National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-31
A HORRIBLE ArrAIR.
How Two Alleged Burglars Were
Lynched In North Carolina.


How Two Alleged Burglars Were
Lynched in North Carolina.
RALEIGH. N. c., Dec. 30,--The people
Of this community arc greatly excited
over horrible lynching affair which has
just come to light. For some time past
burglaries have become an almost nightly
occurrence in this city and county and
the adjoining county of Johnston. Tho
burglars have confined the operations
principally to stores, and few days be-
fore Christmas several country business
houses were broken into and ransacked.
Among the number were the stores of
Mr.. II. N. Wynne, of this county, and
Barnes & Hinton, Of Clayton. q town
situated about twelve miles from this
city. The day before Christmas Henry
Davis and Charles Smith were arrested
by the police on suspicion. Both were
colored mon, and were taken to Clayton
whore they were locked up and two guards
placed ON duty to 500 that they did not
get away. That night both prisoners and
guards mysteriously disappeared, and no
one seemed TO know what had become Of
either. The authorities and newspaper
reporters were unable to get at any def
abouts or their fate.
The REPUBLICAN correspondent spent
Sunday at Clayton endeavoring to get at
| tho facts of the case. He was told by
some that the men had possibly been ros-
cued by their friends, while others
thought that lynching had taken place.
though no traces Of the bodies Of the
victims could be found.
The following facts have Just come TO
light and tell the story Of tho fate Of the
prisoners, one Of whom Is believed TO
have been innocent. The statement is
substantially that made to your corre-
spondent by. ono Of tho guards, both Of
whom have again turned up:
During the night following the arrest
Of the suspected burglars, and while they
were confined in the Clayton lookup,
with two guards In attendance, tho latter
wero suddenly surrounded by mob Of
about fifty men, composed of both races.
The guards were overpowered, their
weapons appropriated by the mob, and
they were ordered to go with the party
Meanwhile, the prisoners had been SO.
cured and dashed to two horses. The
party then proceeded to bridge span
ming the Neuse river, about three mile
from Clayton. Arrived there, they were
given chance to confess, which Smitf
did, duplicating Davis. The latter pro
tested his innocence to the last. TIL,
men wero already manaclod, but heavy
trace chains were also wound abou
them, and thus weighted and pinionet
they were thrown over the bridge railinI
into the river below, which is very dec
at that point. They Of course sank q
once, and their bodies still lie in water.
graves.
All the participants in the affair, som
of whom were masked ana some moi, wer
: sworn to secrecy. The guards say the
we're ordered to keep out of sight for sew
eral days, but it IL believed by some tina
thoy were tho chief instigators of tn
crime.
Tho affair has already caused niue
. excitement here, and now that the horr
BILE details are made public IL is the al
absorbing subject of conversation. Th
deed is almost unanimously condemne
in this city. No Raleigh men are though
s to have been engaged in the lynchinl
the actors being residents Of Johnsto
county,