Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-27
TROOPS IN READINESS
TO PREVENT LYNCHING
blS stone Gap Company Is Held
Under Arms by Governor
Stuart.
NEGRO AssAILANT ESCAPES
Citizens With Rifles and Shotguns
Search Mountains for Man Who
Attacked Mrs. Harvey Meade Yes
terday Morning.

On application of Mayor T. y. Pep
per- OF Norton, Wise County. Governor
stuart yesterday ordered the Big Stone
Gap company OF State militia under
arms for the protection OF negro gus
poets ana prevention OF possible
iynching, following an attack by an
unknown negro on Mrs. Harvey Meade
near Norton. The company was held nj
It's armory all day. under CAPTAIN
Joshua i. Bullitt, with automobiles in
readiness for quick run across the
mountains to Norton Bv last nigh, i,
MAD become apparent, however that
the negro had made his escape. prob
aoiE INTO Kentucky, and all apprehen-
sion OF disorder passed away.
while the name of the negro is not
certainly known, tho sheriff Of Wise
county, !. j. Beverly. has n good de-
scription, and Is confident he will he in
custody in day or two
MEN WITH RIFLES AND
SHOTiiUNS SEARCH MOITNT,INS
Mrs. Meade. the wife of travc,ip.
salesman, was attacked in bor how
a' norton yesterday morning by a
drunEcn negro. The man came TO the
Meade nome between 8 and 10 o'clock
anu asked MIS- Meade. who was alone,
10 chanSc IS bill. Mrs Meade want
TO the telephone to call UP her husband
VINO happened to be in town, and was
attacked by tho negro while standing
at the telephone. She was chokcd hui
not TO the point Of unconsciousncss
ier assai!ant fed, going to the noun
tains The news spread rapidlv oyor
m n
rushed 10 tho two hardware stores
armed themselves with rifles, shotyuns
and pistols. and started a search. In
TO $3.50 o'clock last night the negro had
not been found. but the search was be-
ing kept up. Mrs. Meade was not serj-
ously injured and is bearing up we'll
under the shock.
NO arrest has been made. but the Off
GERS are confident they will trace tho
, negro to his hiding. Largo tracks have
been discovered into an old disuscd
mine, none coming out The mine is
closely guarded. Water in the mine
makes 1t difficult to explore A rcport
says the negro has made for Benhnm.
Ky. where he has some money due him
Strong suspicion points to a negro
named Smith. who has been at Norton
several days He fills the description
but could not he located yesterday any
where. Mrs. Meade is positive she can
identify him
GOVERNOR SAYS STATE
WILL SEE THAT JUSTICE Is DONE
Secretary Alexander Forward. at
Governor Stuarts office. was notified
early yesterday. and he at once got into
communication with Governor Stuart at
his home at Elk Garden, in Russell
County. Governor Stuart sent personal
| messages to the Mayor of Norton and
sheriff of Wise County. urging them to
Impress on the people the Importance
of allowing the law to take its course
and reminding them that there were no
unreasonable legal delays in Virginia.
and asserting that tho state would omit
no effort TO see that justice was done.
Later in the day a large number of
kilograms were received at the Cover
nor's Office approving the stand taken
by Governor Stuart. and assuring him
that there would be no effort on the
part of Wise County citizens to take
the law into their own hands.
Secretary Forward talked with Mayor
Pepper late last night over the long
distance telephone, and was assured
that all was quiet, and that, while there
was every reason to believe that the
negro would be captured, there was no
disposition to take him out of the hands
of the legal officers.