Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-23

crowd had only gotten cut of sight of head
quarters to organize for another attack,
which proved successful. 1t was not long
after 1 O'Clock when the bowling mob,
which now had reached near the THOUSAND
mark, was heard approaching headquar-
tiers, and it could be seen that they meant
business. They reached the door, and
again demanded the negro. On being re-
fused they commenced to batter in the
windows and door with axes, sledses, crow
bars, picks and every conceivable tool. 1t
was but the work of a few minutes to get
inside, and here they faced Lieut.. Smith,
with Officers Knight, Lyles, Davis, Wilkin-
son. Atkinson and Constable Webster all
of whom fought manfully TO protect the
cell room in which the negro was confined.
Several men grabbed each of the officers,
and it was evidently their intention to get
the officers out of the way first, for they
were ell bound and taken to the street.
While this was going on another part of
the mob had broken in the cell room door
and reached the cell in which Mccoy was
supposed to be confined. In an instant the
locks were smashed off and hasps torn
aside. When they looked in they saw no
one. when one of the officers told them the
man was upstairs, intending If possible to
sneak him out the back way.
Dragged Out.
The mob started up the steps, but some
one saw the negro crouching in a corner of
the cell hiding. A shout was raised and
they soon had him and a rope around his
neck, all the while the officers making
desperate fight to save him. The
negro begged pteously, but it was of no
avail. They dragged him to the street,
followed by the officers, who were trying
to recapture him. They had to give up
the struggle, however, they were great
ly outnumbered. When the mob got him
in front of the Braddock House they held
a consultation as to where they should
harg him, and it would have been worth
rans life to attempt to stop the now
frenzied mob. They carried him down
Cameron street on the run, and for a mo-
ment. it was thought that he had es-
capped, and another howl was setsup. When
the corner of Lee street was reached they
spied ar old iron gas lamp post, to which
they concluded he should hang. 1t was
but the work of a moment to get the rope
over the top, and in less time than 1t takes
to write he was hanging in mid-air. A
number Of the mob knocked him senseiess
before he had been hanging a minute and
blood gushed from his nose and mouth
The rope slipped after he had been hang
ing about ten minutes and he fell to the
ground lifeless The crowd hung around
fer some time. and about o'clock dis
persed quietly.
The military alarm was rung when the
trouble commenced, and about sixteen
members of the Alexandria Light Infan-
armory, but 1t was too late to be of serv-
ice. The damage had been DONE
The front of police headquarters is a
total wreck. and will have to be refitted.
The Crime.
The rape was committed in a stable back
of Mr.. Laceys house. on South Washington
ftreet about fifty yards from the CORPORA
ton line in Fairfax county, just about op-
rosite the Roman Catholic cemetery. 1t Is
said that Mccoy also attempted the same
thing with a younger daughter of Mr.
Lacey. Mccoy was employed by Mr.. Lacey
snd did not bear an unsavory record with
the police. He told the story of his crime
apparently without feeling, and did not
seem to realize the seriousness of his posi-
ton in the least. He slept most of the
evening up to II o'clock, when the first
attack was made on headquarters. and
vent to sleep again when all had quieted
down.
Chief Webster was knocked down and
roughly handled by the mob as he attempt
ed to dispense them. and Officers Atkinson
and Knight quite badly hurt. No other in
Juries Of serious nature were reported.
Coroner Purvis was notified and appeared
on the scene about 2:30 o'clock. He viewed
the remains and ordered them taken to
Denaine's undertaking establishment.
The crowd was a determined one when
the second attack was made, and they
were SO enraged at the failure of the first
attack that nothing under the sun could
have stopped them. It is believed that
many had boosted up their courage by the
use of stimulants.
The law-abiding and thoughtful people of
the city very much deplore this hasty &C
ton, as they feel that Mccoy would have
gotten the full penalty Of the law had he
been allowed to stand trial.
The lynching. which is the first that ever
occurred in Alexandria, has been the one
subject of conversation on the streets to-
day. and while many seem to think that
Mccoy deserved his fate. still at the same
time they say It would have been better
/ hoA xI,a In,
ed to take its course. The only people al
lowed In police headquarters were the city
officials and newspaper men who Witnessed
the whole shooting match"
/ Thousands OF people turned out when the
/ general alarm was sounded on the town
| bell, but even they were too late to witness
the lynching. 1t was done 30 quickly The
! whole affair. while quickly done, was evil