Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-08-06
HELD BY CoRoNER's JURY.

y
ing of Charles Craven, the negro sup
posed to have murdered William IL.
Wilson on Monday Of last week. All OF
the accused are residents Of Leesburg
and vicinity, and four of them are al
ready in the tolls, with the charge oil
murder hanging over them. Scott
Bradley. Edward Paxton, and Samuel
IT. Grimes are in custody while Harry
Knipple is at Frederick, Md, where
he is held awaiting requisition papers
from the Virginia authorities. lie VIII
be taken to Leesburg tomorrow.
Yesterday was an exciting day IN
Leesburg. The jury met at 10 O'Clock
in the morning and several witnesses
were heard. Practically the only new
evidence rendered was that of Mollie
Gaskins. negro woman, who stated
that one of the mob had said that
Craven would die before 2 O'Clock In the
afternoon. He was lynched at that
hour.
Deputy SherifIs Machen and Allison
and others gave testimony, and they
named several men who have heretofore
been mentioned as being implicated in
the crime. While the hearing OF evi-
dence was concluded shortly after noon,
if was nearly four hours later when the
iurv reached a verdict.
1t is understood they decided
that ten men were accessories III
the lynching, no principals beng
named, but the paper signed by
the iurv charges all Of them with
being principals in the affair.
All ofthe officials le'u:el to diyulge the
names of those implicated, and it was
not until after an arrest had been made
that information of any kind could be
secured.
Bradley and Paxton have been in Gus
todv since the night of the lynchlng,
when they were arrested for trivial Of
lenses. while Knipple has also been
held at Frederick for several days.
Grimes was the only man arrested yes
terday evening. =,
Mr.. Grimes was ready to furnish bond
in any amount, but by direction of Judge
r. II. Tebbs. of the county court, no
bond was acceptable. Hewas committed
to Jail and will probably be given pre-
liminary hearing today.
Last night the sheriff and his deputies
were securing the vicinity for the
six other men, but it is not probable any
more arrests will be made until some
disposition is made in Grimes's case.
While most of them are perfectly will
ING to surrender themselves and furnish
bond for their appearance before the
grand jury, which meets on Monday
next. none of them care to spend the
intervening time in Jail. 1t is under
stood one or two of them have left the
jurisdiction.
News of the findings of the jury and of
the arrest of Grimes has spread through
out the surrounding country, and many
visitors were expected in Leesburg today.
Those in Leesburg are somewhat sur
prised at the action already taken and
are open in their criticism. Even the
members of the 'corOner's jury are not
satisfied They claim the paper drawn
up by Commonwealth's Attorney +. +.
| Garrett is not in accordance with the
decision. The evidence, they assert,
tended to show that none of those impli-
Gated are principals, and they desired
only to hold them as accessories. How
ever. the ten warrants sworn out charge
murder in the first degree. Trouble may
arise over this.
Much feeling is shown by citizens
over the evidence given by some of the
men on the stand, and several disputes
have arisen. None of these, however,
are likely to cause much difficulty.
Those who gave the names Of persons
implicated have been condemned by
some people, and they in turn have re-
taliated by saying that Others who gave
testimony did not tell the truth.
/ Considerable speculation is going the
rounds a. to the probable action of the
grand jury, which will investigate the
case on Monday next. There are those
who believe that the body will ignore
the case, although the general opinion
prevails that indictments will be return
ed against the ten men held by the cor
oner's jury. 1t is predicted, however,
that there is little likelihood of cOnvic-
tons being secured in any of the cases
before a petit jury.
Is THIS THE SLAYER OF WILSON =
Early on Friday morning last a negro
appeared at the the farmhouse of Mr..
John Sonner, who lives several miles
from Strasburg, on the Valley Turnpike.
No one was at home but two of Mr..
Sonner's young sons Thenegro, large
burly man, asked the boys to tell him
which road to take 50 that he could proceed
down the valley without passing through
Stra.burg. He said that he did not want
to be seen in any town until he reached
StauntOn. He intimated that he would
be all right when he reached that city.
The man told the boys that he was
wanted for crime in a LoudOun county,
and, if arrested and taken back he would
he lyncbed He told them that white