Richmond planet., 1897-05-01
MURDERED HIM.
A DISGRACEFUL PRO
CEEDING.
Hanged to a Lamp-p post.
lie City { mciaIs InpHcat-
ed
Hanged to a Lamp-pOst.
TIE MOB WAS SUPREME.
The Alleged Attempt to Defend Pris-
oner.

down the doors OF the ponce STATION,
and amid a fusilade from squad Of
policemen under Chief Webster,
dragged Joseph Mccoy, a young color
ed man, from his cell and strung him
up to a lamp-post on one Of the city's
thoroughfares
LEADING WHITE MIN MURDERE RS.
Two desperate assaults we're made
on the station house, and leading bus
iness and professional men urged the
crowd on. Four of the leaders of the
first assault were arrested. but were
by the Mayor of the city after
the lynching, in obedience to the
clamor of the throng.
The colored mans alleged offense
was carnal knowledge OF little Annie
Lacey, The nine -year-old daugh ter OF
Mr.. Tobe Lacey. who resides on Brom-
ilAw Point. About sixteen years ago
Mr.. Lacey took Mccoy to raise, and
since that time he has been looked up
on by the family as good servant.
THE CHILDREN And THE SERVANT.
When Mr.. Lacey took his wife into
the country he would leave his three
little girls, who range from twelve to
six year of age, in McCoS's care.
Several weeks ago, Annie, his second
daughter, complained Of feeling badly
and the father consulted a physician,
who prescribed Cor her without seeing
her. She continued to grow worse.
and her case became more puzzling.
Finally shs was taken to DR.. O'Brien
ye yesterday, which led 20 the discovery
of the assault.
He closely questioned his little
daughter about the affair. She was
retice mt, and reluctantly told the story
of the conduct. She said il was six
months or more ago when the colored
youth first attempted to assault her,
and few weeks after he succeeded,
after following her to stable.
AT AN OLD KILN.
The last assault was made about two
weeks ago The children were all
playing in n field when Mccoy took
Annie into an old kiln. and her two
little sisters saw them. She was also
threatened by Mccoy into silence.
Annie has since told her father all the
circumstances OF the affair.
to whom he told the story. The Lieu
tenant Immediately arrested Mccoy,
and locked him up at the station
house. A little later he was visited by
the Lieutenant and Mr.. John Strider,
to whom he made full statement.
The police attempted to keep the
story quiet. Mr.. Lacey did not report
it until 9 40 last evening.
ANXIOUS TO HANG HIM.
The few who heard of the outrage
expressed themselves as willing to
place a rope around the youths neck
and hang him to a lamp-post, and
| friends Of the father had hard work tC
keep him from going to the station
house and killing the Negro in hiI
cell
Small crowds congregated in various
parts OF the town urging immediate
action Then came a message from
/ the mother of the girl that the little
one was dying. This setti,d it.
SURROUNDED THE sTATfoN-HoUsE.
A little after IL O'Clock a mob of 15t
men surrounded the station-house
They were met by Lieutenant Smith
! officers Wilkinson, Lyles, Davis, Atch
inson and Knight. The Lieutenan
made a speech, saying he would prote c
the prisoner with his life. The mol
proceeded at once TO business and de-
molished the door with piece of scant
ling.
The officers drew their revolvers ant
began firing into the air. Lieutentan
Smith picked up double-barrel shot
gun and fired it, but no one was hur {
Four of the crowd, Frank Sphinx, FeI
dinand Knight, James w. Frank, ant
Charley Armour, were fore d into tn
station-house, and were arrested. FO
a time the angry crowd was repulsed
But only for a time. They retired
but at II O'Clock a mob of 300 peopl
had gathered They surrounded IN
station house. By O'Clock the mum
Der had sWelled to 500. Many of tn
leading citizens OF the town wer
among the crowd, some OF them SID
ing with the officers, and attemptln
to claim the crowd.
URGED TO MURDER.
Most of them, however, urged tn
mob on. w. tn heavy piece of timbe
sixteen feet long they broke down tn
two front doors of the station-hous'
They were met By the same squad {
officers. commanded by Chief of Pc
lice Webster, who had been calle
from his house. There was a tigh
but the men reached the cell doc
They we're driven back, but rallied
They went at it again, and broke tn
latch of the cell door with an axe.
HIS AWFUL PREDIoAMENT.
Mccoy was cringing in one corner {
, the cell, almost tied in knot. Th
! mob did not see him. They though
! they had got into the wrong cell. The
| looked again and found him.
' They dragged him out Of the static
' house, up Fairfax street to Cameron
' down Cameron to Lee, where the
: quickly put a rope around his necl
/ It took but q secOT d to jerk him o
n his feet. rhe crowd broke into
q great chez as the cOiored man W,
n seen dangling in the air There wi
4 be no more outrages on white wome
e in this town." they yelled. Let 1t
il awarning for the future"
The youth was not given cpportun
ty to say anything. The crowd wi
y tjO inpatient.
RELEASED THE MURDERERs.
: After no was dead and the crow
}, had dispersed somewhat, friends OF q
I. four men arrested, went to the Ma
d or's office and asked for their releas
The Mayor promptly released them.
a The station-house is almost a wrec
: The front &oors are broken dow
Coroner Purvis was notified, and