The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-14
Lynch Law in Rockingham.

The law-abiding county of Rockingham
was last week the scene of a crime which
cannot be too emphatcally condemned by all
good citizens. On Wednesday night ne
gro women was taken out Of the custody OF
officers, and hanged to a tree, by mob of
disguised men. The atrocious deed was
perpetrated in the eastern portion OF Rock
ingilam county. and not far from the scene
of the celebrated Lawson murder. 1t APP
pears that On Tuesday a negro boy named
Jim Arbogast was committed to the Jail OF
Rockingham county upon the charge OF
having burned the barn Of Henry r. Sipe
on Thursday, the 2Sth ult. by the destruc-
ton of the barn Sipe lost two horses. two
rows and all the agricultural implements on
the farm, together with all the saddles, har-
ness and all the products of grain, hay and
other articles. Subsequent investigation dis
closed the fact that the lncendiary torch was
applied at the instigation and by the in
ducement of a colored woman named Char
lotte Harris. who is said to have had some
grudge against the Sipe family.
A warrant was procured for the arrest OF
the woman, and ON "Wednesday evening V.
Il, and j. NJ. Law, and John Sipe who had
gone in pursuit OF Charlotte Harris, arrested
her and returned with her in custody. They
overlook her as she was attempting to es-
cape at the house of Henry Banks, colered,
about two miles east of Earlysville, in Abe
marie county. She was at once taken be-
fore Magistrates j. A. Ship, VIM. D. Mai
den and Fl. Argenbrieht, who gave the case
a preliminary examination, and the evidence
being very strong against the accused, her
commitment to jail was ordered, Over one
hundred persons were present at the exami-
nation, during which the excitement was
intense. No threats were made, nor We're
there any indications visible that the wo-
mans life would shortly pay the terrible
penalty Of her crime.
At the conclusion OF the examination, the
hour being late, the woman was placed I'M
der strong guard. to keep her safe and Sc
cure until the following morning, when she
was to be taken to the county Jail at Earri-
sonburg. This guard was composed Of four
persons. The utmost quiet prevailed until
about the hour Of IL z, NJ, when suddenly
two men, who In color were black, made
their appearance in front of the building in
which the prisoner was confined. They then
rushed into the house with drawn and cock
ed reyolvers and demanded the peaceable
surrender of the woman. They informed
the guard in determined manner that if
they gave her into their hands quietlyiJ would
be well for them, but if nntthe result would
be serious and bad. While this parley was
going on and before the guard were allowed
lime to make any resistance, there was a
rush of armed men, all blackened, into the
building,
After effecting an entrance they seized
the woman Charlotte Harris and at once
dragged her outside and up the road to-
ward David Gilmore's, distance of about
four hundred yards. Here a peculiar sort
of tree known as Black Jack, because of its
toughnesS, was bent and rope attached
thereto. The tree was held in its bent po-
sition until the other end OF the rope was
fastened to the unfortunate woman's neck.
In another instant the tree was let go, and
the victim was jerked into midair, where in
a few moments she expired, and the dis
guised lynchers dispersed. 1t was an awful
penalty for the crime Of which she had been
accused, the like Of which has hardly ever
been heard of in civilized community
The boy Jim Arbogast is now in Jail at
Harrisonburg awaiting trial and the deei-
sion of court of Justice in his case.