The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-07-26
NEGRO LYNCHED
AT ELKINS, Iva.
William Brooks Fatally Shot Of
ficer Lilly and Angry Mob Of
Citizens Strung him up.
Scene OfLynGhing was Frghtful
Sky Covered with Clouds and
Lightning Flashed necessarily.
Crowds cheered as he Shot
into the air.

William Brooks, u negro, Monday
evening just at nightfall, was lynched
at Elkins by an angry mob of citizens
for having, two hours previous, fatal
~ shot Robert Lilly, chief OF police.
Brooks was employed on the building
Of the Coal and Iron extension of the
West Virginia Central railroad and
had been conducting himself in dis
orderly manner at a negro picnic.
Policeman Lants attempted to ar
rest him, but the negro displayed a re-
volyer, and the officer went for aid.
He found Chief Lilly, and they start
ed after the desperate. Lilly told
Brooks he was under arrest and the
negro opened fire on him, the first ball
striking him In the left groin. Lilly
returned the fire and put four balls
into the negro, two Of which struck
him in the body and two in the leg. A
ball from Brooks's weapon struck Lii,
ly's left arm at the shoulder, knocking
him down, and while he was down the
negro shot him again, the ball enter.
ing half an inch above the first shot,
and tearing through his bladder and
bowels.
The black then ran and was follow
ed by a crowd Of boys shouting, Catch
the Niger" The employees at the
West Virginia Central railroad shops
were just quitting work and they all
Joined in the chase. After a desperate
race the negro turned and fired the
last shot In his revolver into the
ground In the direction Of one Of the
boys who was following him, just as
his pursuers were upon him.
He was placed In the city lookup,
where his wounds we're attended to.
AN angry mob surrounded the place,
but no effort was made TO secure the
prisoner. At half past eight four
guards attempted to take the prisoner
t. the train to land him in jail at
AS soon as the guards left
The jail they were quickly overpower-
ed and rope placed around BroOks's
neck. The mob then started for the
city park, some distance away, drag
.lng the negro by the rope around his
neck. When the park WIS reached he
was almost dead from fright and the
rough usage. He was strung up to
me OF the trees without ceremony,
close to an electric arc light, the rope
was tied about the tree and the mob
left. AS he went up the crowd cheer
ed and no one seemed TO regret the
deed.
During the lynching the sky was
covered with black cloudsacross which
vivid lightning played necessarily,
the someone OF fearful aspect.
The blacks body was hung close TO the
light, which plainly showed his face,
horribly cut and bruised from being
over the ground. No one
showed any disposition to cut down
the corpse.
Chief Of police Lilly was mortally
wounded. Mayor Foutcalled a special
of council and at 1l:3O Lilly
was sent to Cumberland on a special
train for treatment. He died that
night.
The crowd which hanged Brooks
was very orderly and made no attempt
at concealment. They went about
under the lights with uncovered faces
and called each other by name.
The lynching was the result of the
lawlessness in that section
since the holidays and the many muir.
ders which have gone unpublished. 1t
had been vowed repeatedly that the
next murderer would be lynched.
Brooks is from the West Virginia
Short Line railroad construction, and
is said to belong to Danville, Va. He
is reported to have killed a policeman
in Danville and to have shot mum.
Der Of people In saloon rows.
He figured several times in police