The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-25
THE KILLING OF BLoUNT
CREATES GREAT EXCITEMENT

Especial to Tho Times-Dspatch.) ,s@
85 NORFOLK. v IA, October N.-Upon the
solution OF the problem of whether the
killing OF George T.. Blount, who was
taken from the Berkley jail early this
morning and shot to death, was a lynch
ing or murder will hinge sensation.
K In the meantime high state Of excite
ment exists In Berkeley. and q company
OF Norfolk militia is on duty, there to
guard against possible outbreaks.
Blount was arrested by the Berkeley po-
lice Saturday night after he had thrown
O lamp into the face of Patrolnlnn5 Hollo-
man ana knocked four Of the officers
teeth out. Holloman was endeavoring ID
enter Blount's fish stand to secure evil
dence against a blind tiger that was
conducted in its rear. Il ii Sf
The assault upon the officer caused
great Indignation. and this, together with
the fact that Blount was q leader among
that class Of negro element in Berkley
wf,icl, has been thorn IN the side Of the
white people for several years, gradually
stirred up such O spirit Of anger that
serious consequences were talked about
early Sunday night
At 2;45 Monday morning Turnkey Fer
rel], who was in sole charge OF the po-
lice station at that time, says two mask
ed men entered his. office and covered
him with pistols, demanding the keys
to Blounts cell He handed over the
keys The two men kept their guns
pointed at him and a member OF the
town fire department, J. e. Sawyer, who
was In the room with him, while they
passed the keys out to other parties.
Both the men were completely masked,
and they were the only members OF the
mob Ferrell says he saw.
o,,uf xva cOn fined in a cell with a
negro named Henry Johnson He seemed
to fear trouble according to johnson, and
when the two masked men entered the
cell room, Johnson says, Blount began
to cry for mercy. The cell door was
unlocked and Blount walked out, begging
for his life Johnson was locked In the
cell and the two men took Blount out
Says It Was Murder.
w, w. Robertson,3n a prominent lumber
dealer, lives a few doors from the police
station He says he was awakened by
the cries OF Blount, and looking out Of
his window saw five men struggling In
the middle OF the street Four were
beating the fifth with some instruments
that made dull thuds as they struck the
negro's head.
Blount's cries seemed to frighten three
OF his assailants, who fled The fourth
man STRUCK Tue Uc6Eu. y lcliiA'S D!oW A'i0
Blount fell, face downward. Then the
man drew pistol, put It to tho back
OF tho PROSTATE negro's head and fired.
rho bullet entered hehlnd the left ear
ana pierced the brain, causing instant
death. All four OF the masked men Mt
once fled. ana two Of the masks they
wore have been found, one stained with
blood. They were made OF coarse un-
'bleached cotton, and came down to the
chests OF the wearcrs.
From the above It will be seen that
the greatest possible number Of men In
the mob seen, Is six Two guarded the
noliceman aM fireman, two took the
negro out OF the cell and these two, with
two others, were undoubtedly the men
Mr., Robertson saw in the middle Of the
street.
There Was No Mob,
Reports that there was a mob Of any
strength cannot be substantiated by any
one who saw the lanst part ofethe affair."
and the opinion Is gradually being forms
cd that six citizens took tho law In their
hands, or that others, who above every