The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-22
was cansd Lynch Law"

vorE-Col. John + Wheeler, the
,;s,.rian, lett 4 great many notes and
SCIENCES concerning prominent PEG
Nor.h Carolina, past and present.
r.. ,ir, aauecpiIected these memoirs,
ia,i By counties, and are printing
Nm ia bi-monthly pamphlets. We
an,,, from the last number the following
/. and we shall continue giving other
,.rs relating to sections in which the
u.., ,tI Hechlaic has numerous
~ = origin of lyuchlaw: During the
Y,i,n there was a noted tory. (and
,I.... sere bat few in that portion for
80 rtIsd Butte county, now embraced
,r,. m the counties OF Franklin and Nash.
'.,.g Major Beard. Major John II.
49, lived near Hiliard<t6n; he and his
..rr. were decided wings. He had a
I,g-ht.r, beautiful and accomplished by
rL~, charms Beard was captivated and
,Ra ma itlon runs that the handsome
r-,r and commanding air of Beard had
select Oh the young lady, notwithstand-
;rs the difference III the politics between
I'm and her father. On one occasi IN.
Ri encamped for the night near a
E.. - Swift Creek. This became known
:, Major Drake aud other wings, and
RE. organized Il force to capture him
1a.- came upon the tories early In the
rang while at breakfast. surprised and
us, gr,ed them IN great confusion they
l@,..ng their breakfast and horses. The
vb> pursued them with great earnest
ms, BrItton Drake, brother of the
yagr, lady, of powerful frame and
srr,azth, armed with a rifle, lei the
chase. AMI came SUI ldcnly on Beard. who
vs., hid behind same small pines. He
did ..at move until Drake, who was not
sv. .. ot his position. came right upon
Ir Beard was armed only with d
,A.r! he spfang upon Drake who was
r.. near a-d closely pursued, to shoot.
H....ubbcd his rifle aud felled Beard t.
rle round and as Drake thought he
"a lead. for he was senseless. Drake
lett i'm for dead aud vent in pursuit oi
,.r,. tugitlve>. When the pursuit wa
., he returned to the pace of encouL-
rt. .,.,h Bcari. and found hal he wa>
rr lead. After some consultation it wa,
resolved to take him "a a prisoner to the
I.alguurters of Colonel Seawell, com
uauilng in camp at a ford on Lynch
Crf,A. IN Franklin county, about twenty
of. He was tied on his hore and
carried under guard After reaching
ramp. it was Determined to organize a
curt martial aud try him for his life.
But before proceeding to trial, a report
that a strong body of tories were in
ugr,uit to rescue him this created a
rari.. for they knew his popularity and
power. > they hung him. The reported
pursuit proved q :alSe alarm, and it being
Suggested that a. the sentence had been
inflicted before the judgement of the
cgu had been pronounced therefore 1t
W, llega.. The body was thea taken
i En. the court reorgaulZad. and he was
t..j. c.uieuued aud re hung 10y the
neck until he was dead.
The tree on Which he was lung stood
not Tar tran R"cky Ford, on Lynch
Gre. = aud II became d say ing in Frank
Ha. Nteu a pers,u committed any offence
u-gljfuiH, that The ou-ht to te
taken G, Lsurh Greek ;" and 80 the wo 4
Lunch law" became d fixture 10 the
FL .~H language.
The Hon. t.. =. Moore communicated
the a-ore Ding tradition 10 me. he re-
it ftOr" the Drake family.
T. lac cgufD9e1