The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-09
The RunOrs Of LynChing5
Caused Stirring Scenes S
at the Jail.
COUNTY OFFICIALS
SIT lJPALL NIGHT
Tip Had Come That Mobs Were
Forming in Two Places--Judge
Scott Says Justice Will be
Swift-Special Grand
Jury to be Sum
r1oned.

1.-THE people OF Henrlco county need
have no fear that Justice will not be
speedily measured out 70 the assailant
OF little Ruth Plnchbeck.
s''l have had a conference With COM
monwcath's Attorney Wendenburg and
we decided that special grand Jury
should be summoned as soon as the girl
ls we'll enough TO appear on the witness
stand. a speedy. trial will follow II the
grand Jury nnd = true BILL"
This is what Judge r. Carter Scott
said last night at the Henrtco county jail
where he. the Mayor. the Chief OF Police
and fifty police officers had assembled
to protect Austin Johnson, the negro
i charged with criminal assault on little
Ruth plnchbeck. from threatened mob
violence. }j AH
All day there had been rumors OF an
attempt at lynching and last night these
rumors took DEFINITE shape. At $50 1t
was reported that two mobs had been or
ganized and that they would proceed TO
the Henrico county jail between 10 and
II O'clock to overcome the guards and
lynch the negro. Austin Johnson.
There was no mistake about the plan,
4 for a county constable heard two men
urging men TO join the lynchlng party.
These two men escaped when the con-
4 stable cndeavored to arrest them,
tzS II Chief Werner took no chances. for he
ordered out every available policeman on
the force. Some were at tho theatre
8 others were at entertainments and 9th
ers still were at home and asleep. but
30 dillgent were the orders OF the Chief
carried out that by 8 o'clock fifty men
(. had reported for duty at the Henrlco!
it,~S.. JHrStrf faN1
Ecnblcd at the First Police Station to
Z. act az a reserve In case OF need. .3tss The.
force at the Iati was kept hidden In the
4 shadow between the courthouse and the
J jail. Not q sound was uttered and but
d forSan occasional red blur Of cigar. no
4 passcr-by would have known that a.
single officer was on guard.
Waited for the Mob.
There in the black shadow these men
waited hour after hour, determined to
+ hold the JAIL against any mob at any
cost. AT o o'clock Sheriff Simon Solo
+ mon called up Judge Scott and reported
what action he had taken to protect the
prisoner. He said: II can hold the jail
against any force that can be brought
and promise you that Will not deliver
the prisoner"
round OF inspection to discover the
whereabouts OF the mob. He found
crowd on the corner Of Seventeenth
e and Cary Streets. AS he approached they
signacd and quickly disappeared.
On the corner of Fifteenth and Cary
Streets he found-sanother crowd. They
also sgnaled and then disappeared. 1t
is thought that the mob had learned that
the jail was well guarded by determined
men. and knowing that any attempt to
force an entrance would prove futile. had
4 given up their plan. At 2 clock all was
quiet at the jail.
Sheriff Gets Tip.
The first definite information OF the
plan to lynch Johnson was learned a I
$3.50 last evening by Sheriff Solomon. a
wel-known business man called at his
homo and told him that number OF
@ men had banded together for the pur-s
pose OF breaking into the jail and taking
the law into their own hands. Sheriff
Solomon ut once notified Chief Werner,
who placed Captain Hulce In command
at the jail and ,ordered fifty men to re-
port to him. Too much praise cannot be
q given the men for the quick time made
in reporting. Every officer was In place
before D o'clock and there can be no.
doubt but that there would have been
sudden death IL the mob had attempted
to take the prisoner. There were no riot
guns at the Jail. but the men were armed
with the new reyovcrs and extra rounds
- OF amTnunltlOI1 were hcTScu' uc Souu.
ty constables reported for duty armed.
with doubled -barreled shot-guns loaded
With buck shot and orders were given
that the prisoner should be protected no
matter what danger to life might arise.
Not long after the force had assembled, |,
Judge Scott and Mayor Mccarthy drove
up and entered the jail
Tho Mayor was asked II the military
would be ordered out. lie replied: ~
have confidence in the police force and !
am confident that they are able to haadle
any crowd that may make an attempt to
force the jail II unforeseen danger should
arise, tho conservative people OF Rich
mond will stand with the police to up
hold the law. Y t,5
Startling Report.
Suddenly. about 1880 loud report
rang out below the jail. It was thought
that an attack had been begun. Judge
Scott, accompanied by Detective Sergeant
Wrenn rushed quickly to the point from
which tho explosion came, followed by
+ h detail OF police under Captain Hulce.
II was found that somo unknown person
had exploded a torpedo and excitement
gave way again to quiet, All this while
the negro sat In his cell waiting and list.
ening to the low whisperlngs OF the Of
acers as they massed around the jail. He
uttered never a word. Sheriff Solomon,
9,oweyer, gave him heart, when he said,
" don't care whether you are guilty
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