The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-22


Yesterday was the saddest day in
the history of Roanoke, day
fraught with many perils and exciting
scenes, which not even time itself can
efface from the memory of those who
passed through the awful scenes.
When the first bright and peaceful
rays Of the glorious autumn sun fell on
the quiet city, hushed in steep, yester-
day morning the mutilated body OF the
negro fend, Thomas Smith, was dangling
at the end of a hempen rope from the
hickory tree near the corner OF Frank
lin road and Ninth avenue n. w. silent
and alone.
Several parties would occasionally
visit the spot through curiosity and
relic hunters stripped branches from
the tree and almost Invested the upper
portion OF the negroes body of clothing,
carrying away small shreds as memer
toes Of the awful night and the tragic end
of the wretch ed cause of all the trouble.
AS was stated in THE TIMES yester-
day the lynchinR was done by body OF
about one dozen determined men, fol-.
lowed by the same number of boys and
other spectators. When the. moose was
adjusted around the neck of the con-
demned wretched he cried out. "Oh,
Lord, have mercy on me-" and was at
one strong pull of the rope launched
into eternity to stand at the Judgment
bsr CT bis God.
AS the morning advanced the number
of spectators who gathered on the spot
to witness the CHASTITY scene increased,
and by the time the coronor's jury ar
rived on the spot there had assem- bled
vast concourse of people.
DR.. Henry V. Gray, the coroner, early
in the morning summoned the following
jury to hold an Inquest over the re-
firm of Hughes &c Camp; o. Williams,
of E. y. Williams 81 Co., slate and tin
roof manufacturers; w. A. Banks, j. A
Curry, carpenter; w. II. Simmons and
E. w. Staples.
These gentlemen repaired to the fatal
spot, viewed the CHASTITY body of the
victims and made all possible inquiries
into the particulars of the matter.
Finding it impossible to obtain any
reliable information concerning the
perpetrators OF the lynching the Jury
returned the following verdict:
CoRoNER's INQUEST.
"An inquest taken at and near the
corner OF Franklin road and Ninth ave.
nue. southwest, in the city of Roanoke,
county Of Roanoke, State OF Virginia,
on the 21st day of September, 1893, be.
fore Henry v. Gray, coroner of said
city, upon the view of the body of
Thomas Smith, there lying dead, the
by what means the said Thomas Smith
came to his death, upon their oaths do
say that the aforesaid Smith came to his
death on the night of September 81,
1893, between the hours of IL and
o'clock a. M, by being hung by the neck
to a tree until he was dead and by per.
sons unknown to this jury"
Throughout the morning the excite
ment dio not subside in the least but
grew moro intense, and the leaders of
the mob in a frenzy of excitement
would not hearken to the appeals of
reason that came from cooler heads.
One fortunate thing was that no one
was under the influence of Intoxicating
liquors. EARLY on the night of the ter
rible tragedy all the saloons in the city,
with one or two exceptions, closed up
their places of business and refused to
sell any more whiskey. Early yester.
day morning there was called meeting
of the Liquor Dealers Protective Asso-
citation OF the city and the following
resolution was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we ct once close our
bars until the excitement now existing
shall subside."
This commendable action on the part
of the liquor dealers was obeyed to the
letter by every barroom in the city, and
there was positively no drinking done,
which no doubt had great deal to do
towards maintaining peace and order.
Soon after the coroner's jury had left
the scene the body was cut down by Sid
Pritty according to the orders of the
authorities, and it was intended to
bring it to an undertaker's establish
mont to be prepared for burial. This
was not allowed. and the angry crowd
grew terrible in its violence and excite
ment, and tho leaders swore they would
drag the remains to the residence OF
Mayor Trout and hang them in the
yard, and then bury them in the front
of the residence.
Strong men caught hold OF the rope
| and dragged the body across the street,