The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-20

The grand jury summoned to investi
gate the lynching of Will Lavender
has failed to find any indictments.
1t was in session nearly all day on
Thursday, and up until 1870 o'clock yes
terday afternoon. Twenty-Five or more
witnesses were examined, and the
report of the jurors shows that only
two acknowledged to being present.
Toward noon it became evident that
the lynching case had been disposed of,
for several witnesses were called to
testify against Mary Boiling, better
known as Little Mary" for perjury in
the jeff Dooley case. When the grand
jury reported at 1870 o'clock it prese tied
an Indictment against this woman
Then Foreman Turner handed Judge
Robertson paper, which he examined
and passed over to Clerk Brooke. There
were but five spectators in tho court
room at the time, it being the general
Impression that the grand Jury had ad-
lourned for dinner. Those who we're
present settled themselves to hear tho
report, which is as follows:
ITO the Honorable William Gordon Rob-
ertson, Judge of tho Hastings Court
of the City of Roanoke:
Your grand jury, after receiving the
very earnest and impressive charge of
your honor to make diligent inquiries
concerning the numbering OF one Will
liam Lavender by lynching in this CITY
on the morning of the 18th instant, pro-
ceeded with their inquiry, and after
examining more than twenty-five wit
nesses. have been Utterly unable to
ascertain the name of single one of
the mob who was guilty of tho felony,
that your grand Jury can 50 connect
with the preparation thereof, as to
charge him by Indictment with its COM
mission.
sit is true that two of the witnesses
Acknowledged that they were present
on the occasion of the lamentablo &C.
currence, but both claimed that thev
were innocent of any responsible con-
nection Herewith, and were there only
to gather news as the Representatives Of
newspapers of This city, and no other
witnesses examined satisfied your grand
jury that these parties acted with the
mob In tne violation Of the law. and
these parties themselves testified that
they did not recognize any of the par
ties present on account of the DISCUSSES
ana the prevalence of snowstorm at
the time.
"All of tho other witnesses disclaimed
having any c6nnect ton with the mob, or
OF knowing any person that did have
such connection.
I'm view of these facts, your grand
Jury have been unable to indict any one
for this fragrant and outrageous viola
ton of the laws of the commonwealth,
but your grand jurors do not wish it
understood that they, either as grand
jurors or as individuals or as citizens OF
Roanoke and this commonwealth, hav We
any sympathy for, or tolerance of, such
conduct on the part of tho persons
engaged in the mob, that has brought
disgrace upon tho name of our fair
young city and our beloved State.
Your grand jury exceedingly regrets
that we have not been able TO fasten
the guilt Upon the proper parties. G.
a. Turner, foreman Samuel Kinnier,
Richard l.. Layne. Thomas Engleby, A.
j. Haislip, E. w. Donnelly, h. IL. Cot
trell. K. w. Johns
Judge r obertson thanked the jurors
for their careful consideration of tho
matter anu said that he knew when it
was first presented that it would be
difficult to secure any inform alton, but
was sure they had done thoir duty, and
1t would notgo to the world that tho best
people would sanction such conduct.
Tho judge concluded his remarks with
the following sentence: "Gentlemen, you
are discharged"