Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-13
While neing brought Back 10 char
i"'esViiie on Railway Trn,r-
very quick and Determined Work.
No Doubt OF His Guilt.

Ss"t ""'h anu Iouged in jail, large
crowd following the entire way. The OFF,
GERS were cnary of admitting that he
mad been Identified, but the crowd could
not DO deceived, and angry mutterings
and threats OF lynching were heard on
every side.
In consequence Of this II was though.
best TO remove the prisoner TO Staunton
Tot safety. This was accomplished i'm this
way: About $50 O'Clock, In charge OF
Messrs. Nat. Martin, d. c. Grady, and
Chief-of-Police Parish. the negro vas
taken over the north wall of the Jail
yard, through some private premises. and
out by the wine-celar up the Southern
railway 10 the Union Station. There ne
was put aboard the west-bOund freight
on the Chesapeake and Ohio which left
at > o'clock. and was away on the road
before the people knew anything abou.
1t. People were gathered in knots on ,he
street at late as II o'clock, discussing the
subject and ii became necessary to take
some of them through the jail TO satisfy
them that the negro had really been
taken away. Disappointment was freely
expressed. which was evidence Of the
temper of the outraged populace.
oiNA@Nl1 y X 81 AhitNED.
In the mean time Judge John VI. White.
OF me county Court, realizing that prompt
ana eilcient means would have to be
resorted 10 TO calm the excited populace.
issued summons for grand fury 10 meet
at 10 O'Clock this morning. 1t was about
1915 when the following gentlemen we're
sworn in: II. c. Marchant foreman),
Reuben Maury. John r. Antrim. j. D.
Watson. r. II. Fife. H. G. Witt. ard !. T.
Halliday Captain Woods. Common
Wealth's Attorney thought it unnecessary
TO introduce any other witnesses than the
young lady and her sister. and the Jury
retired TO their room 10 make their in
vestigatlon. Before the investigation was
concluded. or they had rendered a bill
news arrived that James had been taken
from the train at Woods Crossing and
lynched.
Chief-of-Police Parish and Sheriff
Lucien Watts arrived with their prisoner
at Staunton at 1880 last night. The
prisoner was lodged In the city jail. Chief
Parish bought him some sandwichss,
which James said was the first food he
had had since yesterday morning. In the
morning he pr0fcssed 70 have rested VOL,
and smoked a cigarette with cool indif-
ference. He didn't seem disposed TO give
the officers any trouble. and when they
boarded the train this morning for Char
lottcsville IN was not considered necessary
TO handcuff him. He was brought down
at s, due here at 1l:40.
When the train was nearing Woods
Crossing, about four miles west OF this
city. the officers noticed a crowd at the
station, and at once took in the situation.
Chief Parish Immediately went to the
front door of the smoking car.
ALL WERE ARMED.
AS soon as the train slowed up num-
Der OF men, unmaslSed. boarded the plat
forms. front and rear; all were armed
with pistols, and there seemd 10 be about
$50 in the crowd. Chief Parish closed the
door and held the knob; in a twinkling lac
was pushed aside, the crowd rushing into
the car against his protest and in per-
feet indifference to his presented pistol.
Sheriff Watts had a similar experience in
the rear of the car. The crowd then
seized the negro, and hustled him. along
with Mr.. Parish outside Of the car. whore
they bound Mr.. Farish's hands. In the
mean time Mr.. Watts was pleading with
the mob TO let the law take It's course but
he was poweress in the hands of so
many.
As soon as James reached the platform
a rope was thrown over his head, and
he was carried about forty yards 10
small locust tree. near the blacksmith
shop. He was asked II he wished time
10 pray. He replied: Before GOD, | am
Some reports declare that he
lvowed his guilt, and hoped 10 Be for
givcnD But wnen the officers pleaded
with the mob TO let him come TO trial,
he graspcd AT the hope thus extended, and
made the above declaration
QUICK WORK.
The rope was thrown over limb about
hree inches in circumference, ana the |
miserable wretch was drawn up. The |
limb jutted out from the tree at a sharp |
ncline. so that the rope slid dOwnwards |
oWards the body OF the tree, and when |
ii rest the mans body was almost touch /
ny the body Of the tree. Under the tree /
vas a bench, and his feet were only Few !
inches above II. AS soon as ne was /
Elevated the crowd cmptied their pistols |
nto his body, probably forty shots en- |
erinc II. I
When 1t became evident that the wretch |
vas dead the crowd dispersed, leaving the
ody hanging on the tree.
The people in the city, before the tram /
anne. heard rumors of the intention Of /
he mob TO lynch James at the CROSSING.
nd a number of persons started Tor That
olnt, but few reached it'before the deco
vas done Among these was the brother
( the young lady, who arrived about ten |
minutes after the hanging and emptltd
rs pistol into the body.
The grand jury were sim IN session
nd had reached the conclusion to bring
n true bill lust as Mr.. Cloud, of the
'hesapeake and Ohio railway, reached
ne courthouse and announced that the
risoner had been taken from the Tram
nd was probably lynched. The court was
adjourned, and the Juusc
nd commemorative Attorney rusheu
own the street to get more Information
nd II possible, to devise means to pre-
emf the lynchlng They soon found, now
yer. that any effort in that direction
-ould avail nothing. as the evidence thdt
he deed was done was voiuihihous'
Coroner w. G.. Brown was noti1ed ana
e proceeded to the scene OF the Tragedy
I o'clock.
Cantaiu Woods, attorney for the Com
was seen. and was indisposed
, sav much about the affair. lie depre-
atcd deeply the violent measures that
ad been taken, saying that he had posi-
ve evidence Of the guilt OF James, by
hitch he could have convicted him. even
the lady had been killed. He said that
was one of the most atrocious Grimes
yer committed.
NOTES.
The body OF James was left hanging on
ne tree about two hours. Hundreds OF
aonle visited the scene this afternoon.
INV ~ them gathered relies OF the ocoa-
an taking some portions of his clothing,
= His coat was riddled with bullets.
While the body hung there NO. passeh-
.r train passed the crossing, ana the I'M
revised gallows being in view the pas
myers were forced witnesses OF iyneh-
O. 49, ,.,oh JfonarGad they came |