South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-01-18

APrisoaer Sho. Several Times. and then
Dragged Out and Hanged.


Ssaunton, Va, Jan. 9.-FriIay
night Inst u Iynching affair occurred
at Monterey, in Highland connty.-
living 10 the b!ockaded roads for fif-
~ miles across four mountains, the
particulars did not reach here until
tonight. 4 d. Atchison, the man
who was lynched, was confined in jail
for stabbing Sidney b. ckman, "a pro-
minent readjoster, on Christmas Day,
while the two wefo drinking foyeth
er. Atchison, who is said to be n
vermonter, and . desperate character,
was arrested against the protest of
Ruckman. who is recovering from
the cutting. Atkinson was heard TO
make some threats that when he got
out OF jail he would kill some of the
men who procured his arrest. Friday
night last ten rough fellows, with
masks on, came to the jail about mid
night and demanded the key of J.
Hiner, the person in charge He SAID
they we'e not liz his possession. The
mob then ,all OF whom are said TO have
been under the influence of liquor,
commenced to batter down the door.
meanwhile shooting with pistols and
guns through the doors and Windows.
Atchison fought furiously inside for
his life. though shot three or four
times. Once he knocked "a pistol out
OF the hand OF man who had thrust
1t tetween break i'm the door. I he
desperaGoes were two hours in forcing
their way into the cell of the doomed
man, during which time the masks
fell fiom the faces of five OF The men,
who were recognized by the man on
guard. Atchison was finally secured.
and bleeding from four wounds. al
most dead and unable to walk. was
tied and dragged away about 2 or 8
O'Clock In the morning. The lynch.
ere told the guard he would find their
prisoner on certain tree about a
half mile from town. After daylight
he followed the track where the un-
fortunate man had been dragged
through the snow, and found him
hanging dead from the tree indicated.
The law-abiding community of High
land is said to be indignant over
this outrage and determined that the
guilty parties shall be brought to JUS
tlce, though the mail rider who left
the village yesterday morning SAYS no
arrests have yet been made. Atchi-
son, it is SAID, had wife at Deerfield.
II this county, with whom he did not
live on pleasant terms. Ruckman is
the superintendent of schools of
Highland county, whose appointment
the State Senate lat week refused TO
conhrm'-Cor. Baltimore Sun.
SIAuNToN, VA Jan. 10.-Some fur.
ther particulars IF the lyncbing which
occurred at .onterey. Highland cosnty.
rc,ched here to day. Justice Wilson
summoned jury OF inquest WHICH, after
an ali day session, returned the follow
ing verdict; We, he jury OF inquest,
find that The deceased. T. ID. At..hison.
was taken from the Jail of Hi. hlaud Co.,
Va. on the morning of the 9th of Jan.
1854, bstween the hours Of ~ NJ. and
A. NJ, by "a mob, aud that he came 20
his death either from pistol shot or
gunsaot, or from being hanged by The
neck, or from the effects uf both.' SiLned
a. Ii Campbell, foreman.
"A gentleman who left Monterey Tues.
day morning saws another prisoner by
the name OF Hatcliff was confined in the
same cell with Atchisor, charged also
with stabbing. The two had heard OF
the threatened lynching, and were great
~ alarmed, and The gentlemen referred
to leard them praying aloud in their
cell the night before the mob came
When the attack was made Ratcliff was
so overcome with flight that lie fell up
ON the floor and laid there unconscious
for time and thus. perhaps, escaped
he shots which wounde his companion.