The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-02-08
The Russell-County Sensation.

Last Thursday night between 10 and II
O'Clock about fifteen men in disguise sur,
rounded the JUL at Lebanon, Russell county
ana TOOK thtrefrom O. T. Ferrall and Evan
drllltn, charged with obtaining under false
pretences about $4,000 worth of cattle.
The Bristol Nezos of Tuesday, in its account
OF the affair SAYS: -
Iheie are three gates by which the jail-yard
can oe entered. Two guards were stationed
az eacn OF THESE One was stationed at the
jail entrance. Six or seven others brokedown
the Jail doors with rocks, and Immediately
bound Ferrall and Griffith and took them
aWay-at our latest adyices no one knew
WHITTIER. nor what disposition was made of
Them The entire party were BACKED so as to
prevent recognition. The iailers MIR. HASH
brook, thinks be recognized one of them only
IL Is believed that this is not a rescue but a
species OF lynching on the part of the out
ragged vendors OF cattle to these men, Others.
such as Hon. William ] Dickinson. member
OF the present House of Delegates, and Capt.
Robert Dickinson are men of decided means
and are in no way shaken by The loss.
The history of the matter is this; Last fall
Griffith and Ferrall bought from various cit
liens of Russell about SIS 600 worth of cattle
and though they had been for three wears in
the business IN smaller way, and had met
thelr engagements, there was an ndisposition
10 sell them to the extent then desired without
any security. But they offered higher prices
than any one else, and alleged they owned and
had pald lor considerable port on of their
cattle; SO that any possible loss by fluctuations
would De IN THIS way secure, and they could
IN any event pay their bills This statement
has turned out to be utterly untrue and is the
basis OF the action against them for felony.
They sold most OF the cattle in the Valley of
Virginia. Griffith taking the money and the
remainder OF the cattle to Baltimore as their
story goes On Griffiths return he stopoed ir
Harrsonburg, as he declares, on the Slh Of
November, the day after the election. where
both political parties were parading the streets,
ana he says both professions knocked him
down, ran over him, and he was robbed Of all
the cattle-money The result is they came
nome ana declared they could not pay, and
were arrested.
Ii was alleged by them that fair trial conld
not be had in Russell, and change of venue
was obtained to Washington county, and yes.
teiday was tXed for their trial at Abingdon.
About ten days ago Ferrall plead he had news
his Wife Was about 10 die, and the county
Judge allowed him to visit her under guard
LII transpired his wife was perfectly well. but
while there he offered the guard $500 cash and
a valuable claybank- colored mare to allow him
to escape.
r, iaii 70 SsDout my llVe years OF age, and
Grlfflth thirty five or forty. Both have fam
lies. What these outraged people propose to
90 with them we may learn before going to
press. They are satisfied these men have their
money, and they do not mean they shall enioy
it, ~
since the above was written we learn that
Ferrall and Griffith were taken to the woods.
and after the exhibition of ropes and threats
OF hanging they were made to disgorge
$loOOO, after which they were turned loose.
we don t~Vouch for the truth of the state
ment, but merely give it as report.
A later dispatch, dated at Abingdon, Jan
25th, says;
A letter received here from an official at
russell Courthouse confirms the report of the
removal by mob of Griffith and Ferral from
the Jail at that place last Thursday a week.
The prisoners were carried to the woods by
the mob, and under threats of lynching were
forced to disgorge 5000 out of the $1S 900
winch, as is alleged they obtained from the
cattle-raisers of the county by fraudulent rep
reservations. After surrendering the amount
named the prisoners We're turned loose and
nave since fled the county. Before his arrest
ferrall made conveyance of all his real
property to his wife. This has since been at
tached by his creditors, and will no doubt be
sold Ill due time for their benefit Russell
county, the scene of this forcible debt-paying
under threats OF lynching is one of the strong
est readJuster sections Of the State. The peo-
pie, however ale sturdily honest mountaneers.
and opposed to readjustment of private claims.