The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-02-02
LYNCHED NEAR BRAMWElL.
A DastardIy Crime Was Very
Promptly Avenged.

The Bluefield Telegraph printed the fol-
lowing yesterday:
Yesterday evening sat 4:30 O'Clock an
unprovoked killing occurred at east end
tunnel; at least, the intelligence received
here SO indicates. 1t seems that VIM.
Bailey, oolored, started at the west end
of the tunnel, which is spven.eighths of
mile in length, and walked through.
When he came to the east portal the
Waterman, Harry Draper, told him 1t was
against the'rules to walk through the
tunnel and that he would have to 90
back. This Bailey refused to do. Draper
insisted and Bailey again refused.
Draper said I'm see that you go back"
and Bailey pulled his pistol and fired
four shots Mt Draper, all of which took
effect, killing Draper instantly. The
shots were heard at the Mill Creek Com.
pany's tipple and several men ran to the
scene of the shooting. They ordered Bal
ley to throw up his hands and held him
until telephone message to Coopers
brought Policeman Godfrey and G. d.
Bray TO ths scene. They arrested Bailey
and lodged him in Jail at Bramwell
When the facts became known there was
considerable excitement
Bailey is II cool man and will not talk.
1t is thought that the name he gave Is an
assumed one
There was Il large crowd at the depot
here when the train arri ged at $50 1t
was crowded. The excitement ran high
and If there should he lynching before
morning our people would not be much
surprised.
14YNCHED.
Bramwell, Jan. 81, II m About
fifteen men entered tie Jail at Brumwell
tonight at 1:45, where William Bailey
alias VIM. Fitch was confined. There had
been large crowd around the jail since
he was placed in it this evening, and
everything gave the appearance of a
lynching before MOI ming They attracted
the att ntion of the deputy sheriff and
his assistants, and they assembled in the
front room. The lynching party men
broke in the back and middle doors with
axes and placed q rope around the negro
neck and dragged him about two hun
dred feet down the railroad toward Sim
inc ms. He was haudcuffed, and his body
was riddled with bullets, from fifty to
one hundred bullets being fired at him.
Bailey or Fitch asked the mob when
they entered the Jail what they wanted
with him. They made no reply, but
placed rope around his neck. They put
the electric lights out when they entered
the jail Going down the railroad he
plead with the mob not to kill him, al
though he had expressed himself earlier
in the evening as ready to die, but he
hardly expected his time to come so soon
His body is still lying at the place
where the mob killed him. The party of
lynchers are unknown. squire Romberg,
assisted by Sergeant Godfrey bad charge
Of the Jail The authorities OF Bran we'll
expected trouble, but the policemen here
went TO TocahUntas ON the S13 train,
leaving the keys to the jail at home. The
jail was not very secure and the mob had
little difficulty in gaining entrance TO it,
Everything is now quiet.
Mr.. Draper WAS married and leaves a
wife and one child He ws g "A son of Jesse
Draper, Of Walkers Creek, Giles county,
Va, who is employed on the bridge force
of the Pocahontas division.
Bailey or Fitch worked at Mill Greek
mines about two years ago. He was
known there as William Fitch. He got
in some trouble there and was sent to the
penitentiary. He WIS released last Sat
urday. He was of light complexion, with
small black moustache. height feet 10
inches, and weighed $50 pounds Robert
Little caught him, and his pistol was
emil PITY of cartridges. He was not at all
excited when arrested. The first two shots
were fired while Draper was standing.
They took effect and he fell. Bailey then
fired two other shots into the prostrafe
form of Draper, taking deliberate aim
He then tried to fire the fifth shot, out
the pistol refused to 90 off.
This is very unfortunate affair. Mr..
draper was good ciLzen and highly es-
teemed by all who knew him, and his
family has the sympathy of the entire
community.
Bramwell, w. Va, Fep /. l q. NJ
Constable c. P. Milton summoned the
following jury of inquest: w. II. Ander-
son, foreman. r. c. Bryant j. f. c. Pal
ker. Harry Wood, C. l.. Eckerly and w.
s. Tabor. AT 12:45 they rendered a YER
dict that the deceased came 20 his death,
by mob or unknown men. He was q
convict of the State pententiary, No. 81.
They adjourned after an tour's investi.
CATION. Any one of the fifteen wounds
would have proved fatal.
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