Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-09-26
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
GIVEN AT THE
EXAMINATION.

Erwin Allison, w. H. Mayo, I.um
BOlch and Tom MCCOY Named
by the Jury as sAccessOriesB Before
the Fact-Tyler May Recover.
Coroner L. B. McBrayer and the jury
appointed by him to investigate the
lynching Of Hezekiah Rankin, colored,
near this city, on Thursday night, went
to Blair & McDowel's undertaking
rooms at o'clock yesterday afternoon
to examine the body.
A close search for wounds of any kind
was made, but with the exception of the
knife wound in the shoulder, spoken of
in THE CITIZEN yesterday, nothing was
found.
The inquest began in the court house
about 4:40 The room was crowded
with people some time before the exami-
nation of witnesses was taken up. A
considerable proportion of those present
were colored.
w. H. Mayo, T. NJ. Bumgarner, and
Erwin Allison, the men charged with
the completely in the lynching, sat with
their counsel Jones & Shutord, near the
clerks table.
The jury then was sworn in by the cor
oner, and the examination was begun
by Solicitor Eugene D. Carter.
virgil Friday's story.
Virgil Friday, colored. sworn: Live
near car shed, on Western North Caro-
lima railroad Know Rankin Up to
Thursday night, had not seen him for
several days. On that night, saw him
bound and with rope around his neck.
Allison and Mayo and a crowd of 25 or
80 had charge of him. Bumgarner came
| up later. Someone said, Hold on, let
see what Ed Bright says" They sat IN
the track little while and then got up
and went into the sand house. Directly
four or FIVE of them took Rankin out Of
sand house. Didn't know any of them
except Brooks Moore, who was follow
ing along some distance behind, with
what looked to me like a gun. Heard
Rankin begging the men not to kill him.
They cursed and told him they were 60
ing to swing him. Mr.. Lowe seemed to
advise them to turn the man over to the
sheriff. All this occurred between $50
and o'clock. A few Of the men had
| An, Pa, al
were holding the rope, at one time
but don't think Bumgarner had hold OF
it at all.
Witness was cross-examined by Jones
& Shuford but nothing new was brought
out.
Maria Fridays Statement.
Maria Friday, colored, next sworn:
Am wife of Virgil Friday. On Thursday
night near my house near railroad heard
Rankin begging for mercy. A crowd Of
six or seven went down the railroad with
Rankin. Mayo and Allison were behind
about so feet, and did not see them have
hold of rope. Saw Brooks Moore fol
low them down the track with gun
Knew none of the men except Allison and
Mayo.
On cross.examination the witness said
a colored man named Ben Barrett gave
Rankin the pistol with which he did he
shooting. She asked Rankin not to &c
back to the roundhouse, but he said ht
would go. Barrett did not tell him what
to do with the pistol.
MIR. loves Testimony.
W. V. Lowe, white, foreman of motor
power on the Ashevlle yard, was next
called: On Thursday night was al
round house and heard report of pistol
Shortly after Tyler came up to me ane
told me he was shot. Went upto board
ing house with him. After awhile heart
they had caught the man. Thirty min
utes later heard that they were bringing
him back. Then saw Rankin on th
track opposite the sand shed. Told tn
men it would be best to give the man VI
to the sheriff.
Mr.. Lowe at first could not remembe
the names of any ofthe men in the crowd
but finally said that among Others wer
E. s. Bright, w. H. Dicks and Allison
Mayo was on duty. Witness continued
Didn't remember seeing Bumgarner
Someone said they would wait until the
. found out that the man would die, bu
did not hear any one say Lynch HIM
Saw Rankin sitting on the track, hi
hands tied behind him and then fastene
to the rail. When saw Rankin advi:
ed men to take him away as the trai
was due soon and he would be killed
Was then taken up. Don't remembe
who stood around Rankin. A half-hou
afterward | saw Moore, Allison an
others, but they didn't know where Raj
kin was.
g. Here Solicitor Carter put direct que!
Z. tion to Mr.. Lowe, and asked for direc
answer. Said Mr.. Carter: There ha
never been a more outrageous murde
than this, and everything must be dor
to bring the guilty parties to justice; no'
, Mr.. Lowe, do you mean to say that yo
cannot remember those of your own me
who stood over the bound negro ?"
Mr.. Lowe said he did not remembe
because everything was so excited tbs
ne COulu uOl HOtSS SNSl lHiH6' lS L
membereG that he did not hear any OF
i say afterward what had become ,
Rankin.
Mr.. Lowe was cross-examined by M
Jones, and then recalled by Mr.. Carte
The solicitor asked MIR. Lowe about
conversation he was said to have ha
with Judge Carter and Locke Craig, es,
1t was said those gentlemen asked M
Lowe if Rankin had been taken dow
the road. INC" was the reply, "he wei
up the road" but they say he Wi
taken down the road" mo, bv
y Mr.Lowe said, ~ tell you he went up Il
road" Mr.. Lowe said he didn't remer
Der saying that.
N1CCOy's Part.
Calvin McCorkle, colored, next swor
v Was at round house and saw Rank
with Tom Mccoy hold of rope. Ro
was around Raukins neck. Saw Bul
garner and Mayo in the crowd.
v William Morgan, colored, had seen
L crowd around the round house, b
didn't know any OF the men.
Brooks Moore. white. sworn, lust