The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-13
John Henry James Hung and RiddIed
With Bullets.
CONFESSED HIS TERRIBLE CRIME
The Mob Were Unmasked But Heavily
Armed -T They Went About the
Work systematically and Made
No Attempt at Concealment
When They Dispersed to
Their Several Homes.

| AHAfNl4Dl / isf1N ii<A+Asf @Nsf "NAs -
special.-Two hundred determined men
fully armed stopped the Chesapeake and
Ohio train from Staunton at Woods
Crossing two miles from this city, at 10
O'Clock this morning, took therefrom
John Henry James, the negro who yes
terday assaulted Miss Julia Hotopp ana
hung him to a tree and riddled nls body
with bullets.
The crime for which this negro paid an
| awful penalty was one Of the most afro
| cious deeds ever committed in Albemarle
county. The assault was made near the
young lady's home about two miles from
this city
She had come to the city about o'clock
! A. NJ. to have her riding horse shod
and TO get the family mail.
On her return about 1915 o'clock upon
reaching the gate which leads into pen
| Park" her home, she found the gate
which had been usually fastened with
latch. fastened with wire. She dismount-
ed and unloosed the gate and as she re-
| turned TO remOunt, she was approached
| by negro man. who stated that ne had
been awaiting her return, at the same
time struck her and grasped her by the
throat forcing her to the ground and
choking her until she became uncon-
scious.
A RIDERLESS HORSE.
when she returned 10 consciousness
! about 1880. the man had gone and the
horse had run home.
The horse returning without its rider
startled her brother Mr. Carl Hotopp
who went i'm search OF his sister finding
! her "a few hundred Yards from the house
! unconscious.
After she was gotten home. she return
ed to consciousness and told what had
befnllen her. describing her assaiant.
When the fact became known In the
city. the Indignation was great and over
one hundred armed men went IN pursuit
of the villain While this party were
securing the woods a man ansWerins me
description Of her assailant was arrested
In the city in bar-room by Ofhcer
! Grady.
Al ? o'clock the man in the custody OF
officers was carried before Miss Hotopp
n was given out yesterday for pruden-
| tiaf reasons that the man was not tully
| identified but It now turns out that ne
was readily recognized by the young
| lady as the assailant and with inns
knowledge the officers returned the prs
oner TO Jail. ,,,
| rARLOTTESVILLE EXCITED.
The excitement I'm the meantime was
| runnino- high and the belief was strong
| that the guilty man was the prisoner anu
| heavy guard was placed around the
| iau. "A grand jury was hastily summoned
| and the officers Of the law took every
| precaution 10 protect the prisoner anu
| bring him TO "a speedy trial
II was made evident last night ABOUT
! q. o.clocl, that he was the man who made
| the assault and the excitement ran 10
sucb n mitch that the authorities slipped
the nrisonor out Of the back way Of the
| iaU letting him down over the back wall
and sent him to Staunton on an engine
| for safe keeping and 10 be returned IN
| time for a hearing this morning before
the special grand jaEY.
THE COURT WAITING.
THE court had assembled al l0:3O
o'clock. the jury sworn and while they
were taking evidence in the case
| 'phOne message reached the city that the
train had been intercepted. the prisoner
taken from it and lynched by large
mob of masked men, IL was found 10 De
true. and that the culprits body hung
dangling from tree near Woods Cross
ing.
The jury, not knowing what mad hap
pcned brought I'm a verdict or guilty, IL
being the first time in the history otithe
county Of true bill having Deeh iouhd
against dead man.
m IS stated BY citizens OF the county,
who lived I'm the neighborhood OF the
Iynching spot, that James when the rope
was put around his neck. and was about
to be hauled up, stated that he was
n11iltv of the crime, and hoped God might
forgive him.
The PIN of capture was most COM
plete. and was carried out with syste-
matte determination.
OFFICERS OVERPOWERED.
Tho prisoner was taken 20 Staunton
i'm charge OF Sheriff Watts, Of the coun-
IS of Albemarle, and Chief OF Police
Frank Parish, and on the return to-
day he WAS I'm the same custody.
The officers were taken entirely by sur
prise. When the train reached Woods
Crossing the crowd were assembled az
tine station They were all unmasked'
but heavily armed. and had their re-
volvers drawn when the train came IN.
A number OF sturdy men mounted the
platform OF the car. and Chief Parish,
who for the first time realize their mis-
sion. dropped himself against the front
car door with revolver in hand. In a
twiukling he was swept aside and bound
around the wrists. The crowd then made
a rush for Sheriff Watts and the prisoner.
They were both seized and hustled outside
Of the car. As soon as James reached
the nlatform a rope was thrown over his
head.
PLEAD FOR THE LAW.
The officers plead with the mob TO let
the law take its course but they were
nowerIess in the hands Of so many.
The negro was carried about fifty yards
to n locust tree and after being given a
few minutes 10 pray the rope was drawn
over the limb and he was drawn up. The
crowd withdrew a short distance and rid
died the body with bullets.
When satisfied that he was dead the
crowd dispersed, leaving the oody nang-
ing in the tree. They went away in all
directions. Some coming TO the city
Others returning to their homes, all with
a perfect Indifference as 10 any future
Investigation.
AN ATROCTOUS CRIME.
cantain Woods. attorney for the Com
nnonweaIth was seen late this afternoon.