Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-02-23
Lynching at Martinsburg.

Joe Burns, the egrerayisherof Miss
Fellers, of Martinsburg, was iynched
last Thursday. night. The Ipdepen-
dent gives an extended notice of the
/ affair, from which we extract the
following:
The ravisher of Miss Mollie Fellers
has met his doom; not at the hands
of the Law, but at the hands of an
Infatuated and wild mob. The story
of the rape is too we'll known to be
repeated at any length. All remem-
/ Der how in broad daylight, Joseph
Burns outraged the girl, two weeks
ago, and how he was arrested, given
a hearing and sentenced to Jail to
await the action of the Court. We
spoke in our last issue of the defiant,
hard-hearted words and behavior of
the prisoner, and declared that the
public feeling was bitter against him.
Adding insult to injury by such an
open defiance of the laws of society,
he succeeded in adding hatred to the
already bitter feelings toward him.
We did not state at the time that
several mobs had met up town last
week, but lacking leaders, feared to
attack the jail Then the excitement
abated, and it was hoped that cAmer
and maturer judgment would pre-
vail and the prisoner be allowed to go
to trial. The well-known, even
handed justice, which has always
marked the actions of our Court,
would have ended in the conviction
and execution of the prisaner, and the
law would have stood in its majesty
protection of every individuals
rights.
All week the moonbeams have
played around and over the old Jail,
seeming to aid the appointed forces
to protect the prisoner. Night after
night wore by and still he was I'M
molested. But there comes a time
in the affairs of life, when things work
in contrary manner from their nat
ural course. Thursday night the
guards, believing that no mob would
venture forth in such beautiful moon
light, were off duty. The city quieted
down SIS the, night wore on, only an
occasional whistle or footstep break
ing the deep stiffness. About -
o'clock a low, rumbling, Gathering
sound was heard; it grew louder
each moment, and then voices and the
clatter of horses feet, aroused the
the loud, noisy crowd of horsemen
and footmen sweep down John street.
Straight for the Jail they headed, and
when opposite it loud. sharp 'Halt ~
rang outin voice of command. The
noise ceased. The Jail looked dark.
Several men approached the alley
door and raped thereon.
{" who goes there?'' asked Tailor
Dunford.
"Come down and see!" was the
reply.
A sound as of some one stirring
around inside of the house, was fol-
lowed by the unlocking of the Jail
door, and the jailor was sternly in
formed that Joe Burns was wanted,
and that no harm would be done to
Mr.. Dunford, but the prisoner must
be given up. The jailor declared he
was not in the Jail. The masked men
then obtained the keys and after
short search discovered the prisoner
hiding in the cellar. He was not
handled roughly, but was marched
out into the open air. As the moon
beams fell on his features, the mob
laughed. The iron ball and chain
were removed from his limbs and he
was told to walk. He refused. I'm
mediatcly score of revolvcrs were
showed into his face. He then con-
sented to walk. That was wild and
horrible scene! The mob headed
for John street, thence to the pike.
The negro cursed his captors, while
they made the night hidcous with IN
dian whoops, loud cursing and de-
moniac yells. The procession kept
moving for an hour or so, and halted
in the shadows of the little picnic
woods just this side the Big Springs,
about p miles from town. Burns had
not begged once for mercy, and
looked the leaders and their associates
cooIly in their faces. The mob sur
rounded him, keeping up a wild yell
ing. This gradually died down.
The rope was adjusted about the vic
TINS neck. Then the stern leader
asked:
"Joscph Burns, are you guilty?"
A pause, then the sullen answer:
81 am guilty"
Again the stern voice:
"Do you deserve this punishment"
{" I do" replied the doomed man,
and L ask for your prayers. ="
A maddened yell burst from three
hundred threats at the acknowledge
ment of the crime on the part of the
prisoner, and fierce cries of ''Burn
him! Cut him to pieces!" resounded
on all sides, while revolver shots rang
out on the calm night air. Then
again the mob grew quiet. A man
stepped out from their midst and APP
preaching the little group under the
tree, prayed with the condemned
man, asking for the mercy of heaven
upon his soul. Burns was quiet and
bowed his head as the prayer was
being offered.
Then a quick movement swung the
rope over the limb of the tree. Hum