Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-29
Alefar(0rla 0az&tte
THURSDAY EVENING, NOVR. 90.
Lynch Law.

| Lynch Law.
A correspondent of the New York Herald
says
On Saturday morning last, at about o'clock,
| Miss Bette Tempetou, young lady about
| twenty years old, daughter of the Rev. A. lem
pleton, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church at Columbia. TenD., stepped toto the
back yard, about fifty yards from the house,
| when she was confronted by negro ruth>n
called McGbee. The 6end seized her by the
throat and threw her down, but she succeeded
in frustrating his purpose. He then drew
| large knife and forced her to place her hand
| upon her heart and swear she would never re:
| veal his attempt to any one. He then fled, and
| she was found insensble where the vlllaln had
left her. When she became fully conscious she
told the story to her father who Immediately
gave an alarm, and 10 short time buodreds OF
armed and excited citizens were securing the
| country 10 search of the negro. Suspicion was
soon fastened on the negro named. who had
been in town only few weeks, and had been
calling himself "Frark" McGhee. The descrp-
ton given by the young lady eDab!sd them to
readily identify McGhe as the offender.
Tho search was continued 10 every direction
all day. The citizens formed themselves into
equads and searched every house in the city,
but without success. At night patrols were on
the alert, and guards we're stationed around the
town to intercept McGhee if he should attempt
to escape. Sunday morning dawned upon the
excited and indignant community, but brought
20 tidings of the wretch who had attempted to
desolate one of the purest and happiest family
circles. The vigilance OF the people did not
abate, however, aud persons we're sent out on
the various country paths and railroads to coEi
plete the search. A large reward was offered,
finally, for the apprehension of McGhee. va
the day before the assault McGhee had hand
ed his employer letter to mail, but fortunately
| it had been overlooked, and upon breaking 1t
open it was discovered that he was from 20
lumbiana, Ala., and he signed his Dame Geo.
Roper.
On Monday morniog telegram WAS received
from Athens, Ala, stating that Roper had been
caught and would be brought back on the tram
at six o'clock the same evening" The rsllroad
authorities furnished special tralo, aDd 40
per, under strong guard, reached Coumola
At half past four o'clock. A large crowd mad
assembled at the depot and Roper vas conduc'
ted to the house of Miss Tempetoo, IN ORDER
that the young lady might identity him. one
Immediately recognized him, but requested
that he be taken to jail until morning. Wneo
sbe hoped to be less excited, as she dld not ae.
sire BY any possible mistake to iasten the cflhe
upon the wrong person. ln the ecu1ns win
Miss Templeton Roper dropped MS pipe auu
last several buttons from his coat, all Oh When
had been secured to assist 10 ldentlfylng n'".
Wien Roper was arrested he did not have on
the clothes which the young lady had described
hut anon searching him it was discovered that
he had on blue blouse coat under his SHIRT
and had on an extra pair OF pantalooos, ooth ol
which suited the description given OF him.
| The buttons picked up on the scene correspond
ed with those on the coat concealed under his
shirt, and the pipe was identified by several ne
proes az being the one Roper was seen to have
! the evening before the assault. At the request
| of Miss Templeton and her family Roper was
taksn to Jail. ,,.,
Saou afte. nighfall large crowd assembled
before the Jail and demanded the keys from the
isilor. The negro Was taken from bis cell, but
at this moment nEuber of prominent citizens
rushed 10 and entreatee the crowd to await the
coming investigation, and partly by, en-
treaties, partly by threats and partly Dy 1orcs'
succeeded in carrying McGhee back to his cell.
Speeches were made aud the people Wero ln'
duced to disperse. Roper, while the angry
crowd were dragging him from bis CELL stouty
denied his guilt, but said he knew who had per-
petrated the deed, and if be were released rs
could secure the arrest of the right man. Al
nine o'clock this morning Roper was taken
from the Jail by the sheriff and posse OF armed
men and taken to the homo OF Miss Iempleton
to be identified.
A large concourse Of people had assembled
tnnon the public equare, and several citizens
l went no into the third story Of the court house
and projected large beam from one OF tht
windows To this beam was attached blocl
and tackle Everything was done quietly anc
orderly, No ole was disguised. Uoder the beau
1 was written in large letters "The Will OF th'
4 Peonle." The guard conveyed Roper to Nils
! Templeton, who exclaimed -
4 "You are the wretch Why did you trea
! me 40? You must die for it !"
] Roper said not word; in fact, he had beer
ldoggedy silent since ke was taken from Jail las
time. =. .,
/ AS the guards were returning to jail will
i their prisoner crowd rushed upon them, sclz
l ed Roper and carried him 10 toe spot selected
/ for his execution. The Mayor, the Crimina
Court Clerk and some negroes then addressed
/ the crowd and asked them not to mutilato the
! body of Roper. A dry goods box was placed
under the beam and the negro was made tt
stand upoc it. Mr. Chinch Truett, a police
man, then asked him if he had anything. tt
/ say, to which he replied, Nothing at all. .
Truett then placed the rope around his neck
! and drew him up. The fend exhibited no emo
tiou and met his fate without protest or even {
word of denial.
There was not link missing 10 the chain oi
eyideuce, and the universal sentiment is tha
his execution was just. Miss Templeton is (
handsome young lady, ,and belongs to ono OF tn
best families in the community. Her father
Rev. A. Templeton, came to the Cumberland
| Presbyteriso Church here year ago from PITS
bure. Pa, where be was pastor Of a church to-
several years. de was originally from Eas
I Tennessee.
nWGENTS' FINE BOOTS AND SHOES A
specially, small expenses novelty Lowest
| prices reality. is what We can prove at