Evening star., 1902-08-01
THREATS BY NEGROES
Much Excitement in Lees
burg Last Night.
RESULT OF LYNCHING
QUIET FINALLY RESTORED BY
ACTION OF MAYOR.
Inquest Over Death of Craven Develops
Some Testimony of I'M
portance.
RESULT OF LYNCHING
Special From a Staff Correspondent.


night, caused by about fifty colored men
who congregated on the corners discussing
the affair of the afternoon and threatening
to avenge the violent death Of Charles
Craven. 1t was reported that threats had
been made to burn the town, and one negro
was heard to remark, "If we can't get a
man we'll get a woman" Mayor White,
who had been about town trying to pre-
vent any disorder, was told Of the contem-
plated action of the corner crowds, and
about II: 80 o'clock he swore in a number
of extra officers and had the streets
cleared.
Many people spent night of terror and
We're on the lookout until daybreak. fear
ing violence at the hands of the colored
people. After the streets were cleared and
several drunken men had been arrested
the town was quiet and morning dawned
without any attempt being made to ayenge
Cravens death.
But little interest was manifested in the
coroner's inquest helu in the court house
this morning. There was a slim attendance
when Coroner Claggett convened the jury.
the audience being composed Of about an
equal number of whites and blacks.
Sheriff Russell's Statement.
Sheriff Russell was the first witness ex-
amined at the inquest. He told of the
transfer of the prisoner from the depot 10
the jail and the violent death of Craven.
There was an infuriated mob determined
to have the man, and there was no such
thing as stopping it, said the sheriff.
He was unable to identify any of those
who took part in the affair. A large ma
Jority of the men who participated in the
affair, he thought lived across the Lou
doun county line. Sheriff Russell said he
did all in his power to protect the prisoner.
Rev. S. c. Ferguson informed the jury of
his efforts to prevent the lynching and said
he could not recognize any man who par
ticipated in the breaking of the jail and
taking away Of the prisoner. They We're
all strangers to me- he stated. He thought
the prisoner could only have been taken
from the Leesburg Jail to another prison by
the use Of firearms. The jail. he considered,
was the safest place for the prisoner. The
use Of firearms, he thought, would have
resulted in somebody being killed. Witness
followed the party and witnessed the lynch
ing. 1t was his opinion that Sheriff Russell
did his best to protect the prisoner. When
he saw one of the ~lynehers choking the
jailer he advised the latter that it was use
less to offer further resistance.
IF one shot had been fired at the mob"
said the pastor, Il think a hundred more
shots would have been fired in very few
minutes.
Telegrams From Sheriff Russell.
The kilograms sent by Sheriff Russell were
read to the jury and made part of the rec
ord. Jailor Laycock told Of the demand be-
ing made upon him for the keys to the
prison and of the rough treatment he re-
ceived. Il was too busy to tell much about
what was DONE said the jallor. Did you
recognize any of the men who were there?"
he was asked.
George Williams and Scott Bradley were
among the first to get upon the Jail steps,
was his answer He also recognized an
other man named Williams being there.
He did not recognize anybody in the crowd
that brought Craven out of jail.
The Rev. E. S. Kinks of the Protestant
Episcopal Church testified that he reached
the Jail by accident and went from man
to man to prevent what afterward occurred.
Witness recognized man named Bradley
and two men named Williams being in
the crowd. The men named Williams, he
said, used the hammer or crowbar. Brad
ley, he said, was violently melting riot.
Bradley told witness, You have won me
over" Witness said he only knew the two
men were named Williams from what others
told him. While in the prison witness said
he demonstrated with the people and two of
them interfered with him.
Recognized His Assailant
Two of the men, a DIR. Weaver Of Sterling
and the other Samuel Grimes, pushed him.
DR.. Weaver, he stated, pushed him out of
the Jail. Their conduct may have been for
the purpose Of saving him, but their atti-
tude indicated they were encouraging the
crowd.
Weaver, he said, afterward called upon
him and apologized, admitting he had come
to Leesburg for the purpose Of getting the
man out OF jan. There was no armed re-
sistance to the mob, but the sheriff, the
mayor and citizens did what they could to
save the prisoner. Colonel E. v. White re-
nained in the crowd trying to protect the
jail and prisoner until he saw it was use
less.
Realizing that further resistance meant
to kill somebody or get killed. said wit
ness, Il concluded 1 didn't want to do
ent at the killing.
What would have been the effect of fir
ing one shot?'- he was asked.
That would have been the worst Job
that had been done in Leesburg since the
war; Witness reasoned with the mob and
when he thought he had made an impress
sion on some Of them the leader called,
Come on, boys"
When the Rush Was Made.
Then the rush was made. He thought he
would recognize the leader if he saw him
again. The man was about medium height
and stout build and apparently about twen-
ty-hve years old. Ex-Judge McCabe told Of
what he saw Of the occurrence He men
toned the name Of Samuel Grimes, who he
said, seemed prominent in the matter, al
though he saw him commit no special act
Witness sfaw a man have hold of the rope
when the colored man was led from the jail.
He did not know his name, but later In the
day man figured in a noisy disturbance in
front of his Office. Judge McCabe inquired
about the mans name, and was told it was
Scott Bradley. He thought Bradley was
the man who held the rope when the negro
was led from the jail.
Witness sent the second telegram to Gov.
Montague. when the sheriff was virtually
prisoner Of the mob. He took the liberty
of doing this for he thought the Alexandria
Company might reach the Jail before the
men had succeeded in battering down the
steel door. Mayor White and Magistrate
Harrison told of what they saw, and the
efforts they made to prevent the lynching.
They were unable to identify any of the
men. L. II. B.
Story Of the Lynching.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
LEESBURG, Va, August ALI that was
mortal of Charles Craven was laid at rest
Continued ON Sixth Page.)