Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-04-26
THE POINT OF ROCKS LYNCH
ING.

II MY pih 1Ss
The lynching Of James CsrrolL colored.
at Point of Rocks on Thursday night,
for the outrage on Airs. Richard Thorn
as, of Licksvllle, Nd, Oh Monday night
last, was the absorbing topic OF conyer-
sa,lon in Frederick county to-day. The
cool and deliberate manner in which the
preparations were made for the l!hch-
lug, and the summary mode in which
the prisoner was dealt with, showed q
determination on the part Of The resi-
dents of the county not to wait for The
slower verdict of the law, and if the
man had succeeded in getting to Fred
erick City Jail there were 500 armed
men ready to tear or burn down the
building and capture tie rayisher.
Mr. Richard Thomas, the husband OF
the unfortunate lady who was the sub
iec. of attack, says that when he was in
Georgetown, ID. C., on Wednesday,
walking along tie canal path, he met
the negro, who raised his hat TO him
and said, Good morning, Mr.. Thomas"
Mr.. Thomas passed on aud warned Mr..
Hy. &. Volkmsn, mounted policeman
OF the third precinct. After following
the man for about seven squares Mr.
Yolkmau became afraid be would lose
his man amongst the lumber yards in
the neighborhood, and, dismorntIpg,
continued the pursuit on foot and cap
tured the fellow.
AS heretofore shown the prisoner was
taken 10 the Washington depot OF the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad and left Tor
Frederick by The 4.30 T. u. train in
charge of officers Ii. &. Nolsman and
Is. +. Harper aud in company ot Mr..
Richard Thomas and his brother, +. {.
Thomas. About this lme number OF
farmers were gathered around the depot
at Point of Rocks. Ever since Tues
day last there had been q vlgilant search
for the criminal. Men lett their labor
and scoured the country night and day
in the hope Of capturing the outrsger'
On Thursday afternoon a Telegram was
received from Sandy Hook that a color
ed man answering the description OF
Carroll bad been seen at the caves near
that place. While waiting TO Eear Tar
ther as 10 this news the following telc-
gram was received by Messrs. Jarboe
and Of'ut from Mr.. +. G. Thomas,
"Prisoner caught, will leave Oh 4.3O
train. Send motto. 10 Lickvillc. Meet
Dick at Depot.
As soon az this message was received
hurried consultation was held by those
present, and in few minutes n mount
cd messenger, bearing The name o'
"Brick" Pomeroy, although not akin 70
the Western political economist, started
10 bear tho message TO the neighbors III
the county. The fiery cross in the times
of Rhoderick Dhu aud the Scottish
clans could not have been carried swift
er. and in about all hour from l25 tc
l5O mcu, some on foot, others on horse
back, and about 25 of them colored
had gathered near the depot. Several
of them boarded the train at Tuscarora
four miles from Point of Rocks, but
gave no intimation as 10 the Object OF
their Journey. AS the train drew near
the depot it stopped on the siding in
order 10 allow the east bound train 10
pass. ~, this jnncture about twelve or
fifteen men entered the car in which tine
prisoner was seated with bic captors,
and, seizing him, began TO drag him TO
the platform. The police officers pro-
tested, but uselessly, and as soon as the
man had reached the platform Of the
car rope, with an ordinary moose, was
placed around his neck, and he was
dragged towards the ground. AS he
fell, with his head OH the track and his
feet in the air, the cast-bound train
passed b., narrowly missing the half
slrang gled man, and almost striking one
of the yigilantes, who was holding to
him. AS soon as the train had passed
he was dragged across the track, III the
pouring rair, towards 4 fence at the
loot Of sleep hill adjoining the track.
Over the iercc his ciptors dragged him,
shouting, Up the hill with him?
At this juncture the rope broke, and
n halt was made to re6x it. Officer
Volkman then appeared on the scene,
and called out, '.Gentlemon, appeal 10
YOU in the name of the Law and Of the
State Of Maryland, let the prisoner &c.
The answer came back, $50 away from
here" and the reply was, 81 shall only
90 bv force" Then half dozen nien
caugl. the officer, lifted him bodily
over the fence. and placing him in the
car kept guard over him. Across the
plowed field hundred willing hands
dragged the half.desd negro until they
reached thicket Of trees OIL the brow
of the hill. Close TO tall yellow pop,
lar stood walnut sapliug, about twelve
feet in height. A youngster jumped
up and threw the rope into forked
limb. With quick jerk the man, who
all this time was PROSTATE, was dragged
into the air. The rope was twisted
twice around the limb and made fast.
aud the self appointed executioners islt
that their work was done.
After the lapse of about twelve min.
utes cue of the men put bis finger on
the dying mans pulse and found il still
beating. His shirt was torn open and
the throbbing of his heart was felt, but
in about three minutes afterwards ali
motion ceased-,be man was dead.
Then began scramble Tor m.rneutoes
of the hanging. T~igs we's broken
from the tree, The coat Of the suspended