Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-05-12
Peculiar Punishment for Thief.

The monotony which usually character
lzes the Sabbath day in Bowie, Nd, was
broken recently by somewhat exciting,
yet wthal ludicrous incident. For some
time past the colored men employed in
grading the double track of the Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad have, at frequent
intervals. missed from their quarters
various articles Of wearing apparel and food.
Being satisfied that an expert thief was nc
lively engaged in robbing them of their
property, the men kept diigent watch to
discover the culprit. Suspicion pointed to
y burly negro, named Edward Lewis, who
had been loaling about the town for several
weeks. without any visible means of sup
port. Yesterday the suspicious of the men
were confirmed; and being satisfied of the
guilt Of Lewis they proceeded, in the most
orderly and deliberate manner to punish the
offender. Four muscular children of Ham
caught the fellow, Lewis, and held him firm
ly across the bulge of a barrel with his face
dOwnwards. while two other powerful Afri-
cans. one armed with board and the other
with broad leather strap, proceeded to ad-
minister rapid and vigorous blows on the
decidedly sl;illful and business like manner
About Il hundred of the men looked on to
see the job well done
The place selected for this novel affair
was on All open space opposite the depot
and west Of the railroad track, and immc-
diately in front ofthe tent from which most
Of the articles had been stolen. Mayor
Ridgway and Town Sheriff Mouton think
ing riot was impending, appeared prompt
ly upon the ground. armed with the full
dignity and power Of the law, and deter
mined to preserve the peace at all hazards
but before their arrival the culprit had been
released with many admonitions from the
men TO do better in future
About this time a dignified colored man of
ebony hue, who is employed on the railroad
work as kind of general attendant, with
out definite duties, and known among his
admriny friends and fellow citizens rs the
Bishop" appeared upon the scene and an
nounced his arrival by declaring to the
crowd, with great solcmnity, that dis was
mos onholy gwinc on on de Lo'd's day.
You niggers,' he continued, with pro-
nounced earnestness, had much better be at
prar' This seemed to give one of the color
ed mem happy thought
He led Oft, with lusty voice, in one Of the
good old time colorcd camp-meeting songs,
in which the whole crowd speedily Joined,
until the whole town was vocal with revi-
val melodies. They surrounded the thief
and sang Justify "awakcning' hymns, while
one sable orator. mounted on the head of
the aforesaid barrel, now changed from
horizontal to Il vertical position, and elo-
quentlysharangued the crcst-fallen culprit,
urging him to repent. He jthc culpriD f.
nally promised, TO turn from the error of his
ways and become new man. wherup-
on the meeting was closed with prayer by
the Bishop" Lewis was pointcdly " admon-
ished, however, to become Il ;new man, at
some place remote from Bowie, which he,
with anappearance oftrue penitence, agreed
faithfully 10 do, and Immediately left for
parts unknown. 1t is supposed he will
make rapid headwayand walk for some time
to come, as it will doubtless be at some re-
mote period in the future when he will he
able TO SIT down with comfort