Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-09
FROM A LAMP-POST.
A Negro Fisnd Lynched in Alex
andTia Last Night
FOR THE USUAL CRIME
An ImmlSe Mob BattefS Down The
Jail-DOOr.
THE MAYORS VAIN APPEAL.
The AFFAIR the Culmination of
Twenty-Four Hours of Most En-
citing Events-A yeritnble Night
of Terror.

| cial.)-ShOrtly before II o'clock tonight.
mob Of about one thousand citizens
surrounded the Jail and demanded the de-
livery Of Benjamin Thomas. the negro
was charged with attempted criminal as
sault upon little Lillian Clark, daughter
Of Mr.. Edward Clark The mob at once
secured a long piece Of timber and bat
tered in tho Jail front door. which is
wooden. They thought that the prisoner
was back OF the corridor and il seemed
a difficult problem to get at him. Soon
thereafter the Mayor appeared upon the
scene, and made a speech from the Jail
step, advising the mob to let the law
take its course. and stating that a special
grand jury would be summoned to-mor-
row and indict the prisoner and before
| thirty days had elapsed the negro would
be hanged. Furthermore. he promised
the mob that If such was not the case he
would help the mob irrespective Of the
duties Of his Office, and be the chief of the
lynching party. The mob listened, but
| again demanded the prisoner, hundreds
entering the jail. In the mean time
| pistolshots were being fired on the out
! side and some one said several hundred
negroes were awaiting further develop
ments and were about TO attack the
! whites, but the report could not be veri-
/ fed.
THREAT AND APPEAL.
The Mayor further stated that he would
have the ringleaders indicted for murder,
and again made a touching appeal to
/ no lat L. "a
as lynching would bring disgrace upon
the city and her people. After a little
! parleyinG some Of the mob seemed salts
| fled with the Mayors suggestion, but
others still clamored in the Jail, demand
ing the prisoner. About this time the
Mayor was roughly handled by the mob,
! and it became apparent that trouble was
| sure, as there We're cries of Take the
| Mayor away" which resulted in the Off
| GERS having 10 protect him with drawn
! pistols. Finally. the mob. despite the
/ strong appeal made by the Mayor found
! the whereabouts Of the prisoner, which
was in the cellar Of the jail. and the
! negro, frightened nearly 10 death, made
/ a bold dash for freedom. His Opportu-
/ nifty W2s the parleying Of some MEM
| bers Of the mob about his being
the right negro. He was captured nearly
| opposite the jail y rope was Immediately
! placed about the neck and ne was drag
! ged down st. Asaph street to King. Upon
! the mobs reaching the intersection OF
! King and Fairfax streets, which Is just
| one block below police headquarters,
! Thomas was strung up TO the lamp-post
! at the southeast corner of King and Fair
| fax. This is in one Of the most promi-
nent sections Of the city. Noley AFTER
volley of shots were fred into his body.
| Then his body was left, perfectly nude
! with the exception Of his SOCKS ana SHOES.
ATTACKED THE OFFICER.
Finally Officer William Wilkerson, VINO
was one of the guards al the jail, appear
ed ON the scene and cut the rope ana
lowered the body. Wi'kerson was attack
Cd by the mob with pistols. and at this
iuncture IL seemed that trouble was again
| inevitable. While the body lay on tho
ground The mob again drew back and
several shots were tired into the pros
trate form. Tho rope was cut up by a
crowd eager for pieces as a remembrance
| of the Nnching. The mob then dispersed.
! During the melee at the Jail the fourteen
officers seemed totally unable TO cope with
| the crowd, and Chief-of-Police webster
| had his hand badly mashed. The major
itv of citizens seem TO uphold the lyncn-
ing. As above stated, Mayor Simpson
told that all who participated would De
barshly dealt with. IL is not known what
action will be taken in the matter. Inc
body was removed 10 Demalns uhueI-
taking establishment There were num-
Der Of country people and Washington
ians in the crowd.
HOURS OF EXCITEMENT.
The AFFAIR was the elimination Of some
twentv-four hours Of most intense ex-
| element. As many citizens as could De
accommcd dated with standing room were
hacked foto the Police-COurt room for two
hours this morning hearing testimony
i'm a case against Thompson, who was
about % years old.
The child. when put on the stand, tes-
tilted very intelligenty, stating that she
was passing Thompson's house, when the
colored man dragged her in and attempt
| ed TO ruin her. The girl stated that
Thompson was unsuccessful. The accused
volunteered no statement lie looked
awed and frightened, and seemed relieved
when Mayor Simpson sent his case on to
the grand jury and he was sent away TO
| jail
PRIOR TO Thompson's hearing a line OF
evidence was given which showed that
| by the narrOWest margin Alexandria had
cscaped a horrible riot in the stlll hours
Of the morning.
4 NEGRO MOB.
James Turey, Edward Gibson, Alfred
Mason. and Harry Mcdonald Calf coloreO
| were next brought up. charged with car
| r,ing concealed weapons and attempting
| 10 incite riot. MISUNDERSTANDING
| knives. pistols, stones, and other we9-
| mons were exhibited against them.
| lieutenant Smith and several other Of
acers testified that riotOus gatherings or
| negroes were noticed between the hours
| of / and 3 o'clock. To the number OF
| about 30 a mob gathered near Hard
| Corner" a dlsreputable locality and re-
fused 10 disperse declaring that they had
assembled TO prevent a lynchlng
| THE ARRESTS.
| According 10 the evidence. almost every
| orner was the scene OF dlsOrderly gath
! ering. and dusky forms could be discerned
| shifting about from place 10 place. IN
| charge OF a strong squad OF policemen
| Lieutenant Smith dispersed the mob at
one place. but they Immediately reassem-
pled making threats against prominent
| citizens Several leaders were finally Sc
| cured and locked up and order was re-
| stored.
While these large bands Of negroes
were patroling the streets, muttering
| threats and OF times becoming loud ana
boisterous, the white citizens, with scarce
| ly an exception, were quietly sleeping
not dreaming Of tina impending danger.
Mayor Simpson imposed fine or 80 Oh
| each prisoner.
Ten other negroes were then called 10
| the prisoners stand. charged with being
| implicated In the riot. One OF them NJ