The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-21
CRIMES AND CRIMINALS.
a Small Mob Attacks Jail, and Take a Pr;s.
oner out and lynch Him.

PINCKNEYvILLE. H.. February 14.-TSpe-
cial. AT 3 O'Clock this morning the first
lynching that ever occurred in Perry county
took place. The victim was Alonzo Holly, a
negro, who was confined in the county Jail
upon the charge at ontraging a white woman,
between Dugoin and St. Johns. some time
last December. Sheriff Renwarden boards with
the jailer, JEFF King. and they were the only
men about the premises last night, except the
prisoner The first intimation they had of the
mob was about o'clock in the morning, when
knock was heard at the front door. Mr..
King answered the knock, but on opening the
door he slammed it shut, and went and ava
kened the sheriff. Mr., Renwarden opened
window, but was promptly covered with shot
guns. He explained to the crowd that ne
merely wanted to argue the matter with them.
After talking for some time, and failing to
convince them they ought to let the law take
its course with the negro, they be gan to batter
the door down.
The iailer, in the meantime had viewed the
situation from all the windows of the building
and found the house premises securely
guarded, so he concluded the best thing to do
was to save the door by unlocking it. Once
inside the building. the six men demanded the
keys to the cage in which the cells are located,
adding emphasis TO the demand by covering
the two men with four reyovers and two shot
guns The keys were delivered and the cage
quickly opened. One of the prisoners told the
mob in which cell the negro was to be found.
lie was dragged forth from under the bed,
where he had endeayorCd to hide, his hands
were tied behind him and an incn rope was
placed about his neck. lie was then led out.
He begged for two minutes i'll which to pray,
and that being refused, he asked one of the
prisoners John Eaton, who is awaiting trial
upon the same charge as that for which the
negro was hanged, to pray for him.
In going from the cell to the front door Of
the building he called on the jaiier for help,
but just at that time the iailer was busy look
ing into the business end of a shotgun. At the
door the negro pulled back and was ierked
forward upon his face, and in this position
dragged about fifty feet to large maple tree.
The rope was thrown over limb about eight
feet from the ground and the negro jerlled into
space The rope was then tied around the
tree and the mob dispersed though it is sup
posed some Of them stayed in the vicinity until
they were satisfied that life had left the negro.
Holly, in his death struggles, caused the
rope to slip several inches nearer the body of
the tree on the limb. and when found his toes
were touching the ground.
After the mob left the sheriff and jailer
started out to alarm the town, and they found
the negro within few feet OF the jail still
warm. The victim was cut down about five
O'Clock. II is supposed the mob came from
st. Johns but how none seem to know. They
were well drilled, and no one outside of the
jail knew they were here until after they left.
They departed in different directions.
An inquest was held today and verdict of
hanging by unknown parties was returned.
An attempt was made to hang Holly about one
month ago, but he was run off TO Rockville by
the officers. lie became 50 troublesome that
they refused to keep him there and last Satur-
day he was brought back here He had served
a term in the pententiary, aud was bad
negro generally. Heleaves white wife about
twice his own age.