The Trial of Lynchers
May 29, 1897
Summary
The Planet examines the excitement surrounding the trial of a white man who attempted to lynch a black man in Campbell, Virginia.
Transcription
The trial of Rosser, one of the white men who attempted to lynch the colored man, William Clements took place Monday, 10th inst. At Campbell C.H. Va. The jury stood ten for acquittal and two for conviction to eighteen years in the penitentiary. One of the white jurymen, – a Mr. Hunter said that he would stay there until the sun stopped rising in the East before he would agree with the other members of the jury. Mr. Switcher agreed with him.
It will be remembered that Clements (colored) and Rosser (white) had a disagreement. In a fight which followed, the colored youth got the better of it. Rosser swore out a warrant for his arrest, and he was lodged in jail.
A mob was organized, consisting of about forty men and appeared at the jail alleging that they were headed by a Mr. Whitehead with a prisoner from Concord.
Upon the door being opened they rushed in, breaking into Clemment’s cell and attempting to take him therefrom.
Clemments picked up a stick of wood from the pile in the cell and whipped them all.
He was shot seven times. He took a rope from his own neck, and as the gang was beating a hasty retreat, he escaped. He recognized four of his would-be murderers and warrants were issued for their arrest.
Commonwealth’s Attorney William M Murrell ably prosecuted the lyncher.
The jury remained from Monday until Wednesday when it was discharged. When Clemments had been thus brutally treated he was bailed in the sum of $500, and was taken to the city of Lynchburg where the bullets were extracted.
Mr. A. Humbles was present at the trial and furnished the facts upon which this account is based.
The lynchers have been bailed in the sum of $1000.
It will be remembered that Clements (colored) and Rosser (white) had a disagreement. In a fight which followed, the colored youth got the better of it. Rosser swore out a warrant for his arrest, and he was lodged in jail.
A mob was organized, consisting of about forty men and appeared at the jail alleging that they were headed by a Mr. Whitehead with a prisoner from Concord.
Upon the door being opened they rushed in, breaking into Clemment’s cell and attempting to take him therefrom.
Clemments picked up a stick of wood from the pile in the cell and whipped them all.
He was shot seven times. He took a rope from his own neck, and as the gang was beating a hasty retreat, he escaped. He recognized four of his would-be murderers and warrants were issued for their arrest.
Commonwealth’s Attorney William M Murrell ably prosecuted the lyncher.
The jury remained from Monday until Wednesday when it was discharged. When Clemments had been thus brutally treated he was bailed in the sum of $500, and was taken to the city of Lynchburg where the bullets were extracted.
Mr. A. Humbles was present at the trial and furnished the facts upon which this account is based.
The lynchers have been bailed in the sum of $1000.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brian Schrott
Citation
“The Trial of Lynchers,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed February 19, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1167.