Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-05-28
HANGED BY A MOB.
Sequel to a Murder Committed OH
Account of q Dog;

LIBERTY, Va, May 10. THE ter
rible tragedy, the killing of Thomas
A. Jeter in cold blood by HARRISON
Terry, was followed yesterday by the
lynching Of Terry. Mr.. Jeter was
one of the most popular men of the
county, having lived there all his
life and gained wealth by constant
application to his business. He was
about 40 years of age. Terry was
young and bore an excellent res
putation, and his father, Gen. W. r.
Terry, is one of the best known men
IN the state, being superintendent
OF the Virginia Penitentiary. The
General was recently stricken with
paralysis, and on Saturday, when
young Terry was in Liberty, he stops
ped at the door of Jeter's tobacco
warehouse to talk, and after speaks
ing about his fathers health letter
brought up the subject of little
dog which Terry had given him re-
Gently and which he had named af,
ter Terry's sister. Jette! jokingly
said: "Why don't you come up to
see your kinsfolks p meaning only
the relationship because of the name
he had given the dog. Terry flush
ed and instantly drew his revolver
and shot Jeter twice. The wound
ed man did not speak after he was
shot and died ia a few minutes. Jet
er was widower and leayes two
children. Terry was 90 and was
educated at the Virginia Military
Institute. His friends claimed that
his mind was unbalanced.
About 2:30 o'clock yesterday
morning a band of mounted men
rode up to the Bedford Jail in Liber,
ty and one of the number knocked
ed at the front door. The jailor
asked who was there and the party
said they had a prisoner to put in.
The door was opened, and the lea
der, a large man, masked, presented
pistol to the head of the keeper,
kirkwood Bell, demanding the keys.
He told them he did not have them,
but when asked if they Were in his
room, answered yes. They procur-
ed the keys anG then demanded that
he should show them the cell where
Terry was confined, but Bell refuse
ed, They found ont by searching
the Jail, and without any fuss or
alarm of any kind brought Terry
out without coat or hat, put him on
one of the horses, filed out from the
jail and down Main street. Just
outside Of the corporate limits and
south Of the town they hanged him
to an apple tree on an embankmcn nj
by the side of tie main road, and
his body was found hanging there
this morning. The jeiler and his
assistant guard gave the alarm as
soon as possible, but it was too late.
The mob were not fifteen minutes
in entering the Jail and taking the
unfortunate man away. Not a wold
was spoken by any of the party ex-
cept those who went into the jail.
Terry, it is believed, was gagged, as
he was not heard to speak at all. 1t
is supposed that the party came from
the country and probably from that
part where Jeter Was born and
brought up. None of the lynching
party were recognized. All were
masked by tying handkerchiefs oy-
er the face. AS they came from the
neighborhood of Jeter's old home,
1t is thought pretty certain that
some of his many relatives We're in
the crowd. 1t is said that the men
declared that too many murderers
had escaped of late on the plea Of
insanity.