The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-07
NEGRO WHO KILLED OFFICER
TURNED OVER BY MOB

morning when Sheriff Ramsey and
Deputy J. Dukes were bringing Vir
gil Ross, the slayer of Officer C. w.
Newberry at Alachua Thursday, to
the county Jail, bunch of men. sup
posed to be intent on lynching the
negro, hailed them on the road and
took the negro from the sheriff 8
custody. Ross, who is a young ne
gro boy of about Is years, was CAP
tured near Frt White after an all
nights chase, and the sheriff. fear
ing violence from the indignant citi.
zens of Alachua, was careful to sur
round that town in an effort to get
his prisoner to the county Jail be-
fore his capture was generally
known.
The sheriff made record d-breaking
time in his car and had gotten with
in six miles of the city on the New
berry road, when in the lane Just be-
Iond Fort Call church he found the
read blocked by automobiles. He was
taken completely by surprise, and
realizing the fruitlessness of resist
ing the demand made on him for the
prisoner, he reluctantly gave him up
to the determined men.
Sheriff Ramsey came on to the
city, with Deputy Dukes, and report
ed the loss of his prisoner. This was
about 9 o'clock. Immediately num-
ber of citizens rushed to the place OF
the hold-up, expecting to find the ne
gro swinging from convenient limb,
but no such gruesOme sight greeted
their vision; and here comes the
strange part Of the story-an occur
renee which probably has no paral-
lei in this or any other State Ross,
the prisoner, was taken to the scene
of his crime at Alachua where he
made a full and complete confession
Of his guilt. When first captured he
sa d that one of his confereratse did
the shooting which resulted in the
death of C. w. Newberry Thursday
night, but in Alachua he told his
captors that he alone was guilty, al
though there were two others with
him at the robbery of the store. 9th
ers had two men arrested on sus-
picion. but Ross failed to identify
them as his companions.
Ross was then brought to Gaines
vile and placed in the county jail.
Willie the general belief prevailed
that he had been lynched. To say
that Sheriff Ramsey was relie'ed.
would be putting it mildly. Ross was
brought to the county Jail from Ala
chua by J. w. McCann, Dr.. J w.
Bishop, Dewitt Hague and J. L.
Shaw
Ross was located in a cotton patch
near Fort White about sunrise SRI
day morning Sheriff Ramsey's dog
leading the possee, who was made up
at the time of the sheriff, G.. w.
Livingston, Arthur Cathcart and J
Dukes. to the hiding place of the ne
gro.
Ross talked freely after reaching
his cell in the county jail He told
he Sheriff that when Mr.. Newberry
flashed his light on him and at
tempted to search him, he grappled
with him and getting hold of the
GIstol shot. He then made his es-
ape Why the men who took Ross
rom the sheriff, presumably to lynch
i'm, changed their minds and !
await the action of the law, is an
1.her story; but they deserve credit |
or holding their passions in leash !
and their action has brought credit |
)n the town of Alachua, whose citi-
scHo hdu thC pOWcl " ldhC Gil CUM =
n their own hands, and they have
lone honor to Alachua county. Had |
his occurrence taken place in ILL.,
lois the angry mob would not have
stopped with taking the life of Ross,
but, drunk with power and blood, it
y ould have sacrificed innocent lives
n mad riot until dispersed by State
troops.
Friday afternoon Marshal Beden-
,augh of Alachua brought to the |
county Jail the two negroes arrested |
IS the accomplices of Ross They |
caves their names at the Jail as Fred !
Young and Will Coleman, but ti:ey |
xcee known in Alachua as Simon
Ferkins and Elijah Rutledge They |
we're arrested at Lake Butler
Officer c. W. Newbcrry died OF |
lil wounds Thursday night. and his
,C DIV was taken to Hampton Brad I
fcrd county. Friday afternoon for
--..t .. i,;- oId boroa He diod In !