Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-08
TO AVERT LYNCHING.
JESSE MITCHELL BROUGHT HERE BE-
CAUSE HIS LIFE WAS THREATENED.
Friends Of tho Assaulted Lady Wanted to
swing Him Up and Judge Farrar
Ordered Ills Removal.

Jesse Mitchell. rather respectable
looking negro abort twenty-one years of
age. was brought to Richmond yesterday
BY Sheriff Jeter, of Amelia county, and
lodged in the city Jail for safe-keeping.
Mitchell has only been prisoner three
days. He was arrested Wednesday on the
charge of having committed a heinous
crime one week before, IN which his VIC
tim was popular young lady.
Soon after ho was taken in custody there
arose whispers of violence and the feeling
| against him has been steadily on the in
crease since.
The excitement in the neighborhood Of
| the occurrence has been subdued. but now
| and then there were hints that the prison.
er might have bis earthly existence sud-
denly terminated. There was rumor cur
| rent yesterday about the Courthouse that
Mitchell, If left in the Amelia Jail last
| night, would be taken out before morning
| and hung.
HIS REMOVAL ORDERED.
These reports reached the ear of the
Sheriff and he Immediately reported the
matter TO Judge Farrar, of the County
Court. who issued the following paper
ordering the prisoners removal
II, r. X. Farrar, judge of Amelia County
Court, being informed by the jai}er of said
county that Jesse Mitchell, now confined
| In the Jail of said county on the charge OF
assault upon Jane Thraves. is in danger OF
| being lvnched, and for that reason it IS
proper that lie should be removed, l do
| hereby adopt the jail of the city OF Rich
| mond. and do Lereby order the said Sheriff
| or Jailer of Amelia county TO immediately
| convey the said Jesse Mitchell to the jail
| Of the city of Richmond. and l command
10 fo,l Af st.n cftU ~
| to receive the prisoner and safely keep him
until he is called for by the Sheriff of
| Amelia county"
MITcBFLL's CRIME.
The crime for which Mitchell was ar
| rested was that of an assault upon white
| girl about sixteen years old, which oc-
| Cured Wednesday. July goth. The fact OF
| the assault was not made known until
| Wednesday last. when the negro was ar
rested and lodged in jail. The affair
created great excitement in the vicinity OF
| Amelia Courthouse. and friends of the girl
were on the q,a uire for speedy Justice.
The negro asserted his innocence as soon
as questioned. and has maintained ever
since that he has done no wrong, and that
| the charge is a false one.
ATALK WITH THE PRISONER.
| The accused is Of dark gingerbread
| color. and beyond his wearing apparel is
| of very pleasing appearance. When
| DIsPAToH reporter called az his cell yester-
| day lie was courteous and prompt IN
! answering questions, and though llliterate
| he spoke intelligibly and to the point
| without attempt at evasion. He stoutly
protested his innocence here, and said a
woman whom he had promised to marry
| had gotten him into the trouble. He said
! she was the person TO start the report, ana
her reason for so doing was jealousy, as he
was shortly to marry another woman.
WAS 'FRAID OF BEING LYNcHED.
"Were you afraid of being lynched!'
asked the DISPATCH man.
"Yes. sir was the reply: an tell yer
| | didn't feel like dangling Onter de end of
er rope at daylight in de mornin'. jest
| got arter Sheriff Jater to perfect me from
| de mobbers."
| la his cell he was cheerful, and asked
many questions about matters pertaining
| TO his case. He especially wanted to know
whether he would be taken back to Amelia
| county or not and assumed a sadder ex-
preston when informed that he would
| have to return there for trial.
He will probably be taken back during
| the August term of the Amelia County
Court,