Evening star., 1902-08-05
CITIZENS ARE TIRED
Object to Investigation of
CraVen's Lynching.
SAY IT WAS DESERVED
SHERIFF ALLISON COMES OUT
WITH A STATEMENT.
Not More Than Ten Per Cent of Mob
Was From Fairfax, he
Declares.
SAY IT WAS DESERVED
Special from a Staff Correspondent.

winch crime is generally termed 'lynching.'
with lew exceptions the people are satisfied
that craven got no more than he deserved
ana 1t Is due to the few that the investiga-
tion mas gone far enough to implicate so
many persons. That Coroner CIaggett is
uoins MS utmost in the matter there can
De no doubt and the ministers and several
others, including the mayor and sheriff, are
assisting him. The question that is inter-
estlng the people and claiming their atten-
lloh is whether the majority of lynchers
came from Fairfax county or belong here
IN Loudoun. There is one thing certain; ;
during the pursuit people of both counties
composed the crowd of 300 or more. and
ooth counties were largely represented. II
was openly stated by men Of both counties
mat the negro must be lynched. Some
reared that the excited men would shoot
MIN as soon as he was overtaken, and many
tlmes some OF the mob requested that he
DE held for just such an exhibition as oc-
CURED in the ,pauper cemetery.
we all want shot at him." men We're
heard to say. Certainly the poor victim
was held long enough to crafty the wishes
OF the people who made the requests.
Sheriff Allison Makes Statement.
Deputy Sheriff Allison of Fairfax county
has given out statement upon the ques-
ton of who lynched Craven
While l have the friendliest feeling to-
ward the people Of Loudoun county yet 1
am unwilling to remain silent and see the
good name of Fairfax county slandered as
1t has recently been in the reports that
have appeared he says
Il occupy the position of deputy sheriff
and deputy treasurer of Fairfax county
and for seven years have been travelling
over the county in the discharge of my
duties. Consequently, 1 am acquainted
with all, or nearly all, Of the citizens of
this county, and especially with the people
residing in the vicinity where William H
Wilson was murdered
''As an officer Of the county I engaged in
the three days search for Craven, and ar
rived In Leesburg about fifteen minutes
after the prisoner was placed in the jail
at that place, where l went to assist the
Loudoun officers In removing him to the
Fairfax county jail
Il saw nearly everything connected with
the unfortunate affair. 1 was standing on
the jail steps when the mob approached
did all in my power to protect the prisoner
and can state of my own knowledge that
there were but few Fairfax men present
and that the men engaged in the lynching
were unknown to me.
One reason why more Fairfax men were
not present was that Craven having COM
mitted the crime in Fairfax, was pursued
by large force of Fairfax county men for
two days near the scene of the crime.
+ "The fugitive fled on the evening before
his capture far up into Loudoun county,
and the weary citizens of Fairfax were un-
able to continue the chase in large num-
bers. Consequently, the crowd was made
up largely of Loudoun county people, from
the vicinity of Goose creek, where Craven
was last seen before his capture.
Fairfax county never had a lynching.
Mr.. Wilson was citizen of Loudoun
county, was also his murderer, who had
committed many crimes in said county and
at the time of his arrest was wanted by
the authorities of his county for robbing a
boy near Leesburg.
THE true reason why Craven was lynched
was the feeling engendered by Craven's
past bad record. added to which was the
murder of a highly respected citizen of
Loudoun county.
Il will further say that I am willing to
state under oath that to the best of my
knowledge and belief not more than 10 per
cent of the crowd at Leesburg on the above
unfortunate occasion were citizens of Fair
fax county"
Residents of this town are somewhat in
censed at the statement made by the Rev.
Mr.. Kinks that whisky was the cause of
the lynching. Some Of the men who par
ticipated in the affair, he said. were blind
with drink. Many witnesses to the affair
deny this assert lon, and the claim is made
the bar rooms did not do an unusual
business Thursday morning, although there
was some drunkenness later in the day.
There was no drinking done by the crowd
during the chase through the county. When
the crowd left Dranesville Wednesday
morning there was not the slightest sus-
picion that anybody had been drinking.
In the crowd of fully 800 persons it is au-
thoritatively stated not more than three
bottles Of beer and a pint Of liquor were
consumed during the day.
Governor Hasn't Heard From Officials.
Gov. Montague has not been heard from
by the officials investigating the lynching
of Charles Craven since he ordered the
Alexandria military company to come here
| to protect the prisoner. The governor is
personally acquainted with Coroner Clag-
| gett and understands that he is not man
| who will shirk his duty.
There is no reason why the governor
| should take any part in the affair" an Of
| fetal remarked. "for those who are con-
| Quoting the investigation will do their
| best"
1t is rumored that a Jail delivery may be
attempted in event the coroner's jury holds
| several persons for the lynching, but such
| a thing the officials think will not he at
| tempted, as the grand jury will meet next
| Monday. This will mean that no delay
will be occasioned in completing the tnves-
| tigation. What the outcome OF the grand
| jury's work will be nobody can predict
1t is the general opinion that none of those
| who assisted in killing Craven will be pun
ished further than Incarceration in the
| county jail for a short time.
| When the hearing at the inquest was re-
Sumed this morning colored woman MOL
| lie Gaskins was first examined She tes-
titled that she saw the man Scott Bradley
| the day of the lynching and heard him re-
| mark:
1--WE will kill him before 2 o'clock"
| Russell Mock, deputy sheriff of Loudour
| county, asked If the prisoner had been
| given protection, responded:
| eff we hadn't protected him on the train
| he would never have reached Leesburg
| alive
| The sheriff was unable to identify any OF
| the lynchers. Deputy Sheriff ]. R. Allison
| of Fairfax county told the jury that he
| nabbed Craven when he was brought out
| of jail, hoping to protect him, but was
knocked away by an unknown man. He
| recognized none Of the men who had hold
| of Craven nor could he identify any OF
| those who fired the shots.
| Saw One Shot Fired.
| James Machen, also Fairfax deputy
explained the exciting time he had while
| trying to protect the prisoner and the jail
He was pitched about the jail steps sc
much that he had no time to notice who
was in the crowd. Frederick Saunders tes-
| titled that he was standing in front Of the
| Jail Thursday talking to others. He heard
! one of the men, Samuel Grimes, say tina,
1 two murdererS had ESCAPED, and he didn't