The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-24

guard the prisoners. They were armed
with all sorts of weapons One gentle /
man had an old navy revolver one hun
,dred years old. ,.-.--
TO BE =LYNOHED.
Judge Goodwin and Sheriff Lee knew
full well that at night the prisoners
would be lynched, and they therefore
called upon the Governor for troops
Judge GOODWIN told me he never saw
people so worked up The most conserva-
I tive people, he said, lost their heads Only
the pleadings of a few prevented an at:
tack upon the Jail before the soldiers got
here There was a scene when a son OF
3 Mr. Saunders came up and made an effort:
{ to get 4at Cotton and shoot him. The
sorely distressed young man had to be;
forcibly kept from carrying out his pur-t
pose to kill his fathers murderer.
The crowd thinned out early in the.
afternoon, as many went to Zion Church.
four miles from here, to attend the fune-
raj of Mr.. Saunders and Mr.. Welton.5
There was tremendous gathering at the
church. Both men were buried at the
same time In the cemetery in the church
yard.
When the Blues arrived, soon after a
o'clock, there was not large crowd
about the jail. About fifty people, white
and colored, were at the station. The
soldiers were marched Off at once to the
courthouse yard, about three hundred
yards distant. It had been feared that
an attack might be made upon the sol-i
diers, but there was no attempt at any
thing of the sort.
SOLDIERS NOT BLAMED.
The people did not blame the soldiers
for coming nor the Governor for send
ing tnem but many of them openly de-
nounced Judge Goodwin and Sheriff Lee
for calling for a military company. In
fact, Judge Goodwin says he heard that
threats were made to lynch him. He Is
a gentleman apparently about forty years
old, clean shaVen, and with clear cut
fea lures.
I am told that ne does not know what
fear is He mingled with the crowd and
urged the hotheads against any rash
action Sheriff Lee, an elderly gentle
!! man. was sitting at the jai. door when
the soldiers marched up. The soldiers had
not been on duty half an hour before the
three Delaneys and Clay, who had been
arrested at Jarratts, were marched up
! and placed in prison.
INTERVIEWED COTTON;
Sheriff Lee gave me permission to in
:terview all the prisoners. Cotton was
handcuffed- He has the face of a crime.
inal. The man said he escaped from
Portsmouth jail Christmas night, but
denies that he killed the man for whose
murder he was soon to hang. He stayed
! in Norfolk county short while, then
went to North Carolina and has been IN
Greensville and neighboring counties for
a few months. He stated that he met
O'Grady near this place few days be-
fore the robbery al MIR. Grizzard's: they
camped out together and decided to com
, nit the theft. Cotton had two pistols and
he lent one to O'Grady- The negro, while
he claims that two of the Delaneys and
Clay had part in the robbery, does not
tell very straight story as to them.
In fact, most people believe the four
persons arrested at Jarratts innocent
They admit ha wing been in E1mporla SELF
ing picture frames. but say they never
saw Cotton and 20 Grady until placed in
Jail with them. Delaney says he and his
two boys are from Parksrsburg, W Va.
The boys are both under sixteen years
of age. and they are typical hoboes. Clay
is eighteen years of age and claims to
be from Spartanburg. s.. C. He says he
left home a month ago on account OF the
ill-treat1nent Of his step Smo tfier.
! TIE, WHITE TRAMP
* Grady is of doubtful age. He has
{ dark hair and beard If YOU were to
| travel the ountry over in search Of
typical Weary Willie, you could not
find better one than in O:Grady. He
I says ne is from Boston and q trgH10Sby
choice. He admits having been about Mr..
Grizzard.s house a the time Of the rob
berry and says he was with Cotton when
Messrs. Saunders and Melton were killed.
but that he: did none Of the shooting. Cot
tons excuse for shooting the two gentle
men down Is that hIr. Saunedrs. witt thont
giving him a. a8chance to surrender, opened
fire 7unon him.
Mr. Saunders was regarded as one of
the best shots in the county. He had
killed his man, two Of them. 4 believe. in
$duels. He was absolutely fearless.
BLUES QUICK TRIP.
The trip from Richmond here was made
i'm excellent q time. There were only two
stops; one at Chester and the other ut
stony Creek The special had the risht
OF. way It sdias not go through Peters
burg, bnt went arotnd II, over the Bait
Line. Major So. Cutchins came along.
HUT did mot wear his urh form The boys
lbehaved admirably When Emporia was
reached Major Cut chins went out to cons
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