Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-15
THEY HANGED HIM.
THE WORK OF LYxcHERs ON THE EAST
ERy SHORE.
Msgruder Fletcher Pays the Penalty Of q
Most 0utraE Eeous Crims-Qaick
Work.
rspecial ,elerran 70 the pI,patch.I /

OyAScocK, Va, via TAsLEY, Va, March
f4.-Masruder Fletcher. the negro who last
SUNDAY night criminally assaulted Mrs.
Mary z. McCresdy. q highy-respectcd lady
In the northern part OF Accouisck county,
was taken from the county jail last night
and hanged by band OF masked men. Ever
since the crime was committed there have
been rumors Of lynching in the air. but %
two nights had passed since the commission
OF the crime without any demonstration II
was believed the plan had been abandoned.
Last night between and O'Clock a band OF
100 masked men fled into the village OF
Accomack Courthouse, and proceeding 10
the home OF Jsiler samuel Mebon demsnded
the KEYS to tue jail. The demand was re-
fused. whereupon they threatened to burn
the jailer's house. tear down the wall around
the jail. and break open the doors. Deputy
sheriff Mebon, hearing what was going on,
proceeded to the jsier's house, where he
found the men furious aud deierIoined 10
carry out their purpose of lynehing The
negro.
ALL ARMED.
They were all armed and some OF them
were nourishiug their pistols in the air. The
deputy sheriff was seized, aud some OF the
men entering the house 0yerpOwered the
taller and forced him To surrender the Seys.
They then proceeded to the jail, took the
negro from his cell. and placing him In cart
moved rapidly out Of the village In a norther-
ly direction. When about one mile away
they halted and took the negro out OF the
cart emasculated him. and then suspended
him from the limb OF pine tree. where be
was allowed TO hang until he was dead.
They then fred a number Of bullets into his
body and rode away. The body was Iound
hanging by the roadside early this morning
with a note pinned to 1t bearing the follow
ing legend.
We Will protect our mothers, our wives
and sisters, aud our daughters.
COMMITTEE"
The place where the negro was hung Il IN
| the midst OF pine forest near Taylors
branch. Hundreds OF people visited the
scene Of the hanging to-day and many car
red away branches oi the tree on which the
negro paid the penalty Of his terrible crime.
All the men were heavily masked and none
| OF their names are known 10 the officers.
! Captain McCready who was on the western
shore Of the Chesapeake " hen hIs wife was
assaulted, returned home yesterd.y.
The lynchers were all on foot when
they came into the village, having
left their horses aud vehicles IN the
woods near hy. While he WAS being taken
from the Jail the negro did not utter word,
nor is il known that he said anything alter
wards. His crime was one Of the most out
rageous and revolving ever committed here
| and public opinion sustains the lynchers
There was not a shadow OF doubt ss To his
guilt and his own confession would have
convicted bin. The verdict Of the coroner
Jury that viewed the body this afternoon wal
that Magruder Fletcher came to his death BY
| 49, Ia oI nntnARn n
the jury. There will be no further iega
proceedings in the case.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
fBy Associated Pressl
| baltimore, MD, Nsrch IA Taslel
(Vsl special says: The negro Magrude
Fletcher, who crlminally assaulted Mrs
Obediah McCready several days ago, wa
lynched about O'Clock this morning by
parry OF about seventy.hVe meu. Jaile
samuel MelsoD was aroused about o'clocl
bv party OF masked men, who demanded
the keys Of the jail. Metson refused to Civ
them up. lie w,s told that II he did not hi
house would be burned. but be stlll refused
Deputy-sherln benjamin. J.. Netson, VIII
had been aroused by the commotion, cam
10 the scene and told the jaiIer he had bette
band over the Keys, which he did. IN
| lfntlfTN Mtnl kfAut tflAOi 4 t'eNhti aAA w
him ne was waDted. lie was at once release
and was carried out. He made no demu
whatever. The doors OF The jail wer
fastened by the lynchers aud The Key
: turned over to the iailer. The negro wa
then hurried or and hing 10 tb
limb OF u pine-tree on the edge OF the roa
about one and a hail miles from here. II
was cut down at about 3 O'Clock by Masl'
trate Higgins and a coroner's inquest wa
held. A verdict was rendered that Fletche
came to his death by oeing straDgled an
shot by persons unknown TO the jury
Fletcher had four bnllet-hoies in his body
His neck was not broken. He was al'
sbockingy mutllaied. II Is supposed th'
this was done prior 70 hanging. Fletehe
was q stout man OF about twenty-five yeai
Of age and was very black. The public al
proves the lynching. Mrs. McCready
, husband came home yesterday. The lady
, IN very precarious condition and is almo'
p crazed.
. u IS reported here that great indignatio
ia felt ags,u.t G.. Jefferson Adlir, who she
p. b. Smith in Northampton county, an
that lynching is feared. Adair refuses
talk. Itl thought that be will be remove
J from Eastville to Accomack Courthouse an
that he will be tried IN the Accomack CouI
ty Court.