Evening star., 1902-08-05
TAKEN UNDER GUARD
LomaX Removed From Alex
andria to Montross.
SHOUTS OF LYNCHING
TROOPS REPEL CROWDS THAT
SURGE ABOUT BOAT.
Alleged Assailant of Miss Costenbader
Quickly Indicted-Trial May
End This Afternoon.
SHOUTS OF LYNCHING
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
MONTROSS, Va, August 5.-Guarded by
fiftyfour men of Company L, 7th Virginia
Regiment, of Fredericksburg, John Lomax,
colored, charged with attempted assault,
was brought to Montross from Alexandria
for trial at $50 o'clock this morning.
The company was without a drummer
Charles Wheatley, who occupies. that po-
sition with the Alexandria Light Infantry
volunteered, and his services were &C
cepted. The company marched to the ar
mory in South Royal street, where they
were quartered during their stay in Alex
andria. They were provided with sixty
rounds of ammunition and carried three
days rations. Shortly before o'clock the
company was formed and marched to the
city jail in North st. Asaph street. where
they were lined up and ordered to fix bay
onets and load crowd, numbering sew
eral hundred, had gathered at this point.
and during the loading of the guns one of
ing considerable CONSERVATION among the
spectators Fortunately the gun was
pointed downward, and the ball ploughed
1t way into the earth.
An Amusing Incident.
inside the jail rather amusing incident
occurred. Deputy Sheriff Sandy objected
to being handcuffed to the prisoner. City
Sergeant R. H. Cox volunteered to per-
form the duty, but finally Sandy agreed to
be handcuffed to Lomax, and the start
from the Jail was made, the prisoner and
his custodian being surrounded by the SOL
dlers. Lomax appeared rather weak in
the knees, but walked with his head erect.
The crowd followed and by the time the
wharf was reached fully fifteen hundred
persons had gathered.
A Deputy's Objections.
The military company, with bayonets
fixed, marched into the warehouse on the
Randall line wharf AS soon as the conf
pany halted Deputy Sandy relieved himself
Of the handouts and walked aboard the
boat, where he remained for some time.
Capt. Rowe finally sent for him and asked
what disposition he proposed to make of
the prisoner. Sandy's scruples against
close contact with the negro again became
evident and he asked Capt Rowe to carry
Lomax on the boat. Capt. Rowe insisted
oner and, when the county officer again
demurred, Officer Gill of Alexandra volun-
teered his services. The company again
surrounded the prisoner and marched
aboard the boat, taking their position in
the lower saloon. 1he boat carried an I'M
usually large freight and passenger list
and it was nearly O. clock when she pulled
out of the dock. In the meantime nearly
all of the crowd had dispersed.
Crowd Shouted "Lynchw
The trip down was non-eventful. Instead
of a mob expected to meet the steamer Ran
dali, only few curious farmers appeared
at the wharf in Nomini creek. There was nc
demonstration on the trip except at Colo
nial Beach, early this morning, when a
crowd shouted, Lynch the wretch" The
crowd surged on the boat but Capt. NJ. B.
Rowe, in command, placed additional
guards about Lomax, and compelled the
surging mob to stand back. The incident
closed when one of the men fell overheard,
and was rescued with difficulty.
AT Somerset Point James Hefiin Joined his
company, after travelling sixty-five miles
overland. Scores of citizens came out to
view the militia, and soon after Montross
was reached the county seat was filled
with visitors. Capt. Rowe then sent the
following telegram to Adjt Gen. Nalle,
Richmond:
Arrived here at $50 am. with prisoner
Placed him in jail under guard. Trial set
for 1870. No demonstration"
Grand Jury Out an Hour.
After an hours deliberation the grand
jury reported an Indictment, charging
that John Lomax, June %, attempted tc
commit a criminal assault on Miss Susie
Costenbader, fifteen years DID, daughter OF
Robert Costenbader, near her home, al
Potomac Mills. AS soon as this was re-
ported the work of empaneling a jury be.
fore Judge r. H. Beale was commenced
The case of the commonwealth was in the
hands of Commonwealth's Attorney R. J.
Washington, assisted by Attorney c. Con.
way Baker. The court named ATTORNEY w
D. Mayo to defend the prisoner
The trial will likely be brief. Among the
several witnesses for the state are DIR. r
| H. Stuart, who made the examination OF
alleged assault The father and mother Of
| the girl were in court. They showed
marked evidence of the grief they had suf
| fered in the violent death of their daugh
| ter by burning last week.
| Before opening the court Judge BeaIt
| said to an Evening Star reporter that hi
expected no attempt at mob violence HI
| said he believed the prisoner was perfectly
safe, but in case of conviction he though
| * best to send Lomax back to Alexandra
with the militia. The expense of keeping
| guard and the dilapidated condition of the
Jail were given as reasons for this opinion
Trial May End Today.
Everything is quiet here and there seem.
| to be no immediate probability of an out
break. Everybody seems to feel assured
that Lomax will be speedily convicted ant
sentenced to be hanged. This appears per
fectly satisfactory to the citizens. TIL,
| trial will probably be ended this afternoon
| and the militia may be able to depart will
/ Lamox this evening.
Orders for Engineering Work.
| The District Commissioners have ISSUED
| orders for public engineering work as fol
| lows
| Tha. the roadway of 1 street northeas