The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-13
RBPELS :
LYNCHERSl
"Ohl If | Had Something
That Would End This
q: d Life!" the Victims
As, Cry in Court.

! Bridgeport, Conn. June l2-Ied by Ed,
ward B. Roberts, nephew Of the elderly
| woman who was maltreated by the negro
Morrison, a band Of hot-headed young
| men made a2sincere attempt this morning
! TO wrest the prisoner from the hands OF
the authorities for the purpose Of lynch
ing him.
This happened outside the building al
Stratford In which the negro WAS arraign-
tion Of the place was gathered there.
Mrs. Margaret Roberts wos inside, sup
ported by her daughter, and tho COURT
room WAS packed with spectators. Young
Roberts ran up the steps OF the building
and faoed his neighbors who were evil
IDENTIFY looking to him for encouragement
what shall We do with the black devilP
he cried.
Lynch him Lynch him!' roared tho
crowd swaying under the tnpulse Of eK-
element.
That menacing shout rolled through tho
open windows of the court room. The
prisoner chung to Constable Bradley and
began to whimper under his breath, while
his eyeballs rolled wildly. Sheriff Stagg
fumbled with his revolver and glanced APP
prchensively toward the door, 4
MRS. ROBERTS DESPAIR. =.
But the most painful effect of all was
that produced on Mrs. Margaret Roberts.
Already fearfully unstrung she had nsed-
cd all her fortitude to appear In court at
all, and now the sound Of her nephew's
voice and the shouts of her neighbors and
the sense OF savage deed impending
moved her to throw her hands over her
face and cry:
"oh! i I only had something that
This piercing expression of despair was
,,di la ali u1 Pohortn boa
utterly distraught.
mo mercy for the fsnd!" he shouted.
mercy !"
While yonng Bradley and his followers
made dispositions for ar attack 90 soon as
the prisoner. should be brought forth, tho
iormalities Of the nrraignment went for.
ward within. Asked what he had to say
Ia answer to the charge, Morrison mum
bod
"Well. eyerybody's against me, anyhow.
so guess Pm guilty"
Mrs. Roberts faced the bitterest part of
her ordeal dropping on her daughters
shoulder. After identifying tho prisoner
as her assailant she shrank away and
quavered piteously:
"Oh Let me go! Let me go! cannot
stand IL! shall never live!
Other witnesses were examined briefly.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Osborn, Edith and
Estella Park, Mrs. Alouzo Gray and Mrs.
Il, A, Bradley identified Morrison as the
negro whom they had seen lettering about
Mrs. Roberts home on Saturday.
swORE IN DEPUTIES.
Justice Peck adjourned court Sheriff
Stagg raised his voice and sharply called
off the names of a score Of able bodied
men whom he recognized among the spec
tators.
In the tersest manner he swore them in
as deputies, and provided such Of them as
were not already armed with revolvers.
Then, with The covering prisoner in th -
midst all marched for the door.
One frantic figure launched l.
them with ssuch impetuosity -
trate their ranks. 1t was EdWl
Before the deputies had reg
their surprise he had grab
and was shouting to his fri
Others charged valiantly
val was too great, and VIII
tered the steady muzzles o.
ers they fell back In confus{$
1t was all over In few se6ol
deputies overpowersd the desperate(l
erts and Morrison was hustled into 6A
prison ambulance and whisked off,