Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-01
A USELESS GALL0WS.
THE RESCUED MURDERER STILL FREE
PROM THE LAWS CLUTCHER
Governor Lee Doing All That he Can to
Secure sutton's Rscapture, But
80 Par Fruitlessly.

The following special telegram 10 this pa
per received from Wytheyille last night
gives additional and interesting particulars
about the release from Jail by a mob Of Way
man sutton, q young white man, who was
sentenced to death for numbering Mr.. Peter
Haryell, and who was TO have been executed
yesterday;
Ever since the Governor refused 70 COM
mute the sentence 81 Waymsn sutton u has
been rumored here that in the west end OF
the county a mob was organizing 70 release
the prisoner from jail, and on wednesday
IT. was currently reported on orr streets
that the rescue would certainly take place
that night The Common wealth's Attorney
and the Sheriff being warned the Sheriff de-
tailed about fifteen or twen,V men to assist
10 guarduc the condemned man. The She
rid, however, went home TO bed snd only
five 81 the twenty men responded to the sum-
mons.
TnE PRISONER EFFECTED IT.
Tho prisone: seems 10 have also an
ticipated the coming OF the mob, az he
spent Wednesday in repairing his shoes,
and Is said 10 have put ON two suits ot un-
I derwesr that day.
The mob coming on the east-bound Pas
/ senger-Train 80. . got of Gt a cut several
miles above Wytheyillc.
The conductor seems 10 have understood
what their business was, but hsd no means,
/ It's supposed, Of assuring himself with sui
fc'cnt p0sItlyencs5 10 justify bis giving the
citizens warning on his arriya! at the depot.
40 BUSINESS or THEIRS.
It's rumored that one or two Of the citi-
Zens -aw the mob coming into town. but did
not consider il thelf business to raise the
alarm.
TIE MOB
Tbe taller. Mr.. Harsh. estimates the mob
at 100: other eye-witnesses at from 30 10 -.
They were partially masked and unknown,
&, IL said, 10 the jailer and guards. An were
armed ZONE with rifles and some with shot
guns. They marched straight to tho jail.
broke omen the front door with o sort OF
sledge.bommcr. and proceeded 10 the cells in
the rear Of the house.
THE RESCUE.
Taking the iailer captive and covering
him with pistol they searched bis room,
found the KEYS 10 The cage in which sutton
was confined, unlocked IL, and took out the
prisoner.
The guards made no resistance. and the
/ only shot fred was by dhc accidental going
of Of pistol among the mob.
AVERY QUIET AFFAIR.
After releasing sutton the mob peacefully
departed, taking sutton with them.
no alarm was raised, aud nothing was
known OF the rescue til next morning.
All our best citizens deeply deplore the
occurrence, many Of those who hoped that
Sutton's sentence would be commuted being
very indignant at this open violation Of the
law and bold defiance oI the courts.
NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED.
Many freely express the opinion that the
CommonWc Wcalth's Attorney and the sheriff
showed great negligence in not taking
greater precautions against the mob, and
some Of our citizens think they should be
proceeded against. Others excuse them and
think II was the fault Of those citizens who
failed to respond 10 the Shoritl's summons.
A few who firmly believe in Sutton's innc-
cencc are glad OF the rescue, and 1t is said
that one or two Of them hay: been heard TO
eXtol the mob.
PERs0NNEL or rHC MOB.
Most OF the men who composed the mob
are supposed 10 have como from the west
end oi this county; "a few perhaps from
Smyth and Grayson counties, and some sup
pose that the town furnished several re-
crute
Il is also rumor2d that the ringleaders are
known and tina. they Will be speedily brought
10 Justice.
TIE REWARD.
The county supervisors talk OF adding $500
10 the reward Of $1,000 offered by Governor
Lee for Sutton't rccarture
TuE sCAFFoID.
The ealows had been erected and a shed
/ built over IL in fun view Of the prisoners
window. The work was finished on We'd
nesday.
CONCRATUI ATlONs.
Sutton was in bed when the mob arrived,
/ and one Of the guards who was IN the cage
with him IS reported 10 have said:
Get up, Wayman, and put on your
| clothes: they are coming for y0u.'
sutton was very much rcioiCed. though he
did not seem surprised al his release. There
WAS very general hsndshaking between
him various parties among the mob.
LATE-CoMEEs.
Late in She afiornoon a body Of men were
seen camping 10 the west OF the town near
Pine Ridge, and il is supposed that some OF
them Joined those who came on the train,
others Keeping horses In readiness for Sut-
ton.
sJTToN'S MOVEMENTS.
sutton is supposed 10 have first gone 90
his home IN Rye Valley. Smyth county.
and there to have taken the train.
KEYS or TuH CAGE.
The jaier and guards made no resistance
beyond refusing 10 yield the KEYS OF the
iron cage in which the prisoner WAS confined.
but a- thev were under cover OF guns and
pl>tols any resistance would have been haZ-
ardous.
No Official effort to capture sutton has
been made 30 far, nor is anything at all
definite known oi his whereabouts.
TIE GOVERNOR DESIRES An ENQUIRY.
The following was sent yesterday after
noon:
RIcHY0ND, November so, 1855
J. l.. Glcayes, Commouwealth's Attorney,
Wytheyllle. Va:
II any officers have voluntarily or negli-
gently suffered prisoners 10 escape they must
not he allowed 10 escape the law IN turn
violated by them. | again remind you, too,
that every effort must be made TO arrest and
send to the pententiary the persons pariici-
pa,ing in the rescue Of Sutton. II statement
is true that they came by rail to a point near
Wytheyiile, ascertain where they got on tram
and il they compelled train 10 stop and put
them of. In that case why did not railroad
authorities report the matter at Wytheyille
station! ElTZHUGH LEE, Governor.
THE PETITIONS TO THE GOVERNOR.
In what was said in the Dispatch yesterday
morning Governor Lee did not intend to
convey the idea that the petitions sent 10 him
Oh behalf Of sutton were signed eIcluSiuely
bv ministers 0i the Gospel snd ladies. be-
cause one Of them contained q long list Of
names Of other citizens OF that county, but
this petition, as well a. the others signed by
the ladies', did not request the Governor 10
purd0p the prisoner; they only asked the
Governor 10 commute his sentence 70 I'M
prisonmeut for life.
"The first application" sald the Governor
YESTERDAY, "that had for respite was made
by Or. Buchanan. or, rather, by gentleman
With whom the Doctor came 10 the apitol.
and that was on the morning of the 2Sth, and
at . O'Clock on the morning Of The 18th the
prisoner had made his escape. Another ap-
plcauon for thirty days respite reached
me by telegraph on the morning the prisoner
ESCAPED. This came from number OF cin-
zens Of Marion. Smythe county,"
win regard 10 crimes committed IN