Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-28
THEY SWUNG HIM.
A DETERMINED BAND OF HALIFAX
COUNTY LYEcHERs.
A Negro Pays the Penalty Of Attempting
Tiendish Crims-Quick
Work
Especial telegram 70 me Dispatch.l


-
Especial telegram 10 the Dispatch.l
sourn Bosfos, Va. July 27.-In the
ueighborhood Of Mesdsville, quiet little
village shout ten miles frod HALIFAX Court
house. lives the family OF DIR. X. Q. Dodd.
flc IL held in high esteem by his neighbors
and the community generally. Wednesday
night the 25th instant he was absent at
neighbours house. expecting to 90 to Char
Ioite next day. He leithls wife and children
at home. Mrs. Dodd retired early aud vas
aroused from her sleep about O'Clock by
the presence OF negro man In her bed
room. He had raised the window OF the
room and before she was awakened
was on her bed attempting the fendish
purpose that controlled him. An awful
struggle took place, the lady all the time
making heartrending screams for help. The
man, who worked for Mr. Dodd. occupied an
clubhouse on the lot. and with him that night
were his brother aud two other negroes. lie
left hIs companions in bis night-clothes, aud,
as stated, entered the room through the VIM
dow. Mrs. Dodd's struggles and screams
we're so prolonged aud desperate that her
asssilant finally became frightened and ran
out OF the front door OF the house, but came
around to Mrs. DOdd's window aud asked
men then came up.
TUT ARREST.
Yesterday morning negro named Bruce
Younger was arrested for the crime. lie was
fully identified by Mrs. Dodd, and was imme-
dislely brought to Halifax Courthoufe and
put in fail. Late yesterday evening 1t was ru-
mOred on the streets here and at HALIFAX
Courthouse that Younger would be lynehed
\ A
throughout the county.
The officials OF the county, OF courSe. heard
of the rumor and At once began TO consider
how TO prevent the proposed lyuching. They
were met by the troublesome fact that there
was no place the prisoner could he securely
confined in. and astheir every movement was
watched they feared 10 take the negro
from the Jail because he might he rescued by
his friends and a terrible ARRAY between
white and colored people be precipitated.
II was therefore deemed best 10 place
guard at the jail, but in this also great diff
Guilty was experienced.
WERE SCARCE.
All the young men Of the village were said
TO be at q dsnce ; at any rate none could be
found. Indeed, all the men OF the town
seemed 10 have vanished. Finally, however,
Sheriff Moore succeeded in pressing into
service SIX or seven gentlemen, who could
not escape him, aud they waited at the jail
for further Developments.
AT MIDNIGHT.
At about midnight a party Of horsemen
reached the jail. They At once demanded
the keys, which the sheriff refused Every
man OF the party seemed to have pistol In
his hand flashing and glttering in the moon.
light. The party then issued orders for the
in which the lall is situated, to
be cleared, which was speedily done, the
sheriff and bis squad being completely help
less and overpowered. The men went about
their work with great delibcratiop, for the
yard was picketed all around with guards,
while another force with pick broke open
the JAIL and commanded Younger 10 come
out.
PROTESTED INNOCENCE.
The man refused aud protested his inno-
cence again and again. Pistols were placed
al his breast and he then consented.
Younger, with q handkerchief tied over his
mouth, was finally brought out by his cap
tors, who at once proceeded down towards
Toot's creek, n few hundred yards from the
town. Reaching there they told the man
his last hour had come, and gave him five
minutes ia which TO pray. still protecting
bis innocence be knelt down upon the bank
OF the creek, and in the still, gbostly moon
light. the scene YVES one OF intense awe snd
soiemnity- the prisoner preparing to meet
his terrible death, his eXecutioners standing
around grim, silent, and determined.
When the doomed mau had finished bis
prayer q rope WAS placed around bis neck !
and he was led upon the loot-brfdge about |
twelve feet high) that spans the creek. He |
was told that he must die and was urged 10 |
confess his guilt.
CONFESSION.
At the last moment be did so, saying that |
he was The guilty man, and that Mrs. DOdd's |
statement (which ! have given above) was |
correct. lie said that while he bad
not ACCOMPLISHED the object OF his assault |
he bad eotered Mrs. Dodd's room with that
intention and had used every effort TO sue
coed, and was only prevented by her strug-
giles and screams a1d the fear that he would
be discovered.
DROPPED OFF.
Everything being ready he was dropped
from the bridge, but the fall being very
short one bis neck was not broken.
MANY SHOTS.
The party then fred their pistols at him at
short distance time and again, and the shots
rang sharp and clear upon the midnight air.
Younger's body hung from Pie bridge I'M
iii this morning, when it was cut down and
carried 10 the courthouse room, where your
correspondent saw il this morning.
The mans clothing was scorched sDd burned
IN several places from the fire OF the pistols,
md about twenty-five or thirty bullets took
fleet. His face was not dis6gured. This Is
he first lynching that ever occurred In this
county, and considering the circumstances II
Was the most quiet affair OF the kind recently
reported. Everybody, black as we'll as
white, seems to think that the wretch met
deserved fate, and some OF the severest de-
lunciatiOns OF him have heard have been
rom men Of bis own color.
LITTLE coNcEALHgNT.
The party who did the work were not
masked, Some slight attempts were made,
)ut were very feeble. Very little attempt |
mas made 10 conceal their features. 1t was
made up OF men from different parts OF the
,ounty, and there was an entire absence of
or passion.
The act was but the swift vengeance Of an
outraged people. They met about two miles
rom Halifax Courthouse and held full con-
iultation, and It was determined that il the
negro persisted In his Innocence TO the bitter
md that the rope would be cut and he would
be tsken back 10 jail. lie was only TO be
killed il he confessed.
Mrs Dodd, at the time OF the assault, was
Ia very delicate condition, aud was terri
bly, frightened and bruised and injured. At |
this writing IL is feared she may not survive
he shock. Indeed, it is reported that she
lied this morning.