Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-08-02
Lansburgh &BrO.,
42O to 426 Seventh Street,
WASHINGTON, d. C.
THE RECENT LYNCHING.

Seven men have been identified by
witnesses before the grand jury in Lees
burg as active participants in the lynch
ing of the negro Craven. Two of these
men are in Jail and one of them, accord
ing to witnesses, was a leading member
of the mob. Considerable difficulty has
been experienced, in several cases, in
securing Identification of members of
the mob by witnesses. A number of
men who were in the midst of the ex-
citement at the time when placed on the
witness stand failed to recall the name
of a single person they could identify as
connected with the lynchers.
The coroner's jury met at 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning and was in session
until p. m. Fifteen witnesses were
placed upon the stand, and there are
about thirty more to be called. No
effort is being spared to bring to justice
the leaders of the mob who lynched the
negro.
Capt Foster, one of the first witnesses,
said they would cheerfully give the
name of any man whom they had
identified as actively engaged in the
lynching. He saw the whole panorama
of the tragedy as it was swiftly enacted
before them, but could not recall the
name of single man who was actively
participating in the lynching.
D,oIlo,- Gnnro,o IN,1i.oO,o
Williams, Nipple, Samuel Grimes,
DR.. u. L. Weaver and Summers
have been identified as being members
of the mob.
Hurricane" Branch, Virginia's most
celebrated bloodhound trainer, passed
through Washington yesterday evening
on his way from Leesburg to his home
in Suffolk, county. He had with him
two of his best dogs, Tiger and John,
which engaged for two days in the hunt
for Craven Tiger is the dog which
distinguished himself in the famous Nell
Cropsey case. Branch and his dogs
were taken to Sterling Tuesday night,
and early Wednesday morning they
started on Crayen's track. Rains in
terlerred with the work of the dogs
throughout the day. They tracked the
negro to Goose Greek, where he had
been seen Wednesday morning, and
located his trail on the opposite side of
the creek. Late Wednesday afternoon
a binding rain made it impossible to
follow the negro further. On Thursday
morning the dogs struck Crayen's track
near Leesburg and followed it directly
to the home of John Craven, brother
of the man who met death at the hands
of the mob. Although Craven's rela-
tives deny that he visited their house,
he is said to have been there Tuesday
night In a statement made an hour
before his death Craven denied that he
had crossed Goose Creek at the point in
dicated by the dogs, and said that he
did not visit his brothers house His
statements are discredited, however, by
members of the pursuing parties. and it
is believed that the dogs followed his
trail and would have located him event
ually if he had not been found by the
posse near Ashburn. Craven admitted
that the dogs were near him late We'd
nesday afternoon, and said he
hear them barking plainly. He was
sitting on some rocks in the center of
thicket near Goose Creek at the time.
and said that he felt sure that he
would be captured. The negro said
that it was raining hard at the time the
dogs came nearest to him.
Especial dispatch TO the Alexandria Gazette
Leesburg, Va, Aug. "a p. NJ
The corOners jury investigating the
lynching Of Charles Craven, after two
days session in the town, adjourned this
afternoon, to meet again next Tuesday
morning at 10 O'Clock.
Witnesses from Fairfax county will
attend. More than 30 witnesses have
been examined, and from 20 to % citi-
zens of Loudoun and Fairfax have been
identified as engaged in the riot. Ex-
elements till prevails among the negroes.
This being Saturday night, trouble is
feared by the town officials.