A Bloody Record
June 4, 1898
Summary
The Planet expresses the frustration of many African Americans at the continued lynching of innocent men despite war abroad.
Transcription
Despite the fact that war is upon us, the lynchers continue their bloody work and colored men are being horribly murdered “as of yore.”
At Anderson, S.C., Elbert Harris was taken from J. L. Jackson, (white) carried into the woods and horribly beaten. He died soon afterwards. Harris was only eighteen years of age and was charged with barn-burning.
No effort will be made to punish the fiends who murdered this hapless victim.
From Key West, Florida, under date May 25th, comes the report that a row occurred in a Cuban coffee-shop between William Carne and Vladimir Ichuitsky, both white and Charles Kitchen, colored. Ichuitsky was skilled and Carne badly wounded. The colored man escaped.
A report was circulated that a marine, possibly one of those of the transport ship, Panther, had been killed. A mob was formed to storm the jail and lynch the colored man. He was not found however.
The feeling against the colored people is intense, and threats have been made to hang colored men on general principles.
From Salisbury, Md., comes the report that on May 26th, Garfield King, colored and about eighteen years of age was taken from jail and lynched.
He was charged with having shot a white youth. The rope broke during the operation and King fell to the ground in an insensible condition.
He was then beaten and kicked without mercy, huge welts being made upon his body.
A rope was placed around his neck again, and he was drawn up and hanged, hundreds of bullets being fired into his quivering body.
This was done too in a country which is waging a war in the interest of humanity, and essays to teach another country a lesson on ethics.
Pitiable condition this! How long shall it continue? We tire over this record of blood-shed. When colored men defend colored men, when disturbances of this kind are accompanied by a clash of arms between the law-abiding and lawless elements. Then such exhibitions of brutality will cease.
Whether by the shot-gun or the rifle, the pulpit or the bar, lynch-law must go!
At Anderson, S.C., Elbert Harris was taken from J. L. Jackson, (white) carried into the woods and horribly beaten. He died soon afterwards. Harris was only eighteen years of age and was charged with barn-burning.
No effort will be made to punish the fiends who murdered this hapless victim.
From Key West, Florida, under date May 25th, comes the report that a row occurred in a Cuban coffee-shop between William Carne and Vladimir Ichuitsky, both white and Charles Kitchen, colored. Ichuitsky was skilled and Carne badly wounded. The colored man escaped.
A report was circulated that a marine, possibly one of those of the transport ship, Panther, had been killed. A mob was formed to storm the jail and lynch the colored man. He was not found however.
The feeling against the colored people is intense, and threats have been made to hang colored men on general principles.
From Salisbury, Md., comes the report that on May 26th, Garfield King, colored and about eighteen years of age was taken from jail and lynched.
He was charged with having shot a white youth. The rope broke during the operation and King fell to the ground in an insensible condition.
He was then beaten and kicked without mercy, huge welts being made upon his body.
A rope was placed around his neck again, and he was drawn up and hanged, hundreds of bullets being fired into his quivering body.
This was done too in a country which is waging a war in the interest of humanity, and essays to teach another country a lesson on ethics.
Pitiable condition this! How long shall it continue? We tire over this record of blood-shed. When colored men defend colored men, when disturbances of this kind are accompanied by a clash of arms between the law-abiding and lawless elements. Then such exhibitions of brutality will cease.
Whether by the shot-gun or the rifle, the pulpit or the bar, lynch-law must go!
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“A Bloody Record,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1396.