Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-24
THEY HANGED HIM.
HOW HALIFAX QUICKLY DISPOSED OF
A NEGRO FEED.
An Attempt at an Outrageous Crime Leads
the Citizens TO Take the Law lnto
Their Own Hands.
rspecIal ,elesram o the pIspatch.l

SoUTH BosToN, Va, April 23.-Tbe most
outrageous assault that has ever occurred IN
this county was made at Halifax Courthouse
yesterday afternoon about 3 O'Clock by
negro man named Scott Bailey upon the per-
son Of a popular aud most loTable Young
lady OF that town. The young lady II
member OF one OF the most highly respected
and prominent families OF Halifax. aud Is
esteemed and beloved by all. white and col.
ored. for her own worth and excellence. As
soon as the awful report gained pub
licity the large crowd In atteddanee
at court were shocked and maddened
beyond expression, and hundreds Of
men started of in hot pursuit OF the
guilty scOundrel. The assault was made IN
a secluded SPOT on the premises at the young
lady's residence, but the villains purpose
was unsuccessful aud was fooled by what
seemst to be almost providentia interp0sition.
In the terrible struggle that occurred, how.
ever, the young lady was cruelty cboked by
the ruflian and bruised ptifully about the
neck aud face. Indeed. her narrow escape
from actual murder was remarkable under
the circumstances. As soon as possible, Der
now frightened assslsnt having fed, she
went 10 the house, aud after IN
broken words telling her sister OF
the horrible ordeal through which she
had passed, fell speechicss and apparently
lieless upon the floor. Several coored peo-
pie had seen negro man dressed In gray
clothes running from the scene OK the as
ssult about the hour II occurred. a short
time afterwards Scott Bailey icol0red) APP
peared on the street dressed IN dark clothes
instead OF the gray suit be had on IN the
morning. Upon this suspicious act he WAS
arrested and brough. before magistrate.
His gray clothes were sent Tor. IL was
proved that be had worn them in the MORN
ing, and being aiterward dressed in them
was recognized and identified by James
Belts and Ike Terry Doth colored) as the
man they had seen running from The place
where the assault took plsce.
COULD GIVE No ACCOUNT.
Bailey was unable 10 give any account OF
himself or his Whereabouts at the time OF
the assault. Out Of tenderness towards The
young lady snd her family withhold her
name and omit msny of the narrowing and
distressing details OF this most horrible
affair particularly as to the proof OF
Bailey's guilt. These cannot properly be
given to the public, but hls guilt WAS fastened
and riyeted upon him by evidence the ex-
istenco OF which never occurred TO him. and
was brought TO light by circumstances OF
which he wss entirely ignorant until after
A POssE SUMMONED.
He was put in Jail 10 await a further eX-
animation this morning. Sheriff Moon
summoned posse 10 guard tho jail during
the night, but the now infuriated people
heard il murmured that the prisoner was TO
be taken out Of the county the next daY.
About O'Clock last nigbta large crowd OF
men came TO the jail and demanded sdm's-
sion. This was refused, and they proceeded
TO enter by force. A weltknOwn gentlemen
OF the Courthouse pleaded with the crowd
TO let the law take its course.
AvoLLEY OF PIsTOL.sHoTs.
Their reply was volley OF pistol-shots fired
in the air, and the crowd at once burst into
the Jail. The prisoner was brought out and
taken 10 the bridge across T0ots's creek.
Here about six months ago another negro
was lynched for the same crime for which
Bailey was TO suffer. Bailey was hanged and
bis body mutilated with bullets. HIS BODY
was cut down and brought 10 the court
house this morning, where an Inquest was
held, but no evidence was brought out upon
which any Of the lynchlng party could be
identified.
Scott Bailey was a worthless Young negro.
and bis bad ending had long ago been pro-
phesied by even his own family. His
father refused TO receive the body aud 1t was
buried at the c0unty's expense. Intense
excitement fully as great rs at the Court
house prevailed IN South Boston when the
news OF the assault reached this town, and
horsemen at once started from here 10 help
hunt for the man. Everything has now
quoted down. The colored people them
selves say that he deserved his late.