The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-12
An Object Lesson.
Editor The Times:


Sir: The account in The Times of the
capture of the negro. Charles Craven,
near Leesburs, Va, and the subsequent
events. including the lynching, furnish
food for deep reflection to all law abld-
lnGcitiZens of the State. The fact that
there appears little or no doubt of the
guilt Of the negro aggravates the case.
as there would have been but little
treble in convicting him. There was not
the usual excuse. as in the majority OF
.ynchings. that the negro had committed
tho uncomfortable crime, when court
trial with its publicity is the thing
sought to be avoided. True the murder
Was brutal and entirely unprovoked on
the part of the victim but after the
capture it would have been, at the most,
only a short time before trial could
have been had and the negro punished
as he deserved But the principal fea-
ture which presents itself was the action,
or rather the inaction, Of the officers Of
the law.
For ten days the negro had been fleeing
from searching parties and ne officers
knew that the capture Of the negro was
likely to occur at any time. and know
ing as they could not help doing, the IN
tense feeling which had been aroused
by the brutal murder, they should nave
avaied themselves of the ample tine
the law allowed to take its course.
This was not a case of a mob taking
4 prisoner from the jailer or sheriff in
the open No, the negro was in jail;
not a weak Jail off in the country. but
a strong brick structure with iron cells
and gratngs; a Jail situated in GOOD
sized town. where plenty OF deputies
could have been gotten upon short notice.
In fact it appears that there was cor
don OF deputy sheriffs and special police
men at the train to escort the negro
70 iail What became Of these sworn
officers of the law after that time? 1t
s true that the leading citizens did all
hey could as far as pleading and ex-
postula ting went, and later some GU
zens and officers proceeded TO try ana
Dlay football with the mob, but natural
lv without effect It is true that the
Governor was called or for troops 70
protect the prisoner, and that he respond
ed at once But it does not appear that
any resistance was offered to the mob to
t,~'a !. in check until the arrival OF the
soldiers.
a contrast to- this almost cr1mi-
nal apathy of the sworn officers or the
law in Leesburg was offered at Ashpurh
70 quote from The Times acc5unt th'
day was temporarily saved for law and
rider bv the coura,/ and heroism of two
oId men. Andrew Norman and Temple
Gilmore. though beth past the prime or
life, and Gilmore man of dlmlnuuVe
size and feeble health, leveled their
double barrelled shotguns in the face OF
the mcb and with determination that
would brook no trifling. held the mob
1t bay until the negro was on the car
and safely stc.ved away
This was an argument that the mob
understood and respected. These two old
men were not protected behind brick
walls and ir.n doors. but they meant
business, and the mob realized it. Very
eew members of a mob will willingly ex-
pose themselves to death in case like
this. 1t was because they did not con-
slider that they were running ony risk
at all that they were SO eager. Witness
how they cooled off when The shctguns
were introduced. 4 leading citizen is
quoted as saying that If the deputies had
fred on the mob that there would have
been the bloodiest time seen IN Lees
burg since the war. This may or may
not have proven true, but 1t does not
necessarily follow that it would have been
necessary to have actually fired on the
mob A show of force and notice to the
mob that the sheriff and his deputies
meant business would have in all proba-
bility been sufficient.
The time has come. in fact came some
time since, for the conservative citizens
OF the State, by pressure brought TO Dear
upon the Legislature. to enact some law
along the lines advocated repeatedly by
1.-The Times" by which the sheriff. and
possibly the cor,nty, should be held pecu-
niarily liable for all lynchings which take
place within his or its jurisdiction, as it
would seem that love for law and order
is not sufficient in itself to nerve the
officers of the law to perform their duty
in opposition 20 the passions of their con-
stituentS.
L M. S.
August