Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-10
0UTWARDLY QUIET.
THAT THE SITUATION IN ALEXAN-
DRIA YESTERDAY.
BUT The CITIZENS ARE READY
Tor Any Trouble Growing Out Of
tuesday Nights Lynching-A Fun
supply of Arms and Ammunition
ON Hand.

ALEXANDRIA. VA, August 9.-(Spe-
cial)-There has been am uHdercurrent Of
excitement manifested among citizens to-
day. as result Of the lynchlng of Ben
Jamin Thomas (coloreO. which occurred
about II o'clock last night. as reported
in the Dispatch. Outwardly, the city has
resumed its normal state, following the
rotous scenes which characterized Mon
day and Tuesday nights.
The body Of Thomas. lying at an under
taking establishment has been viewed
by hundreds of both races. At II O'Clock
Dr. 7. VI. Jones made post-mortem ex-
animation and later Coroner's jury was
convened by Coroner Purys. DR..
Jones testified that Thomas met death
by q bullet wound in his heart The
jury returned a verdict setting forth that
the negro had met a violent death at the
hands Of a mob, the personnel of which
WIS unknown TO the jury.
ROUGHLY HANDLED.
Mayor Simpson this morning showed
marked signs of his rough handling by
.Le mob. He was cheerful. however, and
seemed to regret nothing, save that the
Seed had been accomplished. The Mayors
et eye was bruised and swollen. lie
stated that IL would be impossible TO
institute legal proceedings against the
leaders Of the mob, for among them were
numbered many Of the most prominent
citizens Of the city Others stated that
nine out of every dozen jurymen sum
m0lcd to sit on the case OK one Of the
perpetrators would be men who We're
81
conduct has been the subject OF unstinted
praise to-day. ON all sides may be heard
words Of commentator for the courage
De displayed.
PEACE PRECAUTIONS.
Every precaution has been taken TO
guard against any further trouble from
the negroes. While they have maintain
cd silence to-day, IL has been 81
sullcn and pronounced that the authoTi-
lies regard 1t as ominous.
Captain James +. King, of the AleXan
dria Light Infantry, a company hereto
fore without equipments, wired AdJutant
General Male, in Richmond. this morn
ing for arms ana ammunition. The
O'Clock passenger train over the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac road
brought sixty rifles and an abundant sup
ulv of ammunition As the company
numbers sixty men it is now thoroughly
equipped and ready for any emergency
Recollection is fresh in the people S
minds of a threatened midnight invasion
of the city by a mob of several hundred
NEGROES from Alexandria county, follow
ing the lynchng of Mccoy which occur
red April, 1897. The citizens are armed
and alert The authorities hope TO avert
any further hostile demonstration ON
the part of the negroes. The only Incl
dent TO openly disturb the peace to-day
was gathering about the home of Mr..
Edward Clark. the father OF little Lillian
who was the object OF the negro's brutal
attempt. Officers soon dispersed the
gathering. and arrested Susan Gregory
the aggressOr.
QUIET AT MIDNIGHT
At f. o'clock tonight nothing startling
had developed. Squads of citizens con
tinue TO patrol the streets. by order Of
the Mayor number Of police guard the
residence of Edward Clarke, on north
Patrick street 4 fun force of policemen
IS on duty. Alarming messages of negro
gatherings have been received here du-
ring the night The intelligence came
from Washington that mob Of negroes
mad gathered at Waterloo about I'VE
miles away. intending TO raid the city
,rbe Alexandria Light Infantry are
,,r5er arms in their Armory. Al IL O'Clock
Cautain King sent the following dispatch
=, Adfutant-G General Male, IN Richmond
"Have been under arms at Armory
since 73O J.. NJ, 10y orders Of Mayor. WI
urobablv be dismissed by O'CLOCK a. NJ
Everything quiet