Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-28

Weston, W. Va, Dec. 27.-William Furdy, negro, for hours tonight was between two fireS-death at the hands of a mob or suffocation in the iron vault of the express office at the local railway station. Outside the little building d crowd of several hundred persons waited from afternoon until late into the night. demanding the life of the prisoner for alleged assaults upon and an attempt to murder Flora Anglin a prominent farmers dauSh- ter
 Mob Unable to Get Into Vault.
 While the mob waited and resorted to occasional but feeble acts of vio- lence, a large force of special depu- ties and the regular force of sher1ffs officers guarded the express room and kept the negro locked in the large express safe, where he had hardly air to breathe
 For hours the crowd waited, but for want of a leader it failed to move with sufficient force to dislOdge the deputies and seize the express room. They stormed the place several times, breaking all the windows and forcing open the doors, but were unable to gain access.
 State Troops the Only Hope.
 The only hope of the authorities, however. to get their prisoner to- the
  do when the mob collected, was In the arrival of state troops. An order was issued early in the evening for the mobilization of the militia at several points, out although special trains were provided it was doubtful if the soldiers would reach the scene before early morning.
 Three CriminaI Attacks.
 Weston. w. Va. Dec 27-A large hn ta ton tonight to prevent officers from removing William Furby. colOred, to the prison at Clarksburg. State troops, are reported on the way from Clarks- burg by special train to prevent lynching At Furby's trial this aft daughter, declared she was the victim of three criminal attacks at his hands. Mob Wild with Excitement.
 The appearance of Miss Anglin's fla ther. an aged man with long gray | whiskers, upon the platform of the station, telling the crowd that the story of his daughter was as true as steel, set the mob wild with excite ment.
 Prosecuting Attorney Swint made continued attempts to appeal to the people from truck on the depot plat form. but the truck was drawn from beneath him. and the crowd yelled him down. The officials were wholly unable to cope with the situation
 Prisoner Locked in Concealed Vault.
 At 7.15 p. m. the mob burst open the door of the express room where the sheriffs and their prisoner had locked themselves in. All the window lights were broken and the mob de- manded the negro. But the latter was pushed for safe keeping into the con cea1ed vault of the express company, where he had hardly a breath of air.
 Militia Mobilization Ordered.
 An appeal to Governor Glasscock at Charleston for troops was followed inn mediately by an order for the mobiliz- alton of the militia at Clarksburg, Grafton and ParkershurS. and their despatch here by special train. Un til the arrival of the soldiers it was necessary to confine the negro in the airless vault. Although it might mean Ceath tC him from suffocation, it was considered a greater peril to release him while the mob's frenzy was at such Q height.
 Miss AngIin Testifies at Hearing.
 After the negro's hearing this after noon he was held to the grand jury without bail. to answer to the charge of assault and attempt to murder. The Anglin girl took the stand herself, aft