Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-24
A VIRGINIA LYNCH|NC
Negro Beaten to Death in a
Suburb of Berkley.
A REPUBLICAN LEADER
VICTIM HAD RESISTED POLICE
ENTRANCE OF STORE.
Hinted That Act Was Inspired by
Political Grudge--Fears of
an Uprising.
A REPUBLICAN LEADER
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

SPecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NORFOLK, Va, October 24.-George w.
Blount. the coored proprietor of a fish and
oyster shop on the suburbs of Berk' ey,
Va. was taken out of the little frame police
station in that town by mob of fifty
morning and lynched.
Blount on Saturday night last refused to
permit Berkeley policeman T. ID. Hollo-
man. to enter his place to arrest another
negro charged with shooting. and when Hol-
loman persisted in entering BIount picked
up a lighted lamp and struck the officer
in the face with it. Holloman was horribly
burned and cut. and four teeth were prac-
tically knocked OUT
squad of policemen and citizens then
selzed Blount and the other negro and
handed them in the Berkley police station.
winch Is a one-story wooden building
Authorities Know Nothing.
Feeling became intense against Blount
and Sunday night a mob formed. While
but one officer was in charge this morning.
the mob attacked the Jail and seizing
Blount carried him into Hardy's field only
one block away, where he was beaten to
death with some blunt instrument and then
shot. The mob dispersed and the authori-
ties say they know none of the participants
No arrests have been made. Blount's BODY
has been turned over to Undertaken Powell
! for burial BlOunt was forty-four years
old.
Noted Republican Leader.
Blount had been a great negro republican
| leader in Norfolk county for many years
and his efforts to put negro rule to the
front as against white democratic suprem-
acy made him despised by the whites of
nearly every class
For good many years he held a posi-
tion In the Norfolk navy yard, but lately
had not been employed there. His place
at Berkley had long been offensive and
was one of the causes which led up to the
lynching. Policeman II. w. Ferrell was the
only man on duty at Berkley station when
the mob entered the place this morning.
Blounts sssceH at the point OF a pistol and
was then told he would be killed If he
moved from the chair in which he was for
chilly seated.
Intimidated at Point Of Pistol.
| j. w. Sawyer, member of the town fire
department who was also in the station.
attempted to escape through the rear door,
but was headed off and he also was held in
chair at the point of pistol until Blount
had been taken from the Jail, and the
lynching was over Berkley is a town of
5000 inhabitants.
Political Murder Hinted.
The reported lynching in Berkley, Va
early this morning of George w. Blount.
colored is now declared to have been either
a political murder or murder for revenge by
| unknown friends of Policeman p T. Hollo-
man, who was assaulted by Blount Satur-
day night.
w. w. Robertson, prominent lumber
dealer and a resident of Berkley almost
| directly in front of whose house the killing
occurred, after consulting with his Norfolk
attorney went to L. B. Allen, mayor of
Berkley, at noon and told Allen that he
witnessed the killing from his bedroom
window.
Robertson said the screams of the man
who was being dubbed awakened him. Four
men had Blount in the middle of the street
Leating him upon his head. Blount's cries
frightened three of the men, all of whom
were masked and they fled. One remained
| behind and drawing pistol from his pocket
shot Blount through the back of his head
This was the only pistol wound found on
the mans body. He cannot tell, but he
thinks from the form of the man who did
the shooting he was white. Action by
Mayor Allen is being awaited following
RobertSOn'S statements.
| Victim Active in Political Work.
Blount was one of two negro leaders who
had been assisting for some time the white
Norfolk county republicans in preventing
the capture of the Berkeley town admins
| tration by those now in power. An uprising
u
Admiral Harrington, commanding the Nor
| folk navy yard, today directed United States
marines and sailors at st. Helena naval
| reservation, near Berkley, to be in readiness
| for action in case of an uprising by the ne
groes against the whites.
| Col. A. M. Higgins, commanding the list
| Virginia Regiment, National Guard, after
| conference with Mayor Allen this afternoon,
said the Norfolk troops would likely be
| sent to Berkley tonight
Gov. Montague, at Richmond, will order
the troops out to preserve order. Mayor
| Allen and other leading democratic office
holders in Berkley are Mortified and de-
clare that every possible effort will be made
to bring the guilty parties to justice.
Troops to Assure Safety.
| Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
| RICHMOND, Va, October 24.-Mayor L..
| B. Allen of Berkeley telegraphed Governor
| Montague today of the occurrence in Berke-
( ley this morning, when Blount was taken
| from Jail and put to death The mayor was
apprehensve of trouble and advised that a
| sufficient military force be put under orders
| to cope with the situation.
Colonel Higgins of Norfolk, commanding
| the list, advised the governor that things
were quiet, but agreed with the mayor that
| a show of force would be necessary in or
| der to assure safety and to present an out
| break 1t is understood that force ade-
| quate to deal with the situation can be
| placed in Berkeley in an hour.
The governor is in Pittsylvania county
| today, and Is in touch with the situation by
long-distance phone. 1t Is understood that
| troops will be under arms in Berkeley to-
night.
| Uprising Feared.
| BY Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. October 24-As a re-
| suit of the lynching of the negro Blount at
| Berkeley, a negro uprising is feared, and
| the mayor of Berkeley has requested Gov.
Montague to hold a sufficient force in readi-
| ness to meet it IL necessary. The governor
| is in touch with Col. Higgins of the list
men into Berkeley within an hour to cope
with any situation that may develop.
Artillery Leave Fort McHenry.