Evening star., 1902-08-02

10 o'clock. Mayor White, Sheriff Russell
and several Of the most prominent people
ofs the town were in attendance. While
many of the people about here express
themselves as approving of the action of
the lynChers, Coroner Claggett and Sheriff
Russell, as well as Commonwealth's Attor-
ney Garrett. showed by their manner of
conducting the investigation that they
were determined to bring about definite re-
suits. Some of the representative citizens
who were in attendance suggested ques-
tiOns which Were asked and answered
Some of the witnesses gave the names OF
people who were in the jail. apparently
rendering assistance. and the name of a
man was also mentioned as being the one
who had hold of the end OF the rope that
was tied about CraVsG's neck. and after
ward assisted iE lifting Craven from the
ground when the tree in the pauper ceme-
terry was reached. This mans name was
given as Scott Bradley. He was one OF the
strangers in town Thursday, who did not
go home after the lyuChing. He remained
In town. imbibsd rather freely, and at night
was occupying one of the cells in the
county Jail. One of the witnesses examined
stated that he could identify no one in the
crowd for the reason that many of them
were young men. and he had not kept track
OF them since they were boys.
Rev. Ferguson's Testimony.
The Rev. S. G. Ferguson. who had given
testimony carry III the morning dSktu aIIeT
recess that he be permitted to make an ad-
ditional statement. Before Charles Craven
was lynched. he stated, he noticed a man
walking about III the crowd wearing a Mos
by badge. He (the witness) got no recog-
milton from him. although all the men who
attend the reunions know him. The mans
demeanor was such that the witness was
led to inquire about him.
His manner. the witness stated. was
rather evasive. Witness asked a man on
the street about the man who was wearing
the badge and the reply to his question was:
His name is Bradley, but he was not
member of your command.
After that witness said he observed him
still more closely and noticed that his man
ner was very earnest in exciting the riot
and urging the men along. This man. DR..
Ferguson stated. had long full brown whiS-
kers.
Capt j. w Foster one of the several
men who addressed the Iynchers was sworn
as a witness. He characterized the affair
as disgraceful- He reached the jail in time
to see the mob and said he only wished he
could give the names of those connected
with the killing of Craven.
"AL cases of this kind unfortunate
he said. and l only wish 1 could give
names" He added: There Is only one
crime for which / look upon lynChing with
any favor. Witness was satisfied that
Sheriff Russell could have protected the
colored mans life if he had only had lit
tie more time He was satisfied that shoot
would have resulted disastrously.
Mr.. C. P. Janney Testifes.
Mr.. C. p. Janney, another of the citizens
who opposed the conduct OF the mob. in
formed the jury that the preliminary pro-
ceedings were finished when he reached the
vicinity of the jail. There was a great
deal said about taking the prisoner to
Fairfax. and most of the men in the crowd
seemed anxious that he should be taken
there u went there" said Mr. Janney,
for the purpose of supporting the officers
and to make a stand for order and legal
trial for the prisoner. Men were trying to
get In the jail and were resisting the Off
Gers" He saw Samuel Grimes and a Ster-
ling doctor in the crowd. He was there
when the prisoner came out. but did not
recognize the men who had him.
Were, you present at the killing?" Cor
oner Claggett asked.
The witness answered in the negative.
He then went on to tell OF the composition
of the crowd about the Jail. There was
one class. he stated who were bitterly
opposed TO the lynching or anything that
was Illegal. The lynChers made up another
class. while some men were there in a pas
sive way. Then there was Indifferent
class. made up of men who were willing
to witness the lynching and say nothing
about H.
He told the jury that he believed in law
and order, suggesting that some day he
might get In trouble himself and want an
OppOi NuitllN " JT u III HIS own ueIS1lSt.
Man Who Fired at Craven
W. A Edwards. town sergeant, the man
who fired at Craven in the cornfield the
day before he was captured was next ex-
amined. He was one of the men who had
been asked by Sheriff Russell to lend a
helping hand to protect the life of the COL
ored man The law officer stated to the
jury the circumstances attending the arri-
val OF Craven on a train from Ashburn
Thursday morning and of the scene at the
Jail later in the day. Sheriff Russell, he
declared. did everything in his power to
save the prisoner from mob violence.
Shortly after the crowd followed the team
to the jail there was great excitement and
talk of lynching. Mayor White and others
addressed the crowd of infuriated men, but
their persuasive powers were of no avail.
While Capt Foster was doing his best TO
persuade the men to allow the law to take
It's course little man with a red mus
taChs called out: Boys, this IS all darned
nonsense: come on"
1t was not long after that he explained
that the charge upon the jail was made.
Did you know any of those parties?" in
quired the coroner.
Yes. SIR was the response of the town
sergeant.
Scott Bradley and man named Pax
ton and two men named Williams. one of
whom Is a cripple, and Sam Grimes Was
also there"
Defenders Of the Prisoner Overpowered
The men who were on guard. he said.
defended the jail and the prisoner until
they were oyerpowered, and the sheriff cap
tured and taken away. Grimes came after
the other men Witness described the man
ner In which the mob broke down the outer
doors and then succeeded in smashing the
steel cage and bringing Craven out A
man named Nipples. he declared. everlast-
ingly used a sledge hammer on the steel
cage.
Were you inside the building?" Com
wealth's Attorney Garrett asked.
Il was not, the witness answered Il
thought l wasn't needed in there but l
saw the hammer used from the front porch
where L was standing"
Bradley was the only man whom he recoy-
nized apparently having hold of the prls-
oner.
FRANK Garrett was next examined. He is
a brother of Common WFaItb'S "a