Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-09
THEY HANGED HIM.
CITIZENS OF SorrowAy TAKE THE LAW
IsTo TREIR own HANDS,
And Lynch the Negro Fisnd FORBES In tbs
Jail-Yard "A Determined
Crowd.
,corrcrpou,,epce o. The richmond pispateh.i

fCmrerpopdence Of the Richmond Dspatthl
P.TERuUBG. Va, June 5. 1883.
John FoFtes, q negro. AGED about twenty
one wears, was lynched this morning NJ Not
toway Courthouse. About two weeks ago
Forbes and another negro named DAVIS
were brought In haste 10 this city and
placed IN the jall here for satekecping.
They had been arrested on the 18th OF May
for burglary committed St Crewe, and the
former bad bees subsequently, idenlihed by
Mr.. james Moran. railroad contractor
living ri CreNe. IS the man who hSd entered
bis house on the night Of MAY 10Th and al
tempted criminal assault upon his WE.
When aNSkrned by the presence OF the
VILLAIN Nj. MorSn, It is SaIG. SAW HIM ~ ne
ran from the house snd was enabled TO
identify Forbes alter the lattcr'S arrest. The
matter was kept very quiet for some
time. but when ii became known that
Forbes had beer recognized az the
lady's asSsllant indignation against him
knew no bounds, and II was understood
that party of determined men was or
eanized 10 visit summary punishment upon
him for his crime. The authorities OF the
county got wind OF this and hurried the two
prisoners oy the first trsin 10 this city. But
for this timely precauiion II Is believed that
Forbes and probably Davis would haye been
urompuv lyylched by the indignant people.
The burglary charges against the two negroes
was thai OF breaking into the drugstore OF
Or. j. W. Brya ant and stealing SO. FORBES
never denied this charge, and declared that
Davis was accessory 10 IL. But he had always
denied the charge Of assault alleged against
him. His denial, however, was believed to
be fsse
IL PEAR.
LAST Thursday morning the two men were
quietly taken from The jail in this city by the
sheriff Of holloway and taken up 10 the
.-ountv iail to stand trisl. Very few people
I'm the county knew anything OF their return
until they were placed Ia thejail, ana then,
of course, their presence became generally
known. Both men dreaded going back, Tor
they stood IN fear OF their lives after having
previously made such narrow escape. II
iarns out that their fears were not I'M
founded.
According TO reports received in this city
A band Of srmed sDd masked men surround
ed the county Jail this morning about l
O'Clock. They were about fifty IN number
sheriff Beverly was awakened, and when he
opened the jaiidOOr De was confronted with
a spectacle he had not anticipated. de-
IuaDd WAS made upon him Tor the KEYS.
THIS be refused, when be vas OveTpoWered
and the keys taken by force, despite bis
vigorous Teslstance and protests.
SOON TOLD.
The remainder OF the story IS soon told.
The kuching party entered the building and
went 60 the cell IN which the two negroes
were confined. What passed there u not
known. but Forbes was subsequently, found
hanging 10 a tree in the ward, his BODY
pierepd by many bullets. Whether ne as
serted MS innocence and cried for mercy or
whether he confessed his guilt cannot be
told here. Eighteen or twenty p'stolshots
were fred into The dangling body, ana OF
course life vas soon extinct.
Forbes wss a repulSiye- snd viainOus-
locking negro. lie Is reported to have re-
Gently come from the North, and had been IN
Crewe but few Gays beio,e his arrest. He
WAS positively Identified by the husband OF
the ladv whom he attempted 10 assault, snd
TIE evidence OF his guilt was very clear.
His companion Davis was lett undlSLurbed
IN the cell.