Richmond planet., 1904-10-29
Berkley, Va, October 25th, 1904.


A most horrible lynchlng took place
Sunday night or more properly Speaking
Monday morning, October oath at about
b O'Clock. Mr.. George f. Biount, a
well-known colored citizen was the VIC
tim. As a result, this town is now viz
tually under martial law. MIR. Blount
was arrested Saturday night at his place
OF business by the police after he is al
legged to have thrown a lamp IN the face
OF Patrolman Holloman, who had enter
ed without a warrant or without any 9TH
er authority so TO do. AS result four of
the officers teeth were knocked out.
GAVE UP THE KEYS.
Turn key Ferrell reports that at 2:45
Monday morning two masked men en-
tered the station house and covered him
with pistols, demanding the keys to
Blount's cell. He handed them over
without even show of resistance. Mr.
j. Il. Sawyer of the town fire depart
ment was also present
Ins aimed men / - the keys out to
other parties. Tie men were complete
ly masked. Blount was confined in
cell with Henry Johnson Johnson
says when the two masked men entered
the cell, Blount pleaded for mercy
The cell-door was unlocked and Blount
walked out, pleading for his life. John
son was again locked in the cell and the
masked men took Blount out of the sta
tion house.
SAW THE MURDER.
Mr. w. W. Robertson, q prominent
lumber dealer, lives few doors from
the police station. He says he was
awakened by the cries of Blount, and
looking ont of his window saw five men
struggling IN the middle of the street.
-Four We're beating the fifth with some
instruments that made dull thuds as
they struck the Negroes head.
Blount's cries seemed to frighten
three Of his assailants who fed. The
fourth man struck the colored man "A
terrific blow and Blount fell face down.
ward. Then the man drew pistol, put
1t Co the back of tie pIostrate mans
head and fired. The bnllet entered be-
hind the left ear and pierced the brain,
causing instant death.
BLOOD STAINED MASKS.
AL four of the masked men at once
fed, and two of the masks they wore
have been found, one stained with blood
They were made of coarse, unbleached
cotton, and came down to the chests of
the wearers.
From the above it will be seen that
the greatest possible number of men
IN the mob is six. Two guarded the
policeman and fireman, two took Blount
out of the cell and these two, with the
two others, were undoubtedly the men
Mr.. Robertson saw in the middle of the
street.
TO FIND GUILTY PARTIES.
1t is now asserted that Common.
wealth's Attorney, r. @. Marshall will
rigidly examine into the facts connected
with the affair with view to bringing
the guilty parties to justice.
1t is also reported that detectives have
been employed to ferret ont the guilty
parties and bring them to justice.
Policeman Ferrel is reported as fol-
lows:
AN OFFICERS STATEMENT.
He says he was sitting in the Town
Sergeant's room,s at the station, when
Two unknown men came in and put two
pistols in his face. They demanded his
Keys, he says, threatening TO kill him if
ne refused to surrender them, and he
gave the keys up. Neither of the two
men asked which key fitted Blount's
cell. Selling Fireman Sawyer, the lat
ter was brought into the room where
ferrell was and the door was locked
with Ferrell, Sawyer and the two mask
ed men on the inside Then Ferrell
saws the keys were passed out to some
one at the door and Blount was taken.
OTHER PRISONERS NOT DISTURBED
Two other colored men in the cell at
the time were locked MP again and the
Keys thrown back into the sergeant's
room. The two masked men remained
inside and watched Ferrell and Sawvar
until pistol shot was heard, land Zen
all was over," said Ferrell s'The fei.
lows went out and we know nothing
else about. 3
How many were in the mobPn
dont Know said the officer, "be.
cause was locked up inside and told to
SIT where was or would be killed.
did You see more than the .yyo men
on the inside with you?''
II did not, said the officer
Mayor Allen requested that the sailors
and marines at st. Helena be held in