Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-10-20
Mike Geary sells B. b. 3.
The Re cent Lynching in Va


following account Of recent case o.
lynching IN Nelson county, Va, hereto
fore briefly reported:
"On Friday, the lst instant, George
Lowry, a white man employed at tie
saw-mill OF McChesney s. Ellis, near
Sherando, IN Augusta county, took
David Thomas, his wife's brother,
aged eighteen years, oyer the mountain
into Nelson county. On Saturday
morning they reached the residence OF
Mr.. Robert Massle, on Tye river, and
tying their horses IN the woods, went to
the house. Mr.. Massie and his wife
had gone TO Jonesboro' to church, and
their sons were at work in field some
distance off, leaving alone in the house
a daughter about nineteen years Old
Lowry and Thomas entered, and tn
latter presented pistol, threatened the
Girl with death, and went up stairs ana
robbed bureau of sll,50. Lowry re-
manned down stairs, seized the young
lady, and choking her, brutally outraged
her person. They then left, Thomas
dropping some Of the silver money at
the gate. The young girl blew horn
and her brothers soon returned to Ire
house, TO whom she told the sad story.
The neighborhood was Immediately
aroused, and an accurate description OF
Lowry and Thomas given them. ln a
few hours over hundred and fifty men
were securing the country. The two
criminals had fed over tie mountain TO
their homes, near Sherando. On Satur-
day evening five armed men appeared
10 the village nun ting them. They DIS
covered Lowry in the store OF Mr.
Trevy, near by, and captured him.
They would have shot him there but Tor
the rcmoustrances Of the citzeps. They
also captured Thomas. and as they hIed
off with their prisoners another party oil
twenty five armed men came ont OF The
woods and silently fell in behind them.
They took Lowry TO Miss Massie late
that evening, aud she fully identified
him. The next morning, for fear OF
any mistake, they again took HIM be-
fore her in broad daylight. She again
identified MIN, but said that the boy
had not laid his hands on her. only
threatening her when he came IN Will
pistol. The two prisoners were
committed to Jail on Sunday night
where, on Monday, Lowry's wife, WHO
went from Augusta, joined him. She
did not leave him until Thursday, The
7lb instant. About l O'Clock that
night q crowd Of about $50 persons as
sembled around the Jail, and, breakln2
the doors open, seized Lowry an'
L
carried him TO an oak tree on DR.. DIl'
lard's farm, about mile distant, where
they hung him. He cried Murder
and begged for his life from the moment
that be realized what the intentions o.
the mob were until he was swung up tC
the tree. A number Of the citizens o
ILovlngston were up and begged thu
crowd to deslst, but 1t had no effect OF
the men, who were silent and deter
mined, not one Of them being heard II
utter a word. The next morning at II
O'Clock the remains were cut down ant
an inquest hetd, and a verdict rendered
in accordance with the facts. Lowr.
was man about As years OF age, ant
leaves a wife and six children. lie wa
an industrious and peac etul man, pu
at times was given TO drink, and II J
supposed that he was drunk at th'
time be committed the horrible Grim
for which he so promptly paid The pen
atty of his llfe."