Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-27
FREDERICKSBURG EXCITED.
Cool Counsel Alone Prevents a
"Lynching Bee"

"Lynching Bee"
FREDERICKSBURG, VA. August 26.
Special Cool counsel alone averted a
"lynching bee" here last night. when
Damn, the barber was arrested on the
charge Of firing his house.
Such a systematic attempt at starting
a disastrous conhagration was never
known here, and had the perpetrators
plans not failed, the loss would have
been very great.
Damn came here several years ago. os-
tensibly from Texas, and told tales OF
having shaved the soldiers OF the differ
ent army posts In the far West for
many years. He opened a modest and
neat place in the lower end OF the town,
but aspiring 10 more fashionable class
Of custom. he bought, with the aid Of
the building association, the property he
tried 70 burn last night, after having et-
fected an insurance OF near 5000. AT
five different places in the house there
had been cut away the plastering. and
piled where II was thought il was certain
TO catch, light~ood saturated with ker0-
sene-oil. the mass TO be lighted by
pieces Of candle placed IN the centre OF
the infiammable piles. In addition 20 this
il is charged that Damn was guilty Of
filling the hre-plug. few steps from his
door, with stones. and obstructing the
flow of water from that source enectu-
ally.
The fire was discovered sooner than
Was expected. JnlS tact alone saved the
town from disastrous conhagration.
When arrested last night Damn did not
seem 10 mind the matter, and the only
concern he seemed TO have vas about his
clothes that he wanted 20 get ont OF the
house. H wanted 10 know OF officer
Beavell. who made the arrest, what he
had done. The officer replied, you GER
tainly know what you are wanted for %
Il DO not" said Damn.
well" said the officer, there's plenty
evidence at your house; so come along
Your clothes are all right There are
plenty there 20 care for your wardrobe.
No one hereabouts ever had a suspicion
that the old burg was harboring I'm her
midst so dangerous man as Damn IS
alleged to be. our people have treated
h<p kindly and he has had fun share
o. The tOnsOrial trade Of the town. lie
seemed 10 be cOntented and fairly pros
porous.
lie is said TO have married for his Sc
cOnd wife an estimable Texas lady by
whom he has had two children. They are
at present visiting somewhere I'm Mary
land. and the morning papers VIII per-
haps take 10 her the first news she gets
Of her husbands alleged crime.
Some difficulty was had In waking the
occupants of the house next door and
great excitement prevailed in conse-
Quence.
The prisoner this morning seems TO
have lost his nerve. and is more anxious
10 know the extent Of the burning. lie
evidently thinks that the fire had made
dences OF the attempt The insanity plea
faVOrite one In this community, has
been already started In Damm's behalf
NJ. ). Chancellor, who has been seriously
sick for several days as reported in
the Dispatch. is something better to-day.
The same statement applies 10 Norman
Cunningham, Esq
The Bryan-Sewall and Jones Club took
I'm thirty new members last night. among
them were several who have hitherto al
ways voted the Republican ticket. This
club is preparing for effectual work.