The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-03

The following is q correct account of
the lynching Of the four men at Rich
lands Tuesday and Thursday nights, and
also one at Cedar Bluff, written by
special correspondent of THE TIMES,
who was an eye Witness:
On Monday night as A. Ratliff and
Ben Shortredge, two prominent NOR
chants of Buchanan county, were in
Richards transacting business, and
having occasion to visit the west end
Of town proceeded by way Of the Nor
folk and Western railroad.
When in the cut just west of town
they were waylaid by four burly
negroes named John Johnson, Jerry
Brown, Spencer Branch and Sam Nc
Donald, who attacked them from both
front and rear with clubs and Ratchet,
cutting their skulls in several places
and otherwise inhfcting serious bodily
injuries. They then ransacked the
pockets of Ratlitf and Shortredge, and
placed their bodies on this track, suppos-
ing them to be dead. At about IL p. m.
as a man named Robinson was passing
in that direction. he discovered them
lying on the track, and, giving the
alarm, they were conveyed to the
Clinch Valley hotel.
The following morning Tuesday
Jerry Brown was suspected of the muir.
der, and, having q bad reputation. was
arrested, and Oh being questioned
closely finally confessed, duplicating
three others, Spencer Branch. John
johnson and Sam Mcdonald. The au-
thorities succeeded in capturing John
johnson and Spencer Branch and
lodged them in Jail, Sam Mcdonald in
the meantime having escaped.
On Tuesday evening al about 1870 p.
m. an angry mob of about three hun
dred people collected around the Jail
and finally overpowered the authorities
and took Jerry Brown from them. They
proceeded with him down Front street
across the river to addition No. of
Riohlands, and strung him to an oak tree.
The mob then returned to the Jail after
Spencer Branch and John job nson, but
found that the authorities had taken
them away.
Word was at once sent to Honaker to
capture Sam Mcdonald and hold him
until they came after him, and about
twenty people boarded the westbound
freight Tuesday night to bring Sam
Mcdonald back here. On Wednesday
morning the mob, hearing that the au-
thorities had Spencer Branch and John
Johnson at Cedar Bluff and that a party
were on the eastbound train with Sam
Mcdonald. mob of about three hun
dred people boarded the train as it
arrived at this station, and Immediately
took Nc Donald in custody. They then
proceeded to Cedar Bluff, and, as the
train pulled into the station, rush was
made for the depot, but, on not finding
their men. tho mob began a general
search OF the town.
AS the train pulled out they got word
that the authorities had the murderers
in McGuire's store; the train was stopped
and the mob rushed across the bridge
up to McGuire's store, taking Spencer
Branch and John johnson away from
the police. They then signaled tho
train to go ahead and proceeded to bring
tho three (John Johnson, Sam Nc Dom
aid and Spencer Branch) to Richards,
arriving there at about 1920 q. m.
They took them to tho Jail and after
waiting somo fifteen minutes, took them
out and over the river to where they
had hung Jerry Brown the night before.
mob of about 500 people had collected
by this time, and men, women and chill
dren could be seen on all the house tops
and banks surrounding the scene of the
lynching.
E3After waiting about an hour getting,
confessions from the negroes, Sam Nc
Donald was put on horse, the moose
put around his neck and the horse led
from under him, launching him into
eternity. After probably another half
hour Spencer Branch was assisted on a
horse, the moose adjusted and he like
wise lynched. Then the mob turned
their attention to John Johnson, who
was confessing to the killing of Hurt at
Doran about eighteen months ago.
He gave tho whole story of the kill
ing of Hurt, duplicating two other
negroes and two white mon. After the
mob had secured all tho information
possible from him, prayer was offered
up by Methodist brother (colored) and
he was placed on horse and the moose
adjusted. AS the horse was about to
be led, he spoke and gave the crowd a
bit Of advice, but as he said "Good- by"
the horse was started and his body
dangled in the air for few minutes
and then was still.
The lYnching took place between the
hours of one and two p. m. and was very
orderly, there being no shooting or
fighting, and not ono OF the crowd wore
masks. After the three were dead the
mob dispersed. and a crowd of about
fourteen proceeded to capture Sam
Blow, who johnson implicated in the
Hunt murder, and on Thursday morn
ing his body was found hanging from a
tree at Cedar Bluff. This makes five
negroes who have been lYnched, and a
more orderly and brave set of men
hardly ever get together. No dis.
turbance OF any kind occurred. and q
pistol shot was not heard. They worked
quietly and with determination, giving
each of the negroes time to confess.
Each one told on the others and said