Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-02
LYNCHED BY A MOB.
THE NOTORIOUS ABB REDMOND
TAKEN FROM HIS cAPToRS.
He is Alleged to Have Been the Worst Man
that Ever Lived in Charlotte County.
Some OF His Crimes.
,speci., telegram TO the Dispatch,

BRAKES BRANCH, VA. November l..
Notorious Abb Redmond. the worst man
that ever lived in Charlotte county. came
to his death last night at the hands OF a
mob. He was arrested yesterday at day
break by an officer and dozen assist
ants, which was one OF the few times he
was ever captured without trouble. He
mistook the officer for friend. few
days ago he was after negro to kill him
and caught the wrong one by mistake,
but did not let him go without having
beaten him nearly to death. He was
taken before a justice of the peace. but
for want Of evidence was acquitted. Later,
after threatening a number OF the best
citizens in the vilest manner, ne acknowl-
edged that he was the man VINO served
the negro so shamefully and only waited
an opportunity to kill the right one. The
prisoner was taken TO Dupres and tried
by Justices Boothe and Grafton. and after
a day spent in looking up witnesses he
waived the trial by the Justice and was
sent on to jail IL bsing night Constable
Crutcher was ordered to take the prisoner
to his house, which was on the way to
the courthouse, under the guard or three
men, Messrs. Hamilton. briggs, and Hay
ME. They arrived safely at Crutcher $
house without any sign OF disturbance.
TAKEN FROM JAIL.
About II o'clock two OF the guards were
asleep and one on duty, when all at once
the door was broken in with crash and
all hands were covered with guns and
pistols. Without a word the prisoner was
taken out. II was thoroughly organized
crowd. every one knew his place, and In
less than a minute everything was as
quiet as before the mob came. One oil
the guards when asked the number re-
piled: Don't know; they came into thf
light ike men coming up out OF the ground
and disappeared in like manner Ihis
morning the body was found by a negro
on Crutchers place swinging from tree
white with frost. A coroners inquest was
held and the verdict was, Redmond came
- his death by the hands of a mob Of un'
known men,"
FULL OF FOUL DEEDS.
His life was full of deeds of the black
est hue, with but few good ones to coun-
teract the bad. The community was III
n state of terror while he lived. Every
one feared his fiendish ways, and no one
knew when he would become his victim
Punishment seemed to have no effect on
him. He would come back from prison
as soon as his stripes were on ana would
return TO his fiendish ways No one fel'
| safe around him. IL a COW or morse
| crossed his place he would often shoot
IL down. Redmond was man OF
means. and his whole fortune was spent
| i'm paving lawyers. This mans bad career
began when he was but boy. Some no,
words passed between him and MS olu
father. Shortly afterwards the old mar
was walking along with his gun on MS
shoulder, when he was suddenly sho,
dead by Abb from behind the corner oi
| n fence. With the aid of the abest law
yers this was proven to be In self-detence
A NEGRO MISSING.
Later a negro was missing. and after a
short time his body was ploughed up. Thls
was proven to be the work of Redmond
and with the aid of the ablest lawyers
| in the State he got off with a few years
I'm prison. Then came the burning of the
house of one Of our best citizens. Red
mond confessed TO the burning, bu
! through technlcalities proved that 1t was
his own house. Shortly after this th'
| same man had number OF his barns
| burned Later neighbor had fe"
words with Redmond, and in day or two
| four of his horses were poisoned. An ole
| negro was cut almost to death by Red
| mond, and for this crime he got two years
| in prison. When he came back he pro
fessed religion. joined the church an'
pretended to lead new life, but M
| sooner were his disabilities removed thar
he went back to his old ways He had
way OF putting his neighbor's hogs int'
his field and killing them, along with nj
own, and every one was too much afrai'
of him TO attempt to regain them. Thes
are but n few of his many crimes. I'M
| morning, while but few think his las
deeds justified death, alt agree 1t Is goo'
thing to be clear of such character
Many Of the old citizens say that nov
they can live in peace, thing not KNOW
TO them for years. While all good citizens
| deplore the horrible deed. yet all admi
| that It Is a happy rddance.