The Washington times., 1902-08-01

mat the weapons mad been Drought TO
hunt for the fugitive. II was the gen.
eral understanding In this vicinity that
Craven was heavily armed, and that he
hac threatened to kill any white man
VINO crossed his track.
Shortly after l o'clock, however,
crowd on horseback from lower Lou
doun and upper Fairfax arrived This
Iarty was composed Of neighbors and
friends of Mr.. Wilson. who had been
killed in cold blood. The new arrivals
did not wait for orders or indulge in
| discussion. They had learned that Mr..
Wilson's slayer was in the Jail and came
to infiict summary punishment.
ION to The jail" was the cry. The
crowd resolved itself into frantic VIC
lent mob.
When the cry was heard by the half
dozen or more prisoners within the jail
| they became panic-stricken. Craven
was probably the coolest of the negroes
IN confinement. Sheriff Russell, with
Jailer Charles Laycocls, the veteran who
has kept guard over the portals for
many years, with the deputies, stationed
themselves at the front door for the
final stand.
Defenders Brushed Asise.
| Thu mass of humanity pressed onward
and literally lifted the defenders from
their feet. Mr.. Laycock attempted to
prevent one OF the attacking party from
entering the Jail. but was thrown down,
ohoked. and then pushed out of the way.
Sheriff Russell offered resistance, and
was knocked down and dragged around
the corner. William A. Aud. one of the |
| deputies. was thrown over a fence. |
while others were forced into corners
where they could not interfere.
Efforts were made to secure the keys |
from the TALLER, but they had been |
secreted and could not be found. II was |
only a question of few minutes. how |
ever, before sexeral huge hammers and |
crowbars had Seen secured. and willing |
hands were found to work them.
With every swing of the sledge a |
mighty shout went up from the mob /
| outside. AS the huge lock from the
cutter door dropped to the ground the |
mob became even more frantic. But the
hardest part was to be done yet. The
door 10 the cage was doubly fastened
After much exertion II was found neces-
gary to smash the hinges from the door.
AS the mob sursed into the corridor
the prisoners fed In their cells. Not
so with Craven. He was In the cage.
and readily came out by direction OF
one of the leaders of the crowd. A rope
was quickly thrown about his neck, and
he was pulled into the open. while the
crowd made way.
Sheriff Russell was permitted to return
to prevent the escape of the other pris-
oners, but these were only too anxious
to stay where they were, fearing that
the wrath of the mob might be visited
upon them. One of them who greatly
70, in
being dragged to his doom because OF
the resemblance.
With Rope About Neck.
1t had been intended by the avengers
to take the negro back to Herndon. near
the scene of the crime. and there hang
him in the deep gulch where the victim
was found. A route was taken in this
direction. AS Craven was hurried
along with the rope about his neck, 1t {
was thought he was bound for Fairfax |
county. A crowd numbering five or six |.
hundred followed and rent the air with
shouts. Those close to the prisoner were
directing every manner of question at
him. and Craven made every endeavor to
reply satisfactorily. I
After walking for mile or SO the
public burying ground OF the town was /,
reached, On common impulse the mob ,
turned TO the left of the road. An open '
ing was made In the wire fence through Y
which Craven was led. He stood beneath r
the tree which was to be his scaffold
Craven begged to be allowed TO say S
something. He protested his limo =
cence. and pleaded for God to come {
down and testify for him.
The rope was thrown over a limb OF $
the tree ten or twelve feet from the S
ground. Many hands soon pulled the 7
moose taut and Craven swung into the
air. At the same moment fusillade g
of bullets struck the doomed man. Other '
than the suspended negro. no one was G
injured, although shots were fred from Y
every point. 1t is peculiar also that s
not bullet pierced the face OF Craven t
while hundred wounds could be found l
in his breast and arms. i
Coroner Arrives.
It was almost an hour before Coroner
II. o. Clagett, with District Attorney Nv
Edward Garrett. arrived on the scene y
By this time a crowd of morbilly Gu v
rious people had gathered. The lynchers i
lad dispersed, and many had returned =
to their homes. miles away. {
The body was cut down. Dr. Clngett n
called coroner's jury, con-
sistinG of Messrs. E. B. Harrison, W. C
W. Chamblin, L. T. Titus, John G 3
White II. c. Sellman. and JOHN Rlnkel d
hfter the circumstances had been ex- II
plaiIed by the coroner it was decided
10 adjourn until tomorrow morning. n
The remains were turned over TO In ,
iertalers Birkley Il Slack. The body b
was left on the field, while the under a
takers went fer a coffin In which to in S
ter It. This requir ed considerable time. b
and during the interval crowds con- b
,inued to arrive on the scene. b
Among these were many negro excur- Il
sionists who had come here to celebrate b
Day. \ great gathering
had been held al the fair grounds dur n
ng the day. Hundreds who had attend Il
cd the festivities went TO see the dead r
man. Few of his race. however, dared a
pass comment en- the affair. n
The body was inferred on the ground o.
within the shadow of the tree from c.
which the man had been lynched h
This is the first lynching In Leesburg v