
his decision until morning. This fatal indie
cision alarmed the mob. At 10 O'Clock the
Jail was surrounded, the guards overpowered,
and the murdereIs taken to the very bridge
where the murder was done and anged.
The worthy gentleman who gave us this
sketch does not know the particulars with
regard to the lynching at Charleston, Kama
wha, of the white man HINES for killing the
colored man DooLEY. When be passed by
Charleston on Tuesday the mob were assem-.
bed with the view of either forcing the court
10 settle the fates of DAWSON and ESTEP1
with some appearance Of bringing them to
punishment, or in default of which to take
the law in their own hands by hanging them
The hesitation Of the Judge settled the fatcs
Of the murdererS.
The lynchng Of HINES was conducted by
the negroes. His offence had been horrible
and brutal, and be vas left by the whites tc
bis fate, which was no doubt quite as just as
that of the murderers Of LEE.
Scenes of lawless retribution are deplora
bic enough; but it is seldom anywhere il
this land that they arc not attributable tc
ineticiency and yenality in the public 9TH
cials-.o loose and negligent system o
criminal runishment-that drives people to
irrepreSsibe irritation, and they proceed tc
protect themselves. 1t is good that these
manifestations never fail 10 strengthen tn,
arm Of the law and save the country from
the recurrence of the occasion for such
scenes.