Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-19
HAIRsToN TERRY LYNcHED
HANGED NTH A wELLRopE.

An Armea sssd Of Bedford Hsrsemen Take
the Law sss ThsE Own Hands ana
A,snss ssssr's Death.
Especial Telegram 10 the Dispstch.l
LIBERTY, Va, May Is.-0ur usual
ly pesceable and law-abiding town and
community have been plunged into adj
ditionsl sorrow by the lynchng Of
Hsirston Terry by body Of unknown
men. About half after 2 O'Clock this
morning band Of forty or fifty masked
men rode up 10 the jail in this place
and. after securing sdmittance, went
into Torry's room and took him out and
hung him TO tree on the hill south Of
sad in sight Of town.
The excitement Of Saturday passed
of, and many thought there would be
no trouble. However, the funeral ser
vices Of Jeter took place yesterday at
his old home, some twenty miles south
of this place. 1t was perhaps the
largest crowd that ever attended the
funeral Of any man in the county--that
is, outside Of town.
Jeter was exceedingly popular. lie
was the tobacco-planters' friend, and
by befriending some in making adj
vsnces on their crops, and owing to his
goodness Of heart and genial, pleasant
manners, was held in high esteem and
was much beloved. IL is thought by
many that the scheme was planned at
the funeral. Many think the unfor-
tunate occurrence was precipitated be-
cause OF the runor Of the insanity Of
Terry, which was unhsppily circulated
here Saturday, the parties engaging in
the affair supposing Terry would be ac-
quilted as young Martin was, and that
the combination Of circumstances so
exsspersted Jeter's friends about his
old home that they determined to put
their resolutions into effect at once.
A QUIET AFFAIR.
Nots word was spoken by any of the
crowd except those who demanded the
keys Of the jail from the keeper. All
the men the jsiler saw were masked and
well armed, and were evidently pre-
pared to meet resistance. The unfortu-
nate victim made no resistance, so far as
is known, and did not speak. The
lynching party took the rope from the
well of the warehouse OF deter 4 New
som to hang him with, which we'll was
in two feet of the spot occupied
by Terry when he shot Jeter. A
gentleman living in the south side Of
the county, between this point and where
Jeter was buried, says he passed q
campfire in the wood and saw tracks Of
horses. indicating that the party were
from that section Of country and had
made some stay at that point. There
is unmistaksble evidence now that the
Jail was closely watched by the lynch
ers lest an effort should be made to
take Terry away, which certainly would
have been done had not the Judge felt
that there was no danger.
TERRY's INSANITY.
1t is said to-day that there is album
dsnt proof Of Terry insanity from ply
sicians Of high standing in Richmond
and here.
Mr.. Stratton, an old gentleman in
this town. tailor, was suddenly strick-
en- with paralysis during the excite
ment Of Saturday, and to-day is not
expected to survive. Thus one calsm-
ity has followed another, and our whole
town and community are made sad and
sorrowing.
THE JAILER's STORY.
The jsiler had provided an assistant
for the night. but the lynching party
represented that they wished to lodge a |
man in Jail, and when they got in
would not allow the assistant to rise.
As soon as the jailer and assistant
could they gave the alarm, but too late
to accomplish anything The horrible |
deed was done so quietly, and SO well |
planned had been the whole thing, that
but few persons knew Of it till morn
ing.
The coroner had 4 jury summoned
early this morning, took down the body.
and rendered verdict that Terry came
to his death at the hands of unknown
men, and the body was taken in charge
by his friends.
The jailer says that parties with
drawn pistols and shot-guns assured
him that they would kill him if he did
not surrender the keys.
The prisoner was very apprehensive
Saturday that he would be lynched,
md sent TO know if there was any dan
ger. The jailer says he was very rest
cSS last night, and did not take Off his
clothes, except his csat.
As soon as the object of the raid was
the whole party left hasti-
y for the south side, parties who had
been aroused plainly hearing the gallsp-
ng of the horses.