The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-08-05
THE LEESBuRG HANGING.
Six Members OF Mob identified as Implicated
in Lynching

Six men have been identified bv Wit
ne>ses before the grand jury sactiv par
tiripants ia the iynching Of the negro
'raven at l.ceShurk. Two of these men
are la jail. Considerable difficulty has
been experienced in several eases. in Sc
curing Identification of members of the
mob by Witnesses 4 number Of men
who were in the midst of the excitement
at the time when placed on the witness
stand failed to recall the name Of "A single
person they could identity as connected
with the lynchcrs.
The coroner jury met Friday morning.
Fifteen witnesses were placed upon the
stand. The jury was composed of W ".
thamhlin. Henry Sellman. +. Titus. John
\. Rinkcr. Joh1 q. White. and T.. Il. lIar-
rison. all good representative men. and
Coroner H. o. tlaggett. assisted 10y Com
mOnwealth' 4 Attorney T. T. Garrett No
effort X 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 cheeriully give the name
oi any man whom they had identified as
actively engaged IN the lynching lie
saw the whole panorama OF the tragedy
"a II WIS swiftly enacted before them
but could not recall the name of u single
man who was actively participating in
the lynching
Scott Bradley, who was put in jail
charged with being drunk and disorderlv
was recognized ~ one of the leaders of
the mob by Rev. :. g. Ferguson. Mr..
Ferguson said he saw bradley early in
the day wearing one of the yellow badges
of the Mosby reunion and not recogniz.
ing him as one of the veterans. made in
quiry, and found that he had never been
a Confederate soldier, but was simply
masquerading under the badge Mr
Ferguson afterwurd recognized him a.
melting the mob to riot.
Jailer &. +. Laycock also identified
bradley together with George Williams.
a. two OF the men to get on the Jail plat
form
Rev. T.. 5 Kinks recognized Bradley in
the Jail helping pry open the doors An
other witness identified Bradley as the
man who had hold of the rope when the
negro was led from the Jail. and late Fri
day afternoon, the chain oi evidence
was still further strengthened bv the
testimony oi Deputy Clerk b. j. Frank
lin. who Identified Bradley as the nan
who lifted Craven body up 80 that the
rope could be slipped over the limb of the
tree.
George " Nilliams aud another man named
Niiliams have also been Identified by
iour or five witnesses as active in stirring
mp the mob and Assisting inside the Jail.
One of the Williams men and a man nam
cd Nipple from Frederick County. Md
nave both been identified by witnesses ar
two OF the nen who were WELDING the
Immense sledge hammer the terrific
blows from which at last broke the doors
ana demolished the lock ON the cage
sam Grimes, DR.. Il. L. Weaver, and n
young man named Summers have also
been identified as actively engaged in
the mob.
Nipple.is in jail. being arrested with
Bradley. charged with drunk and disor-
deity conduct ON the street One of the
Williams men was found in the same con
dition and was taken to the Jail door.
nut was allowed To leave upon promises
that he would at once leave town. which
he did. and he has not been heard OF
/ since