The New York herald., 1878-03-10
A VIRGINIA ATROCITY.
DISGUISED MEN AT NIGHT SWING UP A
WOMAN TO A sAPLING, TAKING HER LIFE
ON SUSPICION OF CRIME.

DISGUISED MEN AT NIGHT SWING UP
WOMAN TO sAPLrNo, TAKING HER LIFE
ON SUSPICION OF CRIME.
Icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HEEALD.l
RICHMOND, March o. 1878.
am In receipt of Information which gives the de-
tails OF the unprecedented horror of the summary
execution Of u woman by lynch law. The atroclous
deed was perperated In the eastern portion OF Rock
ngham county on Wednesday night, aud not Tar from
the scene of the celebrated Lawson murder. II
appears that on Tuesday last negro boy named
jim Arbegast was committed TO the jail OF
Rockingham county upon the charge Of having
burned the barn OF Henry h. Sipe Thursday, tho
2ssh ult. BY the destruction OF the barn Sipe lost
two horses two head Of cattle thirteen ploughs, sew
eral harrows and all tho agricultural implements on
the farm together with all tho saddles harness and all
the products Of grain, hay and other artcles Subse
qucnt investigation disclosed the fact that the incen
diary torch applied instg galion aud by tho
inducemcnt OF a colored woman named Charlotte
Harris who is said to have had some grudge against
the Sipe family.
ARREST WOMAN.
Warrant was procured Tor the arrest oil the woman,
and on Wednesday evening last n. II. aud J. TaIb
ana John Spe. who had gone In pursuit OF Charlotte
HARRIS arrested her and returned with custody.
They overlook her she attempting 10 escape at
tho house Of Henry Banks, colYred, about two mios
east oi Earysvle, IN Albemarle county. Sho was
taken before Magistrates J. A. Shipp. William ID.
Maiden and II. Argenright who gave the case
preliminary examination, and, the evidence
being very stroug a9rnst tho accused, her
com mitmon nj to ial was oruered over ono hundred
persons were present at the examination, during
which the excitement was Intense. No threats
made nor were there any Indications visible that tho
womans life would shortly pay the tcrrible pc naity
| OF her CRIME.
A NIGHT ATTACK.
| AT the conciusiUu the examination, the hour
guard, 10 Keep her saie and secure until the following
morning, when SUE was ~ be the County
Jail al HarrisDarg This guard coin posed four
persons. Inc utmost Quot prevailed uatlt about the
| hour oil eleven I. NJ when suddenly Two men, who
IN color black, made their appearance IN 'front.'
oi Tue building III when Tho prisoner connned
| They then rushed Into tho house with drawn and
coc ked revolvers and demanded the pcuceuUIe Sur
| render oi the woman. Tney INFORMED the guard In
determined manner that II they gave her into their
haLds quietly II would be we'll IUr them bat II not
| tho result would TO serious ani bad Wnilo this
pariey gong and before the guard allowed
| ime 10 make any resistance, there Was u rush OF
| armed men, all blackoned, into the building.
| BAcKwOuDs HANGING.
! Alter elcctng AL entrnucc tbey sczed tho woman
Charlotte Harris, aud at once dragged her outside and
| w the road toward DAVID GimOres, u distance of
| about four hundred yards. Here peculiar sort VI
tree known Black Jack, because It's nucss,
was bent and u rope attached thereto The tree was
held IN oent position until the other oud OF the
| rope fastened 10 the unfortunate
| mans neck. In another instant the treo
| was let 10 and the victim jerkcd
| tho disguised lyncners dispersed. II awful
penalty tho crime VI which she had been accused
the ike OF which has hardly ever been heard Of In
| civilized community
awaiting trial and the decision OF court oi justice
| IN his Case.