Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-04
JUDGE LYNCH


A True story OF the Great Regulator.
A correspondent of the Chicago Inter.
Ocean, writing from Lynchburg. Va,
says
While chatting with an old antiquarian
in his cool library, I casually inquired
how this town came by it's peculiarly
suggestive name. ''Did the original
Judge of dreadful fame ever live here" I
asked.
eyes, he did, replied the old gentle
man with Frightening eyes that revealed
delight in the topic. Judge Lynch
might fairly be called the founder of the
city. and it makes me angry to see all
these newspaper stories, not only locating
hlm IN other States, but condemning
his mode of procedure as infamous and
brutal"
Then you believe in the summary meth
od of dealing with sinful men %
Not so fast, young lady not so fast, "
said the fine old Nirginlan, smiling. II
will tell you the story Just as 1 had it
from my grandfather, who was proud of
his acquaintance with that shrcwd ferry
mah who wiped the crime of horse steal
ing, for which the State was growing
famous, right ont. Why, Nirginians were
cattle, and even taught the trade of nc.
quiring them to the Cherokees and Chick.
asaws, much to the disgust and shame of
the better class of citizens"
"When was this ?" queried your cores
pondent.
Not long before the Revolutionary
war, and at that time there were quite a
number of that splendid race, the Scotch
lp1
cautious yet daring, dashing but pru-
dent honest aud energetic, every man of
them proved great blessing to the set
tlement, and not few became famous.
such as General Andrew Jackson, James
X. Polk, John Calhoun, Sam Houston,
David Crockett, Robert Fulton, Patrick
Bronte, and, later, Robert Bonner, A. 7.
Stewart and Horace Greeley These
names come most readily to mind, but
there IS still another generation of of them,
including President Arthur and our COM
ing President, James G. Blaine"
''And the Lynches ?" | ventured.
''Were from the same stalwart stock,
aud settled in Prince William county.
There were four boys in the family, and
one II them, John Lynch, was bright,
quick young fellow and remarkably
courageous. One day in rambling about
the head of the James river he found
gap in the mountains on either side of
the water, which it struck him would
make capital crossing point for travel
lers, and forthwith he drove his proprie-
tory stake, and shortly after with a few
logs aud an old scow, established primi-
tive ferry. The horse thieves were among
the first to take advantage of the new
scrupulously honest, was disgustGl and
Inundated at having to take them across.
At this time the country was sparsely
settled, conrts were few, and ials far
apart. The evil continued to increase
finally the ferry became the favorite
means Of escape for the stock stealers,
and John Lynch, thoroughly aroused,
proPosed to put an end to it.
What could he do single-landel 2"
'Well, I Will tell you what he actually
did. He applied to ihe Governor of Vir- |
ginla for n cUmrlission to act as Il Justice |
of the peace. His reputation for honesty
and good Judgment was beyond doubt, |
and Lis commission was granted. Hewas |
qualified and became a Judge. Tho first
use he made of his power was TO appoint |
some special constables aud engage a few
sharp detectives. They at once began
work with such success that gang after
gang were captured.
Did they have no trial p
Yes. They were brought before Judge
Lynch, and he never acted until he was
positive of their guilt, and his knowledge |
of the men and the country was an i'm
mcuse advantage to him. IF he found |
them guilty he would, according to the
law, requires good bond, which, of course
in those days thief could never get, and
when that form was complied with, would
start them off well guard, i to some far
away jail. The constables knew what
the order to march meant, and as soon AS
they found themselves in thick wood, |
chose stout tree, and with good rope |
which they carried, created a temporal 3
scatlold from which the horse thieves
quickly dangled. Hanging was the legal
punishment for horse-stealing in those
days, but the promptness and despatch |
with which Judge Lynch meted out JUS
tice at their very door terrorized the evil
'loe-s Of the country, and between those
he hung and those who fled, in two years
there was not horse-thief in Virginia"
"And what became of Judge Lynch p
'He continued to live near the ferry,
round which a large village grew up I'M
der the name of Lynch's Ferry. and not
until long after his death did it become
During his life lynch law
was honored and upheld, but since then
it has altogether lost its original charac-
ter and meaning. Now, as / understand
it. it is merely the infuriated impulse of a
rough mob who, without waiting for the
law at hand to prove innocence or guilt,
decide on it according to their own incli-
nation, and take life perhaps more I'M
blemished than their own. No." con-
cluded the old gentleman, John Lynch
did his State a service IN Riding it of
lot of miscreants, whom, but for him,
We're ont of the reach of the law, but |
were he living, no one would be quicker
than lie to resent this barbarous mob !
fashion of putting man to sudden de, th
when the law, the courts, the prison, and
the scaffold are close at hand to mete ont
Justice and punishment.