The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-24

Il
ING CRowD-A RIGHTEOUS
DEED.
Alexandria, Va, April 23.-Citizens of
Alexandria avenged one CT the most Gend
ish assaults in the history of the commu.
nifty this morning, when they battered
down the doors of the police station, and,
amid fusilade from Il squad of police
men under Chief Webster, dragged Jos
eph Mccoy. young negro. from his cell
and strung him up to IL lamp post on one
of the city's principal thoroughfares.
Two desperate assaults were made on the
station-h house, and leading business and
professional men urged the crowd on.
Four of the leaders of the first assault
were arrested, but were released by the
mayor of the city after the lynching, in
obedience to the clamor of the throng.
The negro's crime, which he confessed,
was II brutal assault on little Annie
Lacey, the nine. year. old daughter of Mr..
lobe Lacey, who resides on Bromilaw
Point. About sixteen years ago Mr.. La
cey took Mccoy to raise, and since that
time has been looked upon..by the family
rs good servant. When Mr.. Lacey
took his wife into the country he would
leave HE three little girls, who range
from II to years of age, in McCoy's
care. Several weeks ago Annie, his sec
ond daughter, complained of feeling bad
ly, ard the father consulted u physician,
who prescribed for her without seeing
her. She continued to grow worse, and
her cause became more puZzling. Fin
ally she was taken to DIR. O'Brien yes
uerday,. which led.to the discovery of the
assault.
He closely questioned his little daugh-
ter about the affair. She was reticent,
and reluctantly told the story Of the out
rage. She said it was six months or
more ago when the negro first attempted
to assault her, and few weeks after he
succeeded, after following her to stable.
The last assault was made about two
weeks ago. The children were all playing
in IL field when Mccoy forced Annie into
an old kiln, and assaulted her in the pres
ence of her two little sisters, who were
told by the negro if they said anything he
would kill them. He also attempted an
assault upon Nettie the oldest daughter
but she broke away and ran home. She
was also threatened by Mccoy into 81
lence. Annie has since told her father
all the circumstances Of the affair. Nc
Coy threatened to Kill her on the spot If
she told
Mr. Lacey sought Lieut. Smith, to
whom he told the story. The lieutenant
Immediately arrested Mccoy, who was IL
tough looking negro of twenty, and
locked him up at the station house. y
little later he was visited by the lieuten
ant and Mr.. John Strider, TO whom he
m.de full confession, giving all the de-
tails of the crime.
The police attempted to keep the story
quiet. Mr.. Lacey did not report it until
G:45 last evening.
The few who heard of the outrage ex-
pressed themselves ms willing to place n
rope around the negro's neck and hang
him to lamp-post, and friends of the
father had hard work to keep him from
going to the station house and killing
the negro in his cell.
A crowd of men went to the Lacey
home, and the police feared trouble. At
8 o'clock the negro confessed to Common
wealth's Attorney Marbury, and when
the details became known great excite
meEt ensued.
Small crowds congregated in various
parts OF the town urging immediate ac-
ton. Then came mes sage from the
mother of the girl chat the little one was
dying. This settled it.
men surrounded the station house. They
were met by Lieut.. Smith, Officers Viii.
kinson, I.yles, Davis, Atkinson and
Knight. The lieutenant made a speech.
saying he would protect the prisoner with
his life. The mob proceeded Mt once to
business and demolished the door with IL
piece Of scantling.
The officers drew their revovers and
began firing into the air. Lieut.. Smith
picked up a double. barreled shotgun and
fired it, but no one was hurt. Four Of
the crowd, Frank Sprink, Ferdinand
Knight, James w. Frank and Charley Ar
mour, were forced into the station house,
and were arrested. For time the angry
crowd was replused. But only for time.
They retired, but at IL O'Clock mob of
300 people had gathered They sur
rounded the station.house. BY o'clock
the number had swelled to 800. Many
of the leading citizens of the town were
among the crowd some of them siding
with the officers, and attempting to calm
the crowd.
Most Of them, however, urged the mob
on. With a heavy piece of timber, six.
teen feet long, they broke down the two
front doors of the station.hOuse. They
were met by the same squad of officers
commanded by Chief of Police Webster,
who had been called from his house
There was fight, but the men reached
the cell door. They were driven back,
but rallied. They went at it again, and
broke the latch of the cell door with an
axe The crowd was furious.
Mccoy was Bringing in one corner OF
the cell, almost tied in II knot. The mob
did not see him. They thought they had
got into the wrong cell. They locked
again and found him.
They dragged him out OF the station