Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-01-04

10rkville for the brutal murder OF a
little boy who caught them stealing. but
they belonged to and organized gang
whose mem ers were sworn TO kill who
soever caught them stealing. aud they
were believed 10 have committed sew
eral murders previously. Their co.,
vlction was uncertain and the people
took the law into their own hands. but
the wholesale lynching OF this morning
Is without parallel In the records OF
cri .nes In this state and there was less
grounds for the act than probably any
lynching before. 1t Is doubtful II the
country can show q like record. These
eight colored men were charged with
committing aud being accessory TO sew
eral murders.
There was not q rumor In the town
OF Barnwell last night that violence was
contemplated. Had there been a whis-
per of il the Jail would have been gua' d.
ed by troops. AS it was the town, to-
gether with the doomed prisoners and
the jailer, WIS sleeping At o'clock
this morning the jsiler was called by
some men on the outside of the Jail en-
closure. He wss informed that q con
stable had arrested the murderer OF
mes z. Brown, y prominent citizen,
killed last week by a colored man, and
that he wished to lock him up.
THE JAILER ovERPowERRD.
Suspecting nothing the isiler came
down and opened the heavy gate He
was immediately seized by dozen
men, overpowered. uHarmed and told
to keep quiet or he would suffer for any
alarm made. The keys were taken
from him and fifty men entered the
jail and they took out the follow
prisoners: Ripley johnson. and Mlel
Adams, the principal and chirf a
sorry tn the murder Of J. Better
Ia October last, aud Peter Bell
A0rrsfi, hugh Furse, HndkoD johnson.
Robert Phoenix, and Judge zones, the
ak colored men charged with the assas
sination Of Robert Martin, on Saturday
night.
The prisoners were marched to the
outskirts OF the town and In a few min
utes each man was bound to a tree
Two hundred men then formed. a line
a short distance from them and poured
volley after volley into the bodies %
the colored men.
FEARS OF AN UPRISING.
When day broke over tie town Of
Barnwell this morning CHASTITY sight
presented itself to the inhabitants.
Eight black bodies, riddled with but
let's, lay stiff In death on the outskirts
| OF the town. The discovery was made
by colored cook coming into town
| for her mornings work. The news
| spread like wildfire, aud soon after the
| sun began to peep above the Eastern
horizon great crowds of excited negroes
were seen coming FROM all direcl ions
| to the scene of death. As the whites
arose they csme acquainted with the
horrible news and they too r. panied to
| the spot of execution. The colored
people were sullen and there was much
secret talk and consultation am ing
them. They would not mingie with
the whites.
Many of the white people began to
| fear danger. After a hurried consulta
ton It was decided TO call upon the
| Governor for troops to preserve the
peace. A telegram was sent 10 Gov
ernor Richardson who promptly replied
/ that the troops would be sent by the
next train. A company of calvary and
| company of infantry arrived this after
noon. II is thought that the presence
of troops will keep down any further
| GU; break
a bad state Of feeling has existed in
BarnwelI County for several months
past. IL has large colored population
aud at one time was stronghold of
| Ae00A~oA ICAtetCt"AAci Jul hS@tAJ ~ va VIC
old leaders have left. There has been
no rupIure between races since the
exciting campaign OF 1875 until this
fall.
The firing was the first intimation
many of the people of the town had Of
the trouble. It seemed to them as il
the Negroes would rise up aud revenge
the iynching. In response TO a request
the Governor ordered company OF
infantry and one OF calvary 10 prepare
for service. The whites are armed and
pretty we'll organized tonight. The
town is reasonably quiet. Ripley Johr
son, and Adams will be buried by rels
sives. The other six murdered mer
will be buried by the town.-Phila
Press.