Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-05-10
THAT LYNCHING PARTY.
A Colored Man Joins Il, but Is Brutal
ly FlOgged for ndiscretiOn-NO Ar
rests Made-As II is In Virginia.

BoYDToN, Va, May z, '9O.-About
two weeks ago mention was made in
your columns of John Phillips who
killed Capt OVERLY in self-defense. 1t
seems that Phillips was going
through Overby's plantation singing
ON his way to his (Phlllips) House;
for he was one of Overby's tenants.
OVERLY met him and ordered
him to stop. Some words ensued
and OVERLY picked up a wagon
tongue and struck Phillips twice.
At the second stroke the tongue slip
ped out of Overby's hand, and Phil
lips picking it up gave OVERLY a blow
In return from the effects of which he
died shortly afterwards. The news
spread like wiId-fire and an attempt
was made to lynch Phillips but he
was brought safely to Boydton
Jail.
A lynching party was organized
over on Buffalo where the trouble
took place. in this party was a col
ored man named John Beary, a life
long Democrat, who made it his bus
mess to attend all political meetings
OF his race and report their doings
to white Democrats. Often grossly
disappearing the facts. In short
he was a Democratic spy. Beard
came over during the day presuma-
bly, to look over the ground, and re-
port TO his white conferees how mat
tiers stood. While over here Beard
imbibed some forty rod whiskey, I"
and as a natural consequence became
communicative. His remarks were
overheard by some of the colored cit
liens who went TO the county author
titles, told them what Beard had said
and requested that the prisoner be
removed to place of safety, which
was done about dark. The County
authorities it must be said acted
with cOmmendable promptness.
That very night the lynching
party came, confident of their victim
but found him not. Their rage and
disappointment knew no bonds when
they found out that their purpose
was known, and their destined prey;
as they thought, removed to a place
OF security, and when they learned
that it was through Boards indis-
greatness, they swore that they
would wreak their vengeance upon
him. So last Thursday night (May
1stl SO of them disguised as "white
caps " went TO Boards house over on
Buffalo where he lived, and demand
ed an entrance. On being refused
they battered in the door with axes.
took Beard out to the edge of the
wood and brutally fogged him, iacer
ating his back, neck and shoulders
IN a horrible manner, in fact nearly
killed him, at the same time mall
treating his wife in such cruel man
ner that she died Saturday morning
The day before her death FRIDAY
Beard came to Boydton, showed his
wounds, and reported the matter to
the proper authorities. In connec-
ton with this it may be said that
the commemorative attorney is a
white Republican placed in office
largely by Negro votes who remark
ed when Beard told his story to him;
served You just right, had no bust
ness with the lynching party"
Beard swore that he recognized the
men and was fully able to identify
every one of them. As vet no stepe
have been taken in the matter so il
remains to be seen what course the
county authorities will pursue. For
got to mention that Boards assail-
ants gave him ten days to leave the
the county.
Yours,