The New York herald., 1879-09-22
A CRIME AND ITS PUNISHMENT.

DETAILS OF THE LYNcHING OF THE NEGRO
THOMPSON AT cANSELToN FOR THE MURDER
OF A WHITE MAN VIGOROUS ACTION OF
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1
CASSELToS. w. va Sept. 21 1879.
Kanawha Valley records another lynching scrape
on the 10Th inst. at Enterprise. where the govern
mept are at work on lock No. g. quarrel arose be-
tween negro named Thompson and white man
Joe Moore, both of whom were drinking. The quar-
rel started thus:-The negro passed Moore and said
he intended to kill some one before night, and
repeated his threARs a second time and up to
Moore saying "How you Joe?" TO this Moore
replied he did not wish to associate with him, and
walked of. Thompson followed him and continued
to abuse him. Moore stopped and turned toward
Thompson, but Moores friends advised him to let
Thompson alone. he would only put himself on an
equality with the negro by lighting with him.
Moore again passed on but Thompson still followed
and continued his abuse. After standing it for
some time Moore turned on the negro threw him
to the ground and commenced beating him with
stone Thompson, having an open pocket knife in
his hand, Moore the left side of his throat.
making cash about two inches long, Us deep tho
knife would 90 Moore started mp, exciaiming,
.'Takc hml He has cut me! am dead mani" He
bled to death in about twenty minutes.
MURDERER CAUGHT.
Thompson then ran to boat lying in tho river
near by. Squire J. G. MONTGOMERY. justice of the
peace of Kanawha county, who happened to DO
within short distance of the scene of the murder,
repaired to the place, and after search
secured Thompson near the river. where hc con-
cealed under boat. When he brought out
nc was very much scared aud bagged for
protection, insisting ho had committed Abe decd IN
sclf-defencc. by this time u mob OF about two hun
dred infuriatcd men had gathered and demanded tho
prisoner. Squire Montgomery refused to give him
up aud by his prompt and fearless action, with tho
aid Of Ave men guard, held the mob back for
three hours. The officers ia charge telegraphed to
Charleston for the sheriff aud expected him to ar
rive with assistance on the haf-past eleven p NJ
train.
HANDS OF MOD.
The brother OF Moore sent TOR Squire Mont
gomery, and while he out to him the mob
broke by the guard. seized the prisoner and were
starting out with him when tho Squire returned.
He struggled manfuiy to regain control of the pris
oncr but IL was too late. The mob had him beyond
recovery. The prisoner was at once rushed Co the
woods, about one hundred yards away, when he
was strung up TO tree To the last he
claimed he had acted In selfdetence, and
alter being placed on the scaffold cooy said -
IL will visit you another day" About thirty min
utes after the hanging the train arrived, bringing
Sherifl Rooster. Deputy Mahan and Commonwealth's
Attorney snyder. Thompson had very bad name,
and had only been out OF the State Penitcntiary
about two months, whero he had been serving
term for shooting man named Wolf In Charles
ton. The officers had the body cut down and buried
the next morning. While this best citizens dsap-
proved the action of the mob. ali, both white and
black. felt that Thompson met fate that ho richly
deserved ~ u desperate outlaw.