Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-04-21

about in the darkness, lighting
matches and peering into cells. hunt
ing for intended victims. Prisoners
burrowed under cots and tried to
hide from scrutiny.
Here they are" some one would
shout. and cheers on the outside
would be taken up and carried a
block away by the hysterical root
ers for the real mob. This business
. kept up a pandemonium while the
/ locks were being hammered OF. At
every cheer from the crowd the sew
! en- colored prisoners corhned in the
cells would whine J. ,eOusly and
some would pray.
After an hours work. the locks on
the main cellroom of the lower tier
were broken open. Then the work
ers found that the prisoners wanted
were all in the upper tier.
| JAILER FLEES FROM PERIL.
No time was wasted in beginning
work there While some worked
lothers called on the sheriff 10 give
up the keys. Jailer King slipped
down TO the Office and gave the key
/ TO Deputy United States Marshall
Sheldon. who slipped away through
I the mob. Soon the jailer was at
I tackled, choked and beaten to force
/ him 10 give up the keys. He gave
them key and then escaped. Shout
ing with triumph, they went upstairs
/ TO unlock the cells 10 get their quar-
ry. only TO find that they had been
| given a key that did not fit. They
would have probably killed the jailer
If they could have found him. Some
| little cOlored boys in jail for steal
! ing chickens were under cots on the
roof of the cells with the officers.
Some OF the mob crawled up and
/ found them. They are not in the
cells. here they are was shouted.
IL was heard outside. and yells went
| up for a block around. ''We're on
ly chicken thieves" they pleaded,
and the mob was finally convinced.
although some of the rOoters called
out TO hang 'em anyway"
! The hammering on the locks and
| the sobbing and whining of the vic
) tins inside continued, and the crowd
! yelled ani swCre almost in time with
the blows. The police had been
called upon by the sheriff, but only
three reported at the Jail. One of
these, Oficer Bishop, pushed his
1
ed TO the crowd:
"You are breaking the law. If
these men are guilty they will be
punished"
"D-n the law" yelled a lusty
rufiian
The cry was taken up, re-echoing
against the walls OF the high school.
library and college buildings near
at hand. 1t was the watch word OF
\ the assembly. Finally, a mighty
cheer went up from inside the Jail.
VICTIMS ARE SECURED.
We've got EN-" the leader shout
ed.
The door had opened and men
lrushed in. The colored men fought
desperately. but were crushed down
and dragged through the alleyway
lcrying. "Ohl On, We are not the
meni"
Then, as they were bound. their
cries subsidized into hopeless sobs.
They were raised and pushed
Through the windows and received
by the mob outside with wild cheers.
They were dragged through the mob
to Boonville street. The scene and
the noise as the victims we're taken
through the mob can not be describ
ed. IL was unearthly. The rejoic-
ing of the mob was like the revels
of imps at the damning OF a soul
Take 'em to the square!" shout
ed some one.
Take 'em TO the square." echoed
the rooters.
Then the fiendish procession be-
gan. The coIored men were half
dragged and half carried Thev
were, In fact, unconscious from
fright. Coker's clothing had been
torn from him in the fight to drag
him out.
TO BE CONTINUED.