Greensville County Virginia USGenWeb Archives News.....Lynching, 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ Double lynching, 24 Mar 1900, Emporia Walter COTTON, formerly of Scotland Neck, NC, confessed murderer, & Brent O'GRADY, formerly of Chicago, IL, associate LATEST NEWS OF THE WORLD BY TELEGRAPH AND CABLE.{CONTINUED ON { PAGES 6. DOUBLE LYNCHING AT EMPORIA YESTERDAY Walter Cotton, the Colored Murderer, and O'Grady, His White Companion, Hanged. DESCRIBED BY AN EYE - WITNESS The Withdrawal of the Military Yesterday Morning Left the Prisoners Comparatively Unprotected and Later in the Day They Were Taken From the Jail, Cotton First and O'Grady an Hour Later, and Hanged in the Courthouse Yard by a Mob, Composed of White and Colored Citizens of Greenville County- Both Men Go to Their Fate Bravely - Particulars of the Affair. (By a Staff Correspondent.) Emporia, Va., March 24.-As a fitting culmination of a reign of rapine and murder, in the yellow light of sickly March sunshine, and within full knowledge of town and county officials, two men were this afternoon hanged to death in Emporia, a little town of undulating hills and railroads, the capital of Greensville county. They were Walter Cotton, a noted negro desperado, the known slayer of at least four white men, and his latterday associate in crime, Brant O'Grady, an Irishman, who says he is from Chicago, where he was born 55 years ago. Cotton first saw daylight in Scotland Neck, N. C., where his career of blood and murder was begun. TROOPS WITHDRAWN. The lynching was a result of the State militia's withdrawal. The Richmond Blues, which had been on the ground, and which incensed the citizens to a point which threatened an open clash, left Emporia this morning at 11:21 on a special train. The mob began forming as soon as the soldiers had gone, and when revengeful natives had finished cheering Judge Goodwyn and Sheriff Lee for their action. Major Sol Cutchins, in command of the militia, wired Governor Tyler that more soldiers were needed to offset the crowd that was being mobilized with the intentions of wreaking vengeance. The Governor had started another company to Emporla, but it was recalled at Clopton. UP TO THE SHERIFF. Governor Tyler sent the following wire to Major Cutchins: "Major Sol. Cutchlns, Emporia, Va.: "The sole responsibility is on the Sheriff. If he orders you to withdraw you can do nothing but obey. We have have done everything possible to uphold law and prevent mob violence, and are still prepared to render any aid necessary. Have recalled train with Captain Cheatwood's company, and will again dismiss them. Will arrange with railroad to bring your men back. The promptness and soldierly conduct of your battalion is commended, and your own efficient services are appreciated. "J. HOGE TYLER," "Governor." To get the community's feeling in regard to the matter Judge W. Samuel Goodwyn called a meeting of officers and prominent citizens. They met in the Judge's office about 10 o'clock for a conference. Among those present were: Judge Goodwyn, Sheriff W. H. Lee, State's Attorney W. M. Powell. Treasurer B. W. Wyche, Commissioner of Revenue M. J. Squire. Charles Baker, J. J. Taylor, J. E. Baker, E. C. Tredway, W. E. Bailey, E. E. Goodwyn, W. T. and P. B. Tillar and others. Mayor L. L. Deakins was in the office, but not during the entire conference. LET SOLDIERS GO. After discussion among the conferees it was decided to be the lesser of two evils to let the soldiers go. They considered that, in view of the excited state of the mob, whose numbers were being constantly augmented, it were better to let two criminals hang than to have spilled the blood of innocent citizens and soldiery. The vote to remove the troops was almost unanimous. Judge Goodwyn and Sheriff Lee signed the official order and they were cheered for the act, though they have been condemned in some quarters and accused of lack of nerve. PRAISE FOR GOVERNOR. Judge Goodwyn said: "I wish, Mr. Pruden, you would speak words of praise for Governor Tyler in the Virginian-Pilot. He has done everything we asked and did it promptly, and we officials appreciate it highly." Judge Goodwyn would not commit himself regarding the prosecution of the Iynchers, none of whom was masked and all of whom seemed to seek a chance to help send two souls into eternity. Judge Goodwyn said he would take no action without consulting Governor Tyler and Attorney-General Montague. The lynchers will not be harmed. The sentiment of Emporia and Greenville county will protect them, although I found a number of conservative men who deplored the occurrence. COTTON WENT FIRST. Before the company of Blues had gotten well on their way to Richmond their were cries for Cotton's blood. "Lynch him!" "hang him!" "string up the man who killed our friends!" were the cries. The mob made a rush for the jail, whose keys Sheriff Lee had given over to a deputy. It was short work to bring Cotton from his cell and lead him to a forked wild cherry tree, in Courthouse square. The tree of death is forty feet from the jail, twenty feet from Greensville Bank and twentyyards from the Courthouse. It is near Main street. PLUCKY TO THE END. Cotton was brave till the last. He knew he had to go and was not careful about the manner of his going. The only word he uttered was a request to speak with a lawyer, whom he called "counsellor." "Now pull." the crowd yelled when two straps of half-inch cotton rope had been placed about Cotton's neck, and he was standing beneath a limb on the wild cherry tree. A smooth place had been made on the limb so the ropes couId slip easily. WILLING HANDS. Several pairs of willing hands grasped the ropes and Cotton's body was lifted into space. "Don't shoot," "don't shoot," the crowd shouted. Despite the warning two shots rang out, and two bullets pierced the dangling form. Blood oozed from a wound near his left eye and trickled down the dying man's face. The mob yelled and jeered at their fiendish work. Saunders and Welton, the lynchers' friends, and other victims whom they knew not, were being avenged. COTTON DIED BRAVELY. Cotton died as he had lived-plucky and without fear. There was a slight convulsion of the legs and then they hung limp as his breaths were going. His head was thrown back to a horizontal position and the sightless eyes looked heavenward. Cotton had on two pairs of pants, which had this week been stolen from John R. Grizzard when he and his wife were held up in the bed-chamber. He wore a brown flannel top shirt and red flannel undershirt. Cotton's form is well made muscular. He has powerful arms, great sturdy legs and a thick body. FULLY IDENTIFIED. There is no doubt as to Cotton's identity. The following prominent North Carolinians were called on and recognized the multi-murderer: Solicitor Daniels, of Weldon, who had twice convicted him of felony; Dr. Green, and Sheriff House, of Halifax county, and Major Thomas Emory, of Roanoke Rapids. The latter said Cotton had worked for him while a convict, and had made a good employee. BURNED ALIVE. Major Emory said that Cotton was thought to be the instigator of a cremation at Scotland Neck. He had a negro burned alive in a furnace for some trivial act. Sheriff J. W. Williams, of Southampton, went to Emporla to-day to get some information from Cotton about a crime, but he arrived too late. Cotton was dying. Cotton is thought to have been guilty of six or eight murders and several dozen burglaries. O'GRADY NEXT. Before the lust quivers had left Cotton's body there were excited demands for the blood of Brant O'Grady, whose only proven crime was bad company. He had been Cotton's associate. A rush was made for the jail. The negroes were loud in demanding that O'Grady be lynched. "You have killed the negro; now lynch the white man," they demanded. Former Judge George P. Barham made a speech to the crowd. He said Cotton was a confessed murderer,while O'Grady claimed to be innocent. "Let's give him a chance to prove that he is not guilty," said the Judge. "We know he is guilty," replied scores of voices. Colonel Field, of Petersburg,who commanded a regiment in Mahone's Division, begged the mob not to act hastily. Those pleadings were of no avail. A crowd of whites and negroes entered the jail. Mr. C. T. Boykin, of Richmond, was one of those who pleaded with the mob to let O'Grady live. There were half a dozen men in the cell, who swore they would die before they would allow O'Grady to be lynched. The mob was twice driven out. O'GRADY DEFIANT. O'Grady was crouched in his little cell. He was defiant. He told the mob that they were afraid to lynch him; they were cowards, and he would live a hundred years if death had to come at their hands. There were now 1,500 men about the court green, and their number was rapidly increasing. The negroes were especially boisterous in demanding O'Grady's death. Finally they placed the two strands of cotton which had strangled Cotton about the Irishman's neck and led him out. His appearance was greeted by derisive yells. "We are afraid, are we?" the lynchers cried. "We'll show you whether we're afraid to lynch a white man. String him up where Cotton died." NEGROES HELPED. The crowd was of mixed color. The procession again moved to the wild cherry tree. O'Grady walked boldly and without support. He stood beneath the limb and said in a voice that was thick and hoarse, but in which there was no fear: "Hang me, you cowards; hang me, if you will. Break this neck; it has been a good one," passing a hand across his throat. O'Grady was swung skyward. The ropes slipped in the same groove that had at 12:40 felt the weight of a human pendulum. It was 1:45 when the Irishman's feet left the earth. An active negro climbed the tree and fastened the ropes' ends to a smaller limb, and other negroes cried out for joy. O'Grady was strangling. HOW HE LOOKED. The son of Ireland had stood erect, when with hands to his side as the nether extremities left terraqueous substance. Neither his hands nor feet were bound. As the ropes choked O'Grady his head inclined to one side, but not upward, as had Cotton's. His lips grew livid and protruded. The whole face was darkening. Before death came the naturally dark skin was almost black. There were no convulsions. The only movement was a slight undulating motion of the right arm, which arose and fell slowly. The eyelids parted after death. O'Grady wore a top coat of large plaid, with a decent dress coat and sorry trousers. The wind played gently with his locks of long, coal-black hair. The thick, dark, bushy whiskers stood out stiffly. They looked defiant even in death. The thumb of the right hand was clinched under the fingers. AFTER SOUVENIRS. The crowd closed in. Some of them swung the body around like a suspended scarecrow. Others cut off buttons, pieces of clothes, rope and sprigs of beard. They were gathering similar tokens from the body of Cotton, which still lay beneath the tree. The mob grew more subdued. Their work was done. O'Grady's body was cut down and laid beside that of his associate whose companionship brought death. Morbid men, some whiskey-soaked, gathered around and stared. Both men died of strangulation. I examined their necks closely and could not find an evidence of a break. But I am not a doctor. BURIAL BOXES. Two unpainted, pain pine boxes were brought. The corpses were put in. The authorities had not decided positively, but thought that Cotton's remains would be sent to Portsmouth that the reward might be claimed. O'Grady will probably be laid in Greensville county soil. Many persons viewed the lonely caskets. "There's the man that killed my best friend," one remarked. "He also killed George Blick," said another. "He won't do it any more," said a third. Then some one laughed, but it was not a laugh that makes one feel good. ALLEGED LACK OF NERVE. Judge Goodwyn and Sheriff Lee have been accused of something akin to cowardice. Some of the critics reckon in ignorance of the situation. They were not in pleasant places at such a crisis. A large mob of men seeking whiskey and vengeance and protesting loudly for the troops going are not apt to heed to fine points of logic or pleas for conservatism. There were brave men in the crowd. There were good men. The acts were participated in more largely by country than town people. None hid his face. THREATENED THE JUDGE. "One feature of the affair pained me very much," said Judge Goodwyn. "Some of our citizens, good people and good friends of mine, threatened to lynch me if the troops were not removed. They spoke of blowing up my house. It wasn't a situation to make one feel pleasant. My wife was almost crazy." The only way bloodshed could have been averted was to have removed the prisoners last night. To-day would have been too late. The soldiers last night had several gallons of whiskey sent them. Some played at cards. I asked Sheriff Lee how the jail keys had been gotten. He said he had not had them for some days. They had been in a deputy's charge. The man who arrested O'Grady after the killing of Saunders and Welton Wednesday was Ed. Watson, a negro. This is the first time in Virginia that a white man and negro have been hanged on the same limb the same day, in open daylight, and by men who were not masked. P. L. P. Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA Virginia Memory [digital collections], Virginia Chronicle [newpaper collections], "The Virginian-Pilot" (Norfolk, VA), Vol. 4, No. 307, Mar. 25, 1900, p. 1, col. 1-3 Additional information: A substantially identical account, citing several other newspapers & other sources, is published in the following source: Douglas Summers Brown, ed. "Historical and Biographical Sketches of Greensville County, Virginia 1650 - 1967; Second Edition 1968 - 2000." 2nd ed. pub. White Stone, VA: Brandylane Pub., 2000. Ch. XXI, "Greensville County's Only Lynching," pp. 215-24. O'GRADY has not been found in US Census records. Walter COTTON may be identical with the 1-year-old son[?] of Clarissey COTTON, enumerated in the 1880 Census some 6 miles from Scotland Neck in Palmyra, Halifax Co., NC. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC61-JLN : accessed 7 March 2016), citing enumeration district ED 129, sheet 404A, NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 0966; FHL microfilm 1,254,966. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com) [line breaks mine]. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/greensville/news/19000325vp.txt