Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-12-21
LYNCHERS REPULSED.
A Deadly VOlley Poured Into a
Birmingham Gala Mob.
The Jail Entrance Blocked With
Killed and Mortally Wounded.

during the night, caused by effort on the
part of 2OOO men to reach the county jail for
the purpose of lynching r. r Halves,
charged with numbering his wife and daugh-
ter.
The circumstances which led up to the
bloody fight can be briefly recounted The
body Of an unknown young girl was found
in suburban lake, called Lake View. There
were no marks of violence, and it was decided
that the girl had been chlOroformed and
thrown IN the lake. In the evening
several parties identified the body as
that OF a daughter Of railroad en-
gineer named dick" Halves, who
lived in the suburbs OF the city with a wife
and seven children. Officers went to the
house, but found it closed, and were unable
TO ind any trace of the mother of the dead
girl or any of ner family. That same night
Halves married Miss Stovey in Columbus,
Miss, and the next day, he was arrested for
murder. The search for the rest of
the family thy H WAS kept Mp and a.v at
was found in the bottom of the lake. The
back of the womans head had been laid
open by terrible blow with an ak. There
was a frightful gaping wound from which
the brains of the woman had flowed out with
her life blood. Securely fastened around
the woman's neck was q piece of railroad
iron which would weigh fifty pounds. An
other piece was tied around her waist, and a
third piece around her ankles.
Early in the evening the Sheriff was told
that a mob was forming, and he accordingly
prepared for it. He swore in 300 special Off
GERS and distributed them about the Jail He
had secured a supply of rifles previously,
and issued them, with six rounds Of cart
ridges each, to the specials.
The mob debated long and talked excitedly
before the attack was made. A peremptOry
demand was made on Sheriff Smith for the
surrender OF his prisoner and was ignored.
A few laws abiding citizens urged the mob to
allow the law to take its own course in deal
were UNDECIDED. Colonel Throczmorton,
postmaster, jumped on barrel standing on
the curb and addressed the mob. He coun-
seled peace and advised the men to disperse.
w hen the jail was reached there were not
less than 5000 in the uncomfortable mob. 1t
lacked a leader, however, and each man
seemed impressed by his own desire for re-
venge
The outer door of the Jail, facing the new
Court House, was open, and on the narrow
platform and stone steps leading to the
door were gathered a dozen deter
mined men under the lead of Chief
Pickard and Sheriff Smith, all armed with
Winchester rifles and with many rounds of
cartridges. All were disciplined to the last
degree, and all the instructions were issued
to shoot directly into the crowd the moment
they appeared. ''Shoot directly into the
crowd" were the instructions issued by
Sheriff Smith
At eleven o'clock the shouts of the ap-
preaching crowd could be plainly heard. The
shouts grew closer and louder still, and the
officers on the inside fingered their guns. and
began making preparations for the assault.
A mass of men appeared in the entrance to
the alley, and in loud voice Sheriff Smith
ordered them out at the peril of their
lives 1t was very dark and impos-
sible to distinguish the exact place
the men at the entrance to the alley were To-
Gated. Some we're evidently on the opposite
side of the street Again the mass of men
appeared in the entrance to the alley,
Il am going to shoot at three" called out
the Sheriff. "One-two-three," but neither
the Sheriff nor his men fired.
II will fire at five" again announced the
Sheriff, who was very much excited.
The officers could see the forms Of the men
creeping up the alleyway toward the Jail.
Again the sharp voice of the Sheriff called
out lone, "Two," ETC. and when five had
been reached he called out ''Firer' A perfect
fusillade followed, and when the smoke
cleared away the alley leading to the jail
door was blocked with dead and wounded
men. The crowd scattered in every
direction, and no further attempt was made
to reach the jail. Three men were killed
instantly, seven mortally wounded, of whom
six have since died, and about thirty
Among the killed were the following prom
inent citizens: NJ. B. Throckmorton, age
thirty, postmaster, and popular citizen. He
leaves wife and one child When he was
shot he was endeavoring to persuade the mob
to disperse. j. R. Mccoy fell dead at the first
volley. A. B. Tarrant was shot in the back.
After the first volley he lay down
ging the bu1 s6ound to BALI avoid howe4 ths
struck him as he lay on his face and after
a few minutes suffering the young man
died. A. d. Bryant was shot through the
heart while doing his best to restrain the
crowd from going nearer the Jail He died
instantly. c. G.. Tate, mechanic, was shot
through the hip, thigh and loin. He was
about forty-five wears old, and had family,
and Lawrence Fitzhugh, aged thirty, a civil
engineer
At the drug stores, physicians Offices and
at the hospital and undertaking rooms
heartrending scenes were witnessed.
Strong men in the agonies of death
groaned aloud while skilful physicians
did all that could be done to relieve
their sufferings Men who had just been
aroused from sleep by the noise of the terri |
bic affair crowded around the operating |
chairs, searching for friends or relatives |
Nearly all the physicians in the city were |
summoned to attend the wounded.
The mob dispersed after the fatal assault, |
and preparations for more strongly guarding |
the Jail were made
In response to the Governors orders |
the military companies were placed under
the control of the Sheriff In addition to
the military, 100 armed policemen formed |
a Gordon, through which it would be almost |
impossible to pass.
During the day warrant was issued for
the arrest of Sheriff Smith charging him
with murder and he will remain in Jail I'M
til bailed. The feeling against him is so in
tense he probably will not procure bail for
few days. Warrants are out for sixteen of
the mob