The record-union., 1893-01-05
Special to the REcoRD-UN1ox.


BAKERSFIELD (N. C.), Jan. 4.-Last
night mob of 800 men entered the jail,
took Calvin Snipes, the murderer, to the
forest, half mile away, and lynched
him. Ten Of the Sheriff's posse were
killed in their efforts to defend the pris-
oner. About twenty of the mob were
killed. Among the dead and wounded
are some of the most prominent men in
the county.
Those with the Sheriff's posse killed
are as follows: ]. \. Williams, E. n.
Jones, p. B. Sans, r. E. Johnson, VIM.
Reed, 7. n. Becker, ]. w. Laws. H. r.
Pannel, G. n. Hallifeld and Tom Hall.
Those of the mob killed We're John
Work, William Osborne, T. G. BaIiff,
Will Perry, John Osborne, Phil Crewer,
Jim Nance, VIII Butler, X. Hagey Dird,
Owen Thomas, Jack Phillips and several
others whose names are not known at
present.
The facts which led up to the terrible
lynching af1ray are as follows: Aaron
Wiseman and Calvin Snipes were part
ners in an Illicit distillery in Mitchell
County, n. c., and told William Osborne
and Isaac Osborne, two brothers, where
the distillery was situated. William Os-
borne reported to the officials and helped
them to destroy it. Wiseman and Snipes
suspected Isaac Osborne as the reporter.
On the night of August p, 1892, armed
with Winchesters. they went to the house
OF Isaac Osborne and calling him to the
door opened fire, almost riddling him
with bullets.
Wiseman and Snipes were arrested
but sufficient evidence could not be OBJ
tanned against WisemaD and he was re-
leased. Snipes was bound over to the
superior Court on purely circumstantial
evidence. lie was placed in Jail and
after being confined about two weeks
confessed to the killing in the manner
above related.
When Wiseman heard of this. he left
the country. Ever since the murder the
brothers of the dead man had been
untiring in their efforts to arose the
public vengeance. For several days the
Sheriff was kept fully informed, and he
selected twenty of the most determined
men in the county to assist him in
A small party attempted to storm the
Jail on Monday night, but they were
easily beaten back by the Sheriff and
posse. Osborne redoubled his efforts
on Tuesday, and by couriers succeeded
in getting mob of nearly four hundred
men together near the little city. The
Sheriff, knowing what was coming.
doubled the number of guards, saw
their arms in perfect order and took
every precaution to beat off the attack.
1t was after midnight when the mob
was ready to move upon the jail Firing
commenced soon after, and a pitched
battle followed Immediately between the
mob and the deputies. Almost at the first
volley William Osborne, who led the at
tack, was killed. In few minutes John
Osborne also fell dead.
The battle ragged until IL, nearly half
the number of deputies had fallen dead.
and several others badly wounded. The
mob, with a yell of triumph, entered the
Jail, battered down the cell door, and led
unhappy Snipessaway to his doom. He
was given no chance to say word, but
was riddled with bullets from a hundred
weapons.
The mob is still under arms, but in
spite of the intense excitement, it is not
believed there will be any more blood
shed unless call upon the Governor for
troops is made. If troops are sum-
moned every mountain moonshiner for
miles around will assemble to repulse
them, as the people have little respect for
anything but local law, and will resent
outside attempts to force them into sub
mission. AS far as they are concerned
the case is closed, as both the Sheriff,s
posse and mob are regarded as having
done their duty in dying with their
boots on.'
ANOTHER TERRIBLE BATTLE.
MARION N. O., Jan. A courier inst
arrived from Bakersville states that the
mob, instead of dispensing. remained
upon the ground, and the scattered hand
full of the Sheriff's posse also remained
under arms, and they are being rapidly
reinforced. All through the dav thew
continued to receive accessions to their
ranks, and by noon the party numbered
about 500, which is now increased to 600.
The feeling ran high, and after few
speeches the posse resolved to avenge the
Sheriff's death. Another battle took
place shortly afternoon, in which at least
twenty-five more were killed, and firino
is still going on. What will be the result
no one here can tell, but troops are ex-
aecfad