Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-03-15
Local
A. Shocking Murder in Rockingham.

Local.
Shocking Murder in Rockingham.
4 WOMAN FLUNG BY DISGUISED MEN ON
SUSPICION OF BURNING A BARN-NO
INQUEST AND NO ARHESTs-THE EVIL
DENCE ON WHICH. SHE WAS HUNG.
&C, &C., &c.
Tn the Eastern portion of Rockingham
county, about fourteen miles from Harri-
sonburg ana about four from the village OF
McGaheysville, there lies between the
mountain and the Shenandoah river good
piece of bottom land, along which are
strung the farms Of Henry E. Sipe, David
Gilmer, Thos. Harnsbarger, Robert Givens
and other respectable and prominent far
mers of the county. Opening on this piece
OF country is The famous Shiffiett Hollow.
gorge in the mountain, inhabited chiefly
by an ignorant and depraved population
which lately furnished the murderers and
victim in the Shiffiett Lawson mul der. On
the land of Mr. Sibert in Il rude cabin, lived
until recently Charlotte Harris, a short.
w.,
forty-five years of age, raised in the family
of Mrs. Loffland in Madison county. Those
who knew her where she was raised rep
resent her aS having been good servant,
who would talk great deal when angry,
but was not vicious. Those who knew
her since she lived in Rockingham say she
was ''dangerous" woman and that Mr.
Sipe, found her so troublesome that, APP
NJ extensive if he sent her off his place, she
milo ut in revenge do his property an inju-
rv he built her small house good dis
lance of. About Christmas her husband,
Tyree Harr1ss separated from her and went
to live on the place of Miss Betsey Young
and only ttay OF two before she was muir
dered. Charlotte went to the house of a
gentleman in the neighborhood to consult
with him about taking the law' on her
husband. She then spoke kindly OF Mr..
Sipe and of his kind treatment OF her.
About tw O weeks ago the barn CT Mr..
Sipe was burned by negro boy employed
on the place, named James Argenbright,
about fifteen Years old, and his story OF it
as told to the 'V1NDlCAToR reporter In
Harrisonburg jail, and on which story as
Given to Constable Lamb who arrested
him on Wednesday evening the woman
was hung by her murderers was as follows;
a4rharlotte had been over the mountain
AND come back. She came down to the
wood pile where was chopping wood and
told me Mr.. Sipe didn't treat her husband
right. that he didn't pay him the money
he owed him, and if l wuld burn the
soarn she WIS going over the mountain and
would bring me nice present"
B.eporter-"Wha did she promise you?'
Psisoner-s'she didn't say what kind,
oh e Just said nice present.
L 'eforter-sDid the man THAI arrested
no, wake you any promises about what
would We done for you if you told Who
made YOU do it 2"
pr;sona, Eyes sir. He told me if [
vonld tell " no made me do it | wouldn't
be punished a.,
The bow havi ug laid the crime Oh the
woman who had eft to go over the noun
tain into Albemarle' county constable Hen
~ Lamb, his brother ano MI. Jno. oipe'
a son of Mr.. Henry E. Sipe, started 10 pur-
suit of her. They found her a p'e i'o"00
Of a. colored man Nd med Henry B. URs heaf
Earlysyille in Albemarle, and brous mi Hef
back for examination before Magisl. ares
W. Fl. Carpenter and W. David Mad W.
The evidence there was the negro boy :
statement, and that Of Tyree Harris that
she had made threats against Mr.. Sipe.
An excited crowd of about hundred peo-
pie were present at the examlna ton. The
magistrates made out commitment for |
her to be taken to Harrisonburg Jail. but |
instead of taking her there the officers put |
hec in an empty blacksmith shop with two
men TO guard her, and put the boy, Ar
gelorlgtlt, in another building little way ]
off with two men to guard him. About
II O'Clock at night, the guards who were
at tue blacksmith shop say, some six men
blackened, and armed with pistols came
up and telling the guards, who seem to
have offered not the slightest resistance,
that if they would. keep quiet they would
not be hurt, called the victim to come out.
She refused, it is stated, with curses
they then went in and seized her, she |
screamed and fought despeIa tely and at
last commenced screaming murder
These outcries suddenly ceased, it is sup |
posed from a gag being placed in her
mouth, and she was dragged, still strug-
Cling furiously, out of the door. She was J
carried to sapling few hundred yards
off in front of Mr.. Gilmer's place and there
hing, Thetw guards stated that when
they got into the road there were about
fifty men on horses, but gentleman who
visited the scene next morning says the
rmad was not much tramped by hoofs, and
THE guards must have been mistaken about
the number Of horses. While this dread
full SCENE was progressing the guards IN
barge of the boy are said to have been
( Teen without hearing, or interfering
vi, q The murder,
T,,a guards next morning left the spot
or rrisouburg, carrying the boy and
ewing the w,oman's body dangling to the
roo On gettin to town they sent word
- Mr. T. H. OFT. the coroner, and that
,entlan,an sent a 'equest that one OF the
~ !. o;strates in the eighborhood OF the
murder should hold t, Ne inquest NO IN
,uest was held. and the 'dy huhs Oh 'io
tree until Thursday even ing soune say
Friday evening, when it vas cut oo"h
and buried. ~ o
These are the facts as they al e gwen u.s.
in rhe county where it occurred OF one OIL
the most unmanly, inhuman, and dfSeface-
fin, outraees ever perpetrated in ne state
of Virginia. The victim was W. hi'A'i--
moor. black, ignorant, and without II 'e.uS'
tha offence was one which endangert u ho
tho n1lpiShmeO OF Wn!Csl