The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-08-19
RAPE AND LYNCHING.
COLORED MEN OF
VANCE COUNTY INTERVIEWED.
The Crime Must be Stamped Out,
They Say-Lynchings Will Not
Cease Until Rape Ceases-Guilty
Should be Hung by Law.


Mr.. James r. Young writing to the
NetrS and Obserrer furnishes the fol-
lowing correspondence, which we take
pleasure in reproducing:
HENDERSON. y. C.. Aug. 1.-THE
county Of Vance las been deeply
stirred by the brutal crime near Kit
treil about ten days ago, and in view
Of the great Indignation at the escape
Of the negro who so brutally killed the
poor, unfortunate Falkner woman last
year, by being sent to the penitentiary
instead OF being hung; the fact that the
people did not take the law in their
hands on this occasion is the more
remarkable and speaks volumes for
them as law-abiding people. The
white people of this county are peacea-
bic and respect the law; but many fear
that ''for bearance will ere long cease
to be virtue,' unless things are
changed and that speedily.
The trial Of the brute comes off next
week, and in view of the forbearance
of the whites and the usual good feeling
pendent has interviewed number Of
the leading colored men Of the county
Oh the subject, and takes pleasure i'll
present ting them to the public:
Thomas S. Eaton, who is really the
leader among the krpuE.icans OF the
county, and has held the office OF regis
ter of deeds for several years, says:
That he is unalterably opposed to the
crime Of rape; that it should be stopped;
that he is opposed to Iynching, and
thinks that all should be accorded fair
trial and if convicted then hung, and not
sent to the penitentiary with the chances
of being pardoned cut That while he is
opposed to lynching, yet he does not
hesitate to say that he would kill any
one who committed the crime against
any of his own folks; that he believes
the colored people, especially the leaders,
should do all in their power to frown
down and stamp out this crime; that its
continuance must always be a cause of
friction between the two races to the
greater hurt of the colored.
Rev r. |. Walden, who is pastor OF the
colorcd BAPTIST church here. as well az
at Louisburg, says:
That he is opposed to lynching under
any circumstances; believes that we are
and should continue to be law abiding
people; that the law Furnishes this crime
with death, and that every rapist should
be put to death, but according to law;
believes in speedy trial, followed by
swift punishment. Let the rapist be put
to death, but not SO as to have the
l. H,{ %I,oI o+A
class of cOlOred people cannot afford to
protect the rascals because it puts them
in false and wrong light Ministers,
leading laymen and the better class of
our people should strive to get up q
sound sentiment against this crime and
its perpetrators. Our associations and
other assemblies should speak out in no
uncertain terms against the crime as
we'll as against lynching. The crime
must stop to stop the lynching.
The Rev Walter PatilIO, who has long
stood well here as preacher, teacher
and leader among his people, says:
The crime is an awful one, and its
increase is alarming. Something must
be done and at once to put a stop to it.
The people cannot afford to show any
more interest in or sympathy for these
criminals than is necessary to see that
the right man is punished Thecrowding
around them when charged with this
crime and cOngregating at the jails is all
wrong. Let them all have a fair trial,
and then let the punishment be swift and
sure. Our ministers and assemblies
should speak out and condemn this
awful crine-in fact, every decent cOlOred
man should speak and teach against it,
and all should see that their acts in
special cases do not destroy their general
teaching. The suppression OF this crime,
now becoming so common, will stop the
lynchings which will soon follow it, and
thus will be removed one of the greatest
barriers to a good feeling between the
races. A good and peaceful feeling
between the two races is to be desired
and prayed for by every right-thinking
man. both white and black
Rev Allen p. Eaton, who is a recognized
leader among his race here, and is now
pastor of the First Baptist church of
Durham, and of Red Bud church in this
county, says:
"rhr failure to lynch Geo. BrOdie was
largely due to the law abiding charac ter
Of the people of our county, and to the
good feeling that exists here between the
races. For the crime of rape and to
prevent the lynching of the criminal,
speedy trials are demanded. The punish
ment must not be delayed. The men in
whose breasts lies the determination to
protect the virtue of our women, are the
men who, when fired, will do the lynch
ing, unless the rapist speedily punished
In my humble Judgment even the speedi-
est trials will not always stop lynchings
they will, to some extent, always exist
so long as the crime of rape is commit
ted. The people cannot always resist
the cry of the victim. AS long as the
crime is committed, destroying as it does
the good feeling between the races, and
especially as it is increasing at such an
alarming extent, even the best and most
conservative men, white and black, feel
like saying: Let the brute reap his lust
reward. He is destroying the virtue of
women, incensing the white people, and
doing the basest in ury to his own race.
The crime is not committed by the old
time class of colored men. They were the
protectors of women, white and black,
but it is committed by the new, shftless
young negro. He is raised up with little
religious training, few home restraints
and becomes a 'roamer, or at best feel )
that if necessary he can change his home
and it will suit him as we'll In fact he
generally does the deed at some new
place. and not where he has lived long.
George BrOdle was not even raised in
Vance county, and had not lived in Kit
trell a year when the crime was commit
ted. On the night of the day on which
this crime was committed, | lectured
before my church (Red Bud, in this
county,, in closing a revival, and especi-
ally spoke of and warned my people
against this alarming crime Every
colored preacher and leader and black
man must raise his voice against this
crime for the love of God and as good
morals prompt it, and | feel that they
will when it is realized what great
curse it is already to the colored race
As race we must expect our hardships
until our children are better disciplined
and taught 1t is not necessary for me
to say that lynching will only stop when
no raping is done.
AS colored man who loves his
people, | cannot shut nv ewes to the