The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-16
ALEXANDRIA JAIL
RESISTS ATTACK
Attempt to Lynch William DOdsOn
Not Successful.
MET WITH A RAIN OF BULLETS.
The Old Negro Denies the Charge and
Processes to Feel No Fcar-lic
is Nearly An Octogc-
marian.

| dred indignant citizens of Alexandra
county and many curious ones from
! Washington surrounded the Alexandra
county jail. at Fort Myer Heights last
| night and cheered the attempts or a TITO
| OF white men who sought 10 force an en-
trance with the purpose Of lynching VII
| liam Dodson, an old negro. arrested yes
ferday upon the charge Of Grim
inauy assaulting an eight-year-oid
girl Jailor N0urse and those
within the building greeted the
venturesOme ones with shower
| OF bullets. which served to assist them
in making a hasty retreat. The reDulse
Of the attacking party did not, however
have the effect Of dispensing the mob.
which was continually being added 20
by newcomers up TO o'clock this morn
ing.
THE ARREST.
DOdsOn was arrested yesterday after
noon upon a complaint of having as
saulted Viola Elliott, the young daugh-
ter OF Special Officer Jack Elliott who
lives near the Chain Bridge. in Washing
ton district of Alexandria county. The
alleged assault is said 10 have occurred
last Tuesday night and when arrested
the negro. who Is seventy-eight years old
was taken- before Magistrate Charles
Trout After hearing the evidence
against the accused man the magistrate
bound him over to the grand jury and or
dered that he be confined in the AleXan-
dria county jail. about one mile beyond
the Virginia end of the AQueduct Bridge.
Magistrate Trout directed also that spe-
cial precautions be taken 10 see that the
prisoner did not fall a victim 20 the wrath
Of the indignant citizens of the county.
Dodson was locked NJ late Yesterday
afternoon and long toward evening ru-
mors Of a probable lynching were COM
mon on the other side of the river and In
Alexandria. Those who were willing 20
lend their ear TO such rumors recalled the
lynching in Alexandria two years ago
and the number that volunteered 10
serve as spectators OF such a deed graz
ually increased. After nightfall the roads
leading TO the jail were alive with men.
nearly all Of whom were however, bound
10 the jail to see a lynching, very few
expressing any desire 10 take part.
THE LYNCHERS.
About o'clock a party Of about forty
started out from Alexandra. and It was
quickly heralded that a leader had been
found ana the lynchng was a sure thing.
Nearly two hundred persons went across
the Aqueduct Bridge from Washington,
some on wheels, Others in carriages and
many sfoot. all curious ones who want
ed 20 see the fun. The Jail building is
located on a little clearing a short dis |
lance away from the Court House. and, |
excepting for about twenty feet of clear |
ed land on all sides, It IS surrounded by |
woods. The gathering crowd scattered
IN these woods, and It was not until |
1880 o'clock that any one ventured t. |
approach the buldlnS
Three of the Alexandria party. headed |
by o. y. Kirby. a deputy United States |
collector at that place, appeared at the |
jail door Jailor Nourse and his WIFE |
Prentice Bowie Horace Swain, and Frank |
-. Grimes. all of Alexandra. were with /
the jail0r. and each was well armed.
Kirby was met at the door by Nourse. To-
whom he stated that he had been sent
by The Post This. however. was imme-
diately denied by Mr.. Grimes. The Post
representative and without any further
words the door was slammed. and those
within the jail opened fire upon the trio.
BULLETS RAINED ABOUT.
The men I'm jail declare that they tried
To land their bullets as they were con-
WINGED that the men intended TO force
an enhance with the purpose of lynch
ing Dodson. The mon retreated hastily, |
but hung around I'm the woods for sew
eral hours afterward, and every time any
OF them made their appearance IN the
clearing those in the jail opened fire.
Shortly after midnight Noursa left the
fail and walked over TO the house,
the doors Of which he found had been
forced open. No one was In the building
al the time.
During tho excitement Dodson was bad
~ frightened He refused 10 talk re-
gardihg the charge against him, and
Ia IN .H. Inc rs..s.
upon his knees and begged deliverance
Mrs. Nourse the jailors wife. assist
d IN defending the jail and throughout
vas az cool as any OF the men, She sat
II one of the second -stOry windows with !
/ rife IN her arms, and occasionally fol- |
owed the firing Of her husband and 9TH
r men, and dropped a bullet IN the woods
surrounding the courthouse. JaiOr |
Icurse was well supplied with guns and
ammunition. and gave all within shot
ange 10 understand that Dodson would
Tot be surrendered without trouble
THE ACCUSED.
Dodson lives on little farm near
'hain Bridge. He * married He was
lorn slave and for years was the prop
rty Of Commodore Jones. OF Fairfax
ounty Va. Since the close OF the war
e has eked out living from the sale OF
'erries and vegetables in the city mar
.ets
Three other colored men are in the fail
With Dodson. They showed little con
ern over the possible fate Of their fellow
risoner.
After the first shot was fired by Nourse
rom the jail window. a cry was heard
nd afterward moaning. The Tailor con
luded that one OF the mob had been
truck by the bullet
DODSONS DENIAL
Dodson was seen this morning lie
made a brife statement. as follows:
'"rhere are some people who never tire
II presenting a black man. I was sur
rised rather than scared when they ar s
ested me. as I had committed no crime
Z all. The little Elliott girl was play z
ne with my tools and caught her dress. I
caring II badly. when her sister came
4 and saw it. Really, I knew nothing I
bout any charge until they arrested a
ne yesterday. '
mo. I was not frightened last night. | =
or I had done nothing ut all wrong" d
EARLY TRIAL PROBABLE
Assistant Commemorative Attorney
. G. CarlIn stated this morning that
q would write Immediately TO Judge
owe and make arrangements for sum- ,
loning n special grand jury 20 hear
'odson's case by the 2ith OF this month.
ttorney Samuel G.. Brent OF this city.
expected 20 conduct Dodson's defense. T
TYLER IN MARION, !