Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-07-31
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
CRAVEN CAPTURED.

day while sleeping in hay stack near
the scene of his supposed crime.
1t is alleged that Craven was twice sight
ed yesterday afternoon, but could not be
captured by those whose vision he cross
ed. The bloodhounds, though working
industriously all day, were baffied by the
steady downponr of rain, and were call
ed in at dusk to wait for the finding of a
fresh trail this morning.
The impression prevailed that not many
of the searchers for Craven were willing
to meet him face to face. In fact, the
two men who claimed to have met him
Yesterday afternoon say they were not
more than twenty PAGES from the negro,
and they could not have been mistaken
in their recognition of him.
Sheriffs Gordon, of Fairfax county,
and Russell, of Loudoun county, whose
posses have been engaged in the man
hunt since the murder, have at no time
come upon the negro fugitive. They do
not credit the stories of the frequent
sighting of Craven.
1t was at Mahala, about half way be-
tween Leesburg and Herndon, that Cra-
ven is said to have been seen yesterday
afternoon. According to the report, he
was carrying an armful of provisions
and stepped from the woods across the
pike just as two of his searchers came up
the other side. Craven dropped the
provisions and started toward the men.
The men are said to have fired one shot
each, but retreated when the negro drew
two revolyers and prepared to defend
himself. He did not fire on the white
men, but instead turned and ran toward
the river in the direction of Leesburg.
The white men claim to have lost sight
of him. They telephoned their story to
Sheriff Russell, but did not give their
names.
When the body of Wilson was found
there was no money on his person. 1t
was his habit to carry some change, and
it is now believed that Craven rifled his
victims pockets after shooting him.
THE CAPTURE.
Charles Craven, the negro who MUIR
dered VIM. H. Wilson, the ex-Confed-
crate soldier near the latter's home IN
Loudoun county, was captured this
morning about 9 o'clock on the farm OF
Albert Stanton, about two miles from
Ashbum station, on the Southern Rail
way. He was found sleeping under a
hay stack. He made no resistance when
arrested. Sheriff Russell, of LOudoun
county, took charge of the prisoner and
conveyed him to Leesburg, whence he
will be remove this afternoon to Fairfax
Courthouse. Thus far the mob that had
been pursuing him for three days has
been eluded and it is hoped by the
authorities that they may be able to
protect the negro from lynching.
PRISONER LYNCHED.
A dispatch from Leesburg at two
o'clock says "Mob broke into Jail,
overpowered guards, took Craven, and
have carried him down the railroad
track"
A dispatch from Leesburg, Va, says
that the mob there broke into the Jail
shortly after Sheriff Russell arrived with
Charles Craven, the negro murderer,
overpowered the guards and took the
prisoner down the railroad track TO lynch
him. The Governor, on request of the
Sheriff, has ordered out the Alexandria
Light Infantry, but they will undoubtedly
arrive too late.
Leesburg, Va, July 31.-Charles
Craven, the negro murderer was lynched
this afternoon. The mob broke into the
Jail and after overpowering the guards
took the negro one mile down the railroad
track where they lynched him. He pro-
tested his innocence to the last. The
Alexandria company of light infantry
ordered to the scene by the governor had
not yet arrived.
Craven when taken to Leesburg was
at once placed in JAIL and it was hoped
that trouble might be averted. As time
passed, however, it was seen that an un-
natural excitement was brewing, and as
the farmers began to come into the town
from the surrounding country, all bent on
injecting prompt punishment on the
prisoner, twas felt that lynching was inn
minent Sheriff Russell wired the Gov
ernor that troops would be necessary to
protect the negro from the violence of
the mob that was then rapidly gather
ing before the Jail, and which numbered
several hundred. Then ensued a period
of waiting during which the anger of
the crowd increased. Word reached
them that the Alexandria Light In
iantry would arrive at Leesburg about
six O'Clock, and this seemed all that
was necessary to fan into flame the
passions of the mob which realized that
then the prisoner would be
beyond their reach. At once they be-
gan an attack on the doors, battering
them down and, overpOwering the guards,
seized the trembling wretch who protest
ed his innocence and begged for mercy.
The captors paid no attention to his en-
treaties but hustled him out, and dragged |
him about a mile down the railroad |
track, near the scene of the murder,
where they hung him in short order,
and fred five hundred shots into his
body. The negro was captured by Al
bert Stanton, i. l.. Belmont, NJ. All
Horrick and r. A. Morton, who had |
four dogs with them.
The mob which lynched the negro /
we're from the neighborhood of Wilson's
ipme, and numbered about 500 men, all
heavily armed.
THE TROUBLE AT SHENANDOAH
Shenandoah, Pa, July 31.-The first
detachment of troops under the Cover
ior's call came from the Lackawanna
district shortly after daybreak and NUM-
,orod En0 man r., noon fba antiro |