The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-07-28
JOE WILLIAMS LYNCHED.
Tied to a Pine Tree and Shot.
THE DEED sHRoUDED IN MYSTERY.

Last Saturday morning the people
of Scotland Neck were greatly surprised
and shocked to hear that lynching
had occurred near town the night be-
fore. Some one reported early in the
morning that negro was seen tied to
a tree dead about a mile from town
near the road between town and JOY
ner's bridge. Upon investigation it
was found that the man was Joe Will
liams, and that he was tied to pine
tree with a strong rope, bis face to-
wards the tree and bis arms between
his body and the tree and three bull
let holes in hlm-one in the back OF the
head, one in his shoulders and one low
er down in his back.
Large numbers OF persons went from
town ana passed during the day to
view the body, but it was left untouch-
ed until late in afternoon when county
coroner George A. Branch came to
hold an inquest.
The jurors who examined the body
and reported upon it were three white
men, Julian Pendleton, John L. White
head and J. III. Branch; and three
colored men-Isreal Little, 1sham
Smith and Thad Shields. Their YER
dict was that Joseph Williams came
to his death by means of pistol shots
from the hands OF persons unknown.
The coroner instructed deputy
sheriff G. w. Dunn to bury the body
near the roadside, which he did. There
were perhaps more than 200 persons
at the inquest.
sHRoUDED IN MYSTERY.
Mr.. III. Y. Davis, who farmed on the
lands of Mr.. w. T. Vaughan last year,
brought Joe Williams from near Hen
derson and employed him in tobacco
crop. He had some difficulty while
working on Mr.. Vaughan's farm,
which was settled before Mayor
Perry, of Scotland Neck. Williams
worked for others in the community,
and late in the year, about November,
while he was working for Mr..
Joyner, he claimed that he was taken
out at night and severely whipped.
He came to town to consult lawyer,
who advised him to leave the COM
munity. Some good white people fur,
nished the money on which to leave
and be left for a time. While he was
gone to Vance or Warren county he
shot man, according to his own re-
port when he returned. It seems that
upon his return to the community he
was advised to go away again. which
he did, but returned again and had
been here only about a week before
the occurrence last Friday night. He
had tried to secure work in that COM
munity from some persons who would
not hire him. It has been reported
he killed a man before he came to this
community, and he was said to be TN
popular even with the colored people.
Reports say that he had two brothers
who we're desperate characters.
All circumstances point to the fact
that Joe Williams was desperate char
acter. He had been warned more than
once to leave the community. Good
conservative white men had counseled
him that he would better not remain
in the community; but he defiantly
declared that he would not go, that he
was not afraid of any one. He re-
NAMED, with the results as given.
When he was taken for execution
Friday night be was curing tobacco
for Mr.. w. A. Dortch across the creel
from town. Another colored man wa
with him. The colored man has made
some incoherent statements about th'
seizure. He told some one that Jc'
} Williams had pistol lying by hin
, and was asleep when some persons lal'
hold upon him and hurried him ava,
, from the tobacco barn.
f 1t has been impossible to get a clea
idea of how he was seized, and tn
whole thing thing seems shrouded il
mystery.
THE COMMONWEALTH speaks for tt
{ best people of the community in d.
ploring the tragic occurrence.
This community has long bee
known for its virtue, morality al
Thigh regard for law and right, and
goes without saying that our good PC
pie unequivocally condemn law lessne
of any kind and esnecially sEch q erin
i as has blatted the fair name OF OF
y community in the lynching ct u
s. Williams. While he may have bee
d and undoubtedly was, a desperate cha
acter, few people, If any, would IS
r that any offense of his thus far kno"
b justified the lynching.
Only one such occurrence has a
,e nroached 1t in this community in mai
d Years, or 40 far as we know in the hI
10 UnN