Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-12-22


Annapolis, Md, Dec. 21.-Henry
Davis, alias Henry Chambers, a ne
gro, who committed a felonious as
sault on Mrs. John Reid, of Browns
vile, miles from Annapolis, last
Friday, and who had confessed his
crime, was taken from the Jail Fri
day morning and lynched by mob
Of about 60 masked men. He was
strung up and his body riddled with
bullets.
The Jail is situated in Calvert street
in the western section of the city and
is quite isolated. The mob had no
difficulty in securing the prisoner
Taking him from his cell, they car
ried him along the road leading to
the scene of his crime. The plans
of the lynchers were kept quiet as no
one except those who participated in
1t knew anything about what was to
take place. Their movements were
carefully guarded
In statement made after the man
was taken from the Jail, Deputy
Sheriff SmallwOod said that about 2
O'Clock a man appeared outside the
jail and rang. He said he had
prisoner. DepGty Reuben |. Small
wood saw that he had no prisoner
and refused to admit him, whereupom
he left. Soon afterward a mob of
about so men appeared before the Jail
with a whipping post and endeavored
to batter down the door. Unsuc-
cessful with that means, they pro-
cured a sledge and pick, and manag-
ed to break a hole through the door
in which one of them crawled and un-
locked the door. Then five or six
men entered the building and pro-
ceeded to the wardens room, where
they encountered Warden Taylor,
Deputies Smallwood and James C.
Grouse, and Night Watchman Mar
cellus. At the point of a pistol the
warden surrendered the keys. In a
few moments more Davis was Sc
cured and carried out bodily. He
made no resistance His appear
ance outside the Jail was greeted with
yells. He was kicked and beaten by
members of the lynching party and in
a few minUt was taken to Brickyard
Hill on the Annapolis, Baltimore and
Washington railroad line.
Here Davis was closely questioned
and again admitted that he had as
saulted his victim, and repeated that
he would have done it living or dead.
AS he made this assertion, those
who heard him raised a cry, a rope
was quickly knoNed and the moose
slipped over his head.
By this time Davis was nearly un-
conscious from frig,Jt and the blows
which had been rained upon him.
While in this condition Davis was
hCtsted up to the limb of a tree.
Almost before his feet had left the
ground, a revolver cracked and a bull
let cut cash through his scalp. 1t
was the signal for general firing, and
at least 100 bullets must have riddled
his body.
After few minutes the body was
cut down, and pieces CT the rope and
clothing were taken by many as SOU
vCEirs. The mob then dispersed.
The personnel of the mob is not
known, but reliable witnesses 10 the
| occurrence state that all of those
who composed it were young in ap-
pearance. They all wore masks,
had their faces backened and each
one was armed with a revolver.
The negro was carried through the
negro section OF the city, but no one
interfered. When people appeared
at the doors or windows they were
warned to remain where they were il
they did not want harm to come to
| them.
The police permitted the mob to
have its way, none of the officers
apparently interfering.