Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-19
CRIME In
WEST VIRGINIA.
COLORED MAN LYNCH.
ED.
Graphic Scenes at Hinton
THE OFFICERS PLEA.
No Punishment for the
Lynchers.
Graphic Scenes at Hinton
THE OFFICERS PLEA.

ON' W. A., may Il.-One OF
the most horrible calamities befell
shis community tonight about II.so
O'Clock that has ever stained the mama
OF the country, which was the Iypcb
ing OF William Lee by q mob of abo,,
seventy-five or one hundred men.
Lee was from Re idsville, N. c and
Tor some months past had been work.
Ing on the double tracking which the
Chesapeake ard Ohio are having laid
near Sandstone, about ten miles west
OF this place. On the night of the 9Th
instant he attempted to assault Mrs
II. ii. Diefe nbaek, the lady oner.to-
Tor the Chesapeake and Ohio RaIlw.y
at Sandstone, but was foiled in his
purpose by the timely arrival Of a
w. Fh' fr in Lee escaped to the
mOu tame and was securely hidden
until this morning, when his where.
spouts were ascerta net by ore of his
comrades under the BE- ~ of whis-
key, when he told ui IA Ding nlace
of Lee, who was tuly .urTehspdss
and brought to this city.
SOME TAIK OF LxNcHINa.
There was some talk Of lynching at
the time, but by the prompt responss
OF the chesapeake and Ohiu Companv
transportation was furnished from tbs
point where he was arrested and near
where the crime YVES comrnitted 60
hinton, and it was thought that NO
violence would be attemp pied.
Inc Circuit Court was 10 session and
speciaI grand jury had been sum.
moneo ana all speed WAS being given
80 pring Lee TO due punishment for
mis- crime, and it was cor fidentlv er-
pecttd that he would be tried and ssn.
fenced TO- morrow,
About III O'Clock che mob heOan En-
assem- bic and at once went to the iaiJ
ana demanded entrance. which was
promptly refused by the sheriff and /
the few men he had time to summon
TO his assistance.
THE USUAL STORY.
Ihey were overpowered and the ont.
or door was opent d, when a shot was
Hired by one in the mob which strncL
near the sheriff, who. perceiyinp that
All his resistance was useless 0evs
snem the keys to the cell in which
Lee was confined. 1t then was but a
lew moments antil Lee was being tax.
en- rapidly through q back street and
1csoss vacant lot to the nearest
point where the outskirts of the tow
,ould be reached.
The mob pressed their work ranidlv
and within twenty minutes after ths
All wss attacked, they had taken LSct
ABOUT three-fourths Of q mile from
own, IN one OF the darkest and most
ruesome holes in this section. and
lad him ready to hand.
TINE M NAV
they paused for q moment tn uiva ,,
Inn time to pray, which. if he Ala
ouid not be heard by the bystsnssrs 4
Tho were some fifty or one hundrsS e
ards down the ravine. After he bsS
cen drawn up about five hundred
nots were Hired. large number of r
'nich took effect. The mob seemed
cry much excited, and were verv I
oisterous after they reached the pointI
.nere ne wes executed, but as soon as
LET I. pioooy deed had sbeen accom-. {
ilsheo. they returned in q BODY to. {
ard the town, some singing. bnt ali
caring an air Of determination,
oNA LARGE OAK.
The body of Lee hung on larpe Dab "a
zee, and when found by tie parties d,
lat followed the mob, and who wera to
the scene within two minutes aftar III
ie last shot was fired, found his feat
ere about three feet from the oronnd
TN the rope tied with hangman,s IL.
1ot around his neck, with the knot
aoer the right ear. There were hui
neies through almost every part Of o,
J 0ooy, and especially about the face
ID head. -
Assistant Prosecuting Atternev n In
Read went among the mob willis III
ey were attempting to gain admit
nee to the Jail and plead with tn. II
On TO desist, promising them that on
morrow the man should be triad
q sentenced, and il they would but
Ter their action that the Negro
on ID be punished to the full extent
the law.
THE JUDGE PowRRLKss. La
udge j. M. McWhorter also enda.v
"a TO aissuade the men from the nm 1
'Ioi purpose, promising all haste in &
trial of the case.
70 Tar as can be learned the eoloraa
"a never positively confessed his Bel
me, but there seems to be no douht
atever that he is the proper psrtv
MRS. Diefenback idestified him
same one who had attempted Che I'll