Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01
LYNCHED AND SHOT.
Summary Vengeance of a Mob
on q Colored Prisoner
il Nashville Jail.
A8ATTLE FOR THE VICTIM
In Which at Least Two White Men
Received Fatal Wounds.
A BRIDGE USED AS A GALLONS,
And the Swaying Body Riddled With
Eullets From Winchesters.
4 BATTLE FOR THE VICTIM
A BRIDGE USED AS A GALL0WS,
THE MAN SENT TO JOIN HIS BROTHER

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsrATcH1
NASHVILLE, April 30.-The attempted
lynching of Eph Grizzard, colored, last
night bv citizens, which was prevented by
the bravery of the officers in charge of the
Jail, eliminated this afternoon in success
full CARRYING out of the original purpose, and
the negro was hanged from the bridge over
The Cumberland river. Not content with
hanging him, the vigilantes riddled the
body with bullets as it dangled at the end
OF rope.
Realizing the futility of further effort to
I get at the prisoner this morning the mob
\ dispersed about o'clock, vowing to return
again with reinforcements. In the fusilade
which was exchanged between the barri-
caded officers and the mob last night it has
developed that two of the latter were NOR
tally wounded. They were Allen B. Guthrie
and Charles Rear, two young men of this
place, and both are nov lying at the point
of death in the City Hospital. Guthrie is
shot through the left lung. while Rear is
suffering from wound in the abdomen.
A Determined Attack on the Jail.
After being repulsed last night TIE mob
returned with reinforcements and made
another assault upon the Jail. Chief of
Police Clack had turned in the ri OF alarm
in the meantime, and had the entire police
on hand to resist the attack, which gave
every indication of being a bloody one
After repeated and unsuccessful efforts to
effect an entrance, the mob commenced
firing, which was promptly returned by the
officers, with the above results.
The sight OF blood seemed to have a de-
moralizing effect upon the mob, and there
was a cessation of further hostilities. Taking
advantage of this opportunity to address the
mob, Governor John p. Buchanan spoke to
them and promised tina; Grizzard should
have q speedy trial, and if found guilty,
would he punished to the full extent of the
law, which is death. The Governor assured
the mob that continuation of the attack
would result in bloodshed and pleaded
with them 10 alloS the law to take its
course. The mob finally agreed to disperse,
provided the men arrested in thu former at
tack were released. This was readily done,
md the mob disbanded.
No: 10 BE Fooled a Second Time,
The dawn, however, brought news OF the
organization of another and stronger mob.
ard the city has been in high state of ex-
element Throughout the dav the streets
in the vicinity of the Jail have been iammed
with people, and the arrival Of the mob was
expected at any hour In anticipation of a
recurrence of last nights scenes, Governor
Buchanan issued the following proclama-
ton:
EXECUTIVE MANSION
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
NASHVILLE, April 80, 1892
To All I.aw-Abiding Citizens:
TIL" effort last night to force the iail OF
Davidson county has brought upon thi- com
mun1ty a sad state OF affairs. While the
crime committed by the prisoner is the
blackeSj known in the calendar of crimes |
trust wise counsel will prevail to let the law
deal out just punishment to the fiend.
pledge my countrymen that every effort in
mT power shall be used to bring the guilty
ones to speedy Justice will leave nothing
undone 10 have the law executed. Trust me
and await my action.
Jo.-N P. BUCHANAN, Governor
At 1e o'clock to-day tn. crowds around
the Jail began to grow denser, and the
threatene! attack was feared al any mo-
ment Grizzard was attired in dress.
preparatory to being spirited awav to
place of safety. Before this ATTEMPT at es-
cane conld be executed the long-expected
assault occurred. The mob was much more
orderly and better organized than on the
previous night and everything was con-
Quoted in a business-like manner
The Keys Demanded and Secured
a committee of three was appointed to
wait upon Jaiier James Willis and demand
the keys. Seeing the utter uselessness of
further resistance the iailer yielded up the
KEYS Meanwhile. the men on the outside
had crowded up to the Jail, and at intervals
during the wait OF ten minutes, shouts arose
T. cheer on those who had gone within.
Thousands of spectators crowded to suffoca.
tion every avenue leading toward the iail,
but they kept a a respectful distance from
the mob of about 900 men which crowded
up against the hung onto the iron bars in
front OF the Jail
Then the committee of three appeare6.
and between them was the black head of
Eph Grizzard. Not shot had been fired.
and no sound save inteyr"ittenl cheering had
been made, but at tie sight of the black
fend, mob and spectators alike cheered
until the sound must have been head in all
Parts of The city.
A wild rush was then made for the
square, those about the prisoner slap
ping his head with open palms, and
Eph CRYING Quit hitting, and I'll 60"
From the square the mob turned into the
bridge. From the time the negro was first
brought from the Jail until he was hanged
the cheering never ceased.
Dropped From a Big Bridge.
The point where the drop was made is a
little less than half way across the bridge.
on the down-river side A hemp rone
three-quarters of an inch thick was quickly
twisted into a hangman's knot and ierked
about the negro's head. The other end was
ten tied. Several knives were plunged
into the negro's head, and Eph Grizzard was
thrown into space. The drop was is feet,
but the neck seemed not to have been
broken, as the negro's hands clutched the
uHderbrace, but no sooner was this noticed
" the hundreds of heads leaning over the
railing, than those on the bridge having
\ nchester rifles began firing into the body
iy leaning far out over the water Even in
iHIs the mob was deliberate, as not q shot
was fired until fisherman on the river bank
was warned to get out Of the way.
The body was cut down at o'clock. and
a. inquest was held by Deputy Coroner M.
; Combs, the jury rendering a verdict that
G'izzard came to his death from strangula-
t'h ana gunsh0L wounds at the hands of
parties unknown to the iurv After the in
quest the body was placed in a pine coffin
al again turned over to the mob, who
placed 1t aboard train and carried it back
to Goodlettsville.
Loud Cheers Along the Line.
Large crowds met the train at stations
along the railroad, and cheered the train as
j passed After being exhibited at Good
Ietts'lIle the body was turned over to an
undertaken.
The crime for which Grizzard met such an
"Ni"I Ia'r was one OF the most revolting
TTreT committed in this section. Last
~ e,'Hes"al night Eph and Henry Grizzard |
''nNe iht" The house of Mrs. Lee Bruce, a !
'iI2ate Keeper halfmile east of Good |
4 vol r4o Al.