The Washington times., 1902-08-04
Coroner's Jury Continues
to Hear Evidence Bear
ing on the Case.
MUCH INTEREST IS SHOWN
Citizens of Loudoun County Accuse
Those of Fairfax of Being Most
Prominent in Mob-Several Leading
Men Mentioned as Participants.

IA ~1Nb SN'NAHA 3@NsSAAA-
Men Mentioned as Participants.
Much interest has been occasioned il
Washington and points throughout The
South over the investigation in progres!
at Leesburg, Va. where a coroner's jur!
is hearing evidence bearing on The
i:nching OF Charles Craven, the sup
rosed negro murderer of William /
Wilson last Thursday.
The fact that the crime was committed
Ill broad daylight. and that none of thC
mob was masked. was probably th'
most peculiar circumstance oonnectei
with the case.
A thorough inquiry is being made. and
rbe authorities OF Loudoun county ars
determined thai the guilty parties shall
suffer. The law-abiding citizens Of the
county feel keenly the blot which has
been placed upon the State, and will
leave no stone unturned in getting a:
the bottom of it.
Accuse Others.
Citizens of Loudoun county assert that
The men from Fairfax committed the
deed, while on the other hand it is as
serted that those from the upper coun
~ composed the great majority of the
mob.
Up to the present time the names of
prominent citizens of both counties have
been mentioned in connection with the
case, and from present indication five
or six men will be held by order Of the
jury.
One or two of these are well-known
residents of Leesburg, while others
came from Fairfax county and are well
known throughout the State Whether
CT not the grand jury will return in
dictments against the men is a ques-
tion, but the opinion seems to prevail
that even though this be done, tlat no
jury will convict them.
There car be no doubt that in both
Icudoun ard Fairfax counties public
sentiment was in favor OF dealing out
summary punishment 20 The prisoner,
while he was a fugitive. Even after
the lynching, too, q majority OF the
citizens, 1t might be said, thought that
the ends OF justice had been best served
by the work OF the mob. Others, how
ever, doubted the policy of the course.
aad there were even those who had their
doubts as to v neither Craven was the
right man. In this city, where the case
probably has not been followed as
closely as hy Virginlans, there are many
who believe Craven innocent of the
crime for which he suffered.
No One Saw Deed.
In Justice to those responsible for his
death, 1t might be said that while no
one saw the deed committed the circum-
stantial evidence against him was very
strong. He had seen Mr.. Wilson change
money in Eerndon two days before the
crime, and on Monday, when Mr.. Will
son was found murdered. Craven had
been noticed about the vicinity.
He had displayed pistol. with which
he said he was going TO kill a man, and
after the murder he was seen with a
pouch of tobacco which had been pur-
chased by Mr.. Wilson. That he fed
from the mob In another fact pointing
TO his guilt. although he claimed that
this was because he thought they were
after him for having held up a boy a
week or so before. The fact that he
could remember perfectly everything
that had happened for a week before his
capture, except mis- movements on Mon
day, operated against his case.
But with the Loudoun county authori-
ties it is not a case as to whether OF
not Craven was guiity-it would have
been all the same had he been guilty
OF the most heinous crime on the cal
endar. They are working on the theory
that two crimes do not constitute
right. but that the law should have been
permitted 10 take its course.
Feared Bloodhounds.
The Loudoun couny officials performed
their duty the best they could for they
appreciated that the moment a shot was
fired that many would have been killed
or wounded. In order to recure the
negro the mob was compelled to break
into the Jail, and then only after forclbly
taking away the officials guarding the
place. The jailer would not turn the
keys over 10 them. and crowbars and
sledge hammers had to be used in max |
ing an entrance.
Those who have never attended a |
lynching can hardly realize the scene
as the man was brought from
the Jail the crowd gave q tremendous /
shout, women cheering as well as the /
men. II had been intended to take the .
man to the vicinity OF Herndon. and 4
hang him in view OF the place where |
the crime was committed In Fairfax 4
county.
On the road, however, the public bury |
ing ground was reached, and the sug- .
gestion that this was a most suitable /
spot. in view OF the fact that the mill 1
tary was expected, appeared to meet
with general approval. On the one
scrub oak which stands beside the
Alexandria turnpike. Craven was lynch
ID. An entrance into the grounds was
made through the wire fence. and after
the negro had been given an opportu-
atty to make a statement. be was hang
ID.
Tried New Way.
In the West. the mob generally in.
iicts lynch law on a man by standing
lin on a horse or in a wagon and ne
6 left hanging by driving from under
lin. II is no unusual thing also +,