The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-01
Hung to a Tree and His Body
RiddIed With Bullets.
WAS FOUND IN A HAY RICK
Taken Under Guard to Jail, and Brave
Resistance Made to Save the Des-
perado for the Work of the
Law, but Steel Bars Were
Broken and Vengeance
Visited on Him.
,sooc,,, dispatch TO The Times,

tSpecial Dispatch 10 The 1imes.)
LEESBURG, VA, July 3I-Ihe lever
of excitement that has been asitauhs
Fairfax and Loudoun counties tor the
past ten days. gathering momentum ana
Growing in intensity, reached its climax
eo-day in the execution of another fear
ful tragedy.
The lynching of the negro, Charles
Craven. has followed as the seemingly
Inevitable sequel 70 his brutal murder
OF William II. Wilson on Monday, and
the exasperating chase which he has
eince led his pursuers through the fields
And woods and growing crops OF Lou
Goun and Fairfax. Some 1f the men
who were mos, determined that the negro
should be lynched had been following
him with dcgeed resolution and perse-
verance for four days They had con-
1inued the chase through torrents of
sain and had slept, when they slept
Il all, in houses by the wayside and even
upon the wet ground 1t seemed that
nothing short Of blood would satisfy
them, and nothing but a voliey from
the Jail resulting in bloodshed among
the mob could have possibly deferred
them.
PRISONER CAPTURED.
After a nights rest in Leesburg Hur-
ricane Branch and his bloodhounds. ac-
Companied by posse left LeesDurS 1i'lS
morning about o'clock, and in a few
minutes struck the trail of the negro
within the corporate limits. After FOL
lowing it down the railroad some dis
tance Branch became convinced that
they were on the back track, and they
We're returning toward LeesburS when
the news came that Craven had been
captured and the chase was over
The capture was effected by John a.
Higgins. Ernest Norman, ELLSWORTH
Simpson, Maurice McNealy and Henry
BRYANT five men of the Ashburn neigh
borhood to whom too great credit can
not be given for the intelligence. cool
ness bravery and forbearance they eN-
hbited throughout Starting from Ash
burn up the road to Leesburg at the
suggestion of Higgins. who, as the old
est and most experienced of the party
assumed the leadership. they separated
into two groups with the understanding
that If the negro was found one shot
would he fred as a signal. IN &C. en-
minutes Simpson and McNealy, in search
ing an old straw rick in a grass field on
Alfred Stanton's farm. discovered the
negro. apparently asleep in deep hole
ne dug in the top of the rick in which
ne had almost concealed himself.
UNDER THE GUNS.
In a. second both guns were upon him,
but in accordance with the agreement
Simpson fired the signal shot while Me-
Nealy continued to cover the desperado-
The other three men quickly arrived and
Norman and Higgins. with their guns
leyeled advanced until they almost
touched the negro's head. when he threw
up his hands and surrendered. lie was
barefooted and almost exhausted, and
apparently unarmed. To make sure of
no further trouble he was ordered to
undress and after a thorough search
OF his clothes. he was started back TO
Ashburn-
The news. however. spread, and while
the party We're waiting Tor the west
bound train upon which to bring their
prisoner to Leesburg a big crowd gath
cred News spread down the road also,
and when the train pulled in at the little
station it was loaded down with an
armed mob determined upon lynching
the brute VINO had shot down in cold
blood, with seemingly no other motive
than robbery, one OF their most beloNeu
friends and neighbors.
sharp struggle ensued between the
cantors of the negro and Deputy Sheriff
Russell Mock on the one hand, and the
:ynching party on the other The day
was temporarily saved for law and order
by the courage and heroism OF Two old
men. Andrew Norman and Iempie Ell
more though both past the prime OF lie
and Fillmore a man of diminutiNe size
aud feeble health leveled their double
hsrrelled shot-Euns in the face OF the
Eaob and with determination that would
brook no trihing held the MOB al nay
until the negro was on the car and SAFE
ly slowed away
GORDON OF SHERlFFS
At the station in Leesburg Gordon
OF deputy sheriffs and special pollcemeh
had been thrown around the station ana
by tremendous efforts they managed 10
hold the crowd back while the negro was
hurried through the station almost
thrown into d wagon and driven OH 10
the jail where he was landed behind the
iron doors and was safe for time. there
were many in the mob, however. who
were determined upon lynching. and as
the crowd was being 1nomentarily swelled
by pursuing parties coming in from all
over the lower country the situation was
soon nenacing.
Upon telegraphic request. Governor
Montague ordered the Alexandria Light
i Infantry to the scene by special train.
but before they could start the tragedy
had oeen enacted.
Not less than 100 tired. desperate and
determined men had poured in from lower
I,oudoun. and especially from Fairfax
and the rush for the Jail was only mat
ter Of time.
PLEAD WITH MOE.
The leading citizens of Leesburg. realiz-
fnp the situation. mingled with the mob
and exercised all their powers OF persua-
.Ion to prevent an outbreak OF mob vio-s
, ief,ce Colonel Z. v. White. the battle
scared and gallant Confederate leader: