The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-03
LYNCH LAW AGAIN.
<coyrryUxrroS OF IRIS HIsroRx <s
published IN TnS TIMES.
t.. sxstena Fsrst Introduced Fell sn'e
the Hands of Unscrupuions Men
Iyoohing Under n Higher Forrn'
tcOntinued from last weekly

the salt works in Southwest virginia
His predecessor at that place had found II
,,npossible 10 carry on the works. The
want OF salt was greatly felt by the peo-
ole and IN the army. Decentralization and
mutiny among the military guards
workmen. and transfers had prevailed al
that place, no that the supply Of salt had
seriously diminished. 1t became necessa-
~ that a proper officer should take com
mand Lynch was sent out, ana had
scarcely been installed than he began 10
carry out his favorite policy. without
waiting Cor the forms of law, civil or mil
itary. and the delays attendant upon
charges preferred and Investigations TO be
made, he seized at once the most proul-
nent OF the mutineers. tried them by the
rules OF his code and administered the
necessary punishment without mercy or
DELAY. The effect was salutary In more
senses than one the abundance OF salt was
soon procured. INSTRUMENTATION was crush-
cd out. and he had no more trouble WIN
bis men.
Unfortunately, the system introduced by
Charles Lynch under the conditions given
above afterwards fell into abuse In the
hands of bad and INSCRIPTIONS men. one
OF the legacies Of war is disorganized
society During the process OF rearrang-
ing its discordant elements, much has TO
be done before a new order of things
can be established. Men suddenly let
loose from the restraints Of discipline are
but too willing 90 give license 10 Their
passions and 10 indulge their brut-
ish Instincts. The habits acquired in the
camps and on the march. unfit many Of
them for the UneYentful life TO which
they are about TO return. The love of eX-
element keeps their minds in state OF
unrest. They are easily tempted by the
least opportunity, TO renew their turbu-
lent. but fascinating habits Such was
state of things at the close OF the ReYo-
luton, in that part of the country 10
which Charles Lynch had retired 10 the
shades Of private life Marauding. thiev-
ing highway robbery and even assassina-
ton had become rife In the land. Per-
sonal resentments engendered during the
war and private grudges still fingered In
the hearts of people who IL would be sup
posed, would now be willing to live to-
gether in peace after the bitter expert
ences they had but lately suffered In
common. Instead OF awaiting the effect
Of time upon these real or imaginary
troubles, they undertook TO settle them
by resort TO Lynch's methods as prac-
ticed by him before and during the war.
Under supposed necessity, associations
TO punish crime were organized in many
parts of the country, although the regu-
lar courts Of justice had already been es-
tablished. They essayed to initiate the
examples set by Lynch. and his peripatetic
tribunal, but took care to forget the cir
cumstances under which it's DEGREES had
been enforced The result OF this mistake
was, that the name of Lynch became
associated with perversions of the code
he invented and for which he was not
then responsible. These associations had
their chiefs and other appropriate officers.
Complaints made by one or more members
Of an association against an enemy caus-
ed the prompt arrest of the suspect,
who was carried before an examining
committee for "a preliminary hearing.
Should his answers TO their questions
appear unsatisfactory, the accused was
whipped until they were made so. Under
such procedure the innocent and the
guilty suffered alike. IL is said that al
though other cruel and undeserved pun
ishments were inflicted the taking Of
life was rare. Occasionally persons par
ticularly obnoxious were hanged
The mode of carrying out this exc
cution was unique and seems TO have
been adopted in order to shirk the re-
sponsibility Of 50 heiEous a crime. 1t
was cowardly expedient by which the
victim appeared 10 have chance for his
life at the same time that ne was de-
prived Of an opportunity OF using It.
Being mounted securely on a horse. with
his face looking to the rear. and his hands
tied behind him. a rope was then put
round his neck. the ether end being fast
ened TO the limb Of atree. In this pre-
dicament he was left to his fate. The
horse being free to move at his leisure.
would, OF course, soon walk off. totally
unconscious of the fate OF his unhappy
rider. II is scarcely worth while TO point
out the difference between this unwar-
rantable procedure and that inaugurated
by Lynch some years before.
Hiding Plsc
1t may not be known to some. that i'm
mediately after the surrender of General
Lees army, measures strongly suggestive
or Lynch and his code, were practiced
ih a certain part OF Virginia. While the
war was going ON, the Businesses Of the
Blue Ridge, in the neighborhood of
Browns Gap and Shifllets Hollow, be-
came hiding places for recreant conscripts
and deserters from both armies These
miscreants had so entrenched themselves
along the slopes of the mountains, that
neither the state enrolling officers nor
Lees veterans even with the aid
OF artillery could dislodge them.
They not only escaped military duty in
the army. but became bands of outlaws
who. having no other means OF living re-
sorted TO robbing the people and plumber
ing the plantations in the adjacent low
lands. Suddenly and unknown 10 them,
the war came to an end. The husbands
sons and brothers Of the unprotected finn
ilies as suddenly returned to their plum
dered homes. So soon as they had been
Informed OF what had been going on dur
ing their absence. they organized a band
of their late comrades in arms and. hay-
ing chosen leader and enacted a code
after the manner Of Lynch's, proceeded TO
business. Meantime the unsnspectng Of
Tenders had no hint Of what was in pre-
paration for them.
No time was To be lost II punishment
was to be meted out 20 the enemy Their
lurking places having been discovered, on
al appointed night an attack was made
upon their stronghold by the men from the
Iow-lands. This was so sudden and 80 I'M
expected that many Of the outlaws were
taken. Others escaping through the
darkness. took 10, the woods and fled the
country. jury OF the assailants was ut
once organized for the trial OF the cap
turrd. Those found guilty were convict
ed upon the testimony OF witnesses who
recognized both the persons OF the ac-
cused, and the numerous articles which
mad been carried of from the homes OF
the people. Their guilt being thus as
sured, they Were Immediately tied TO
trees and shot 90 death. Thus was re-
peaied In Virginia In the year 1865. the