Isaac Jenkins’ Lynchers
March 31, 1894
Summary
The men who lynched Isaac Jenkins have yet to be indicted for his lynching, while Jenkins is being moved around from court to court.
Transcription
The lynching of Isaac Jenkins was one of the most atrocious crimes in the criminal annals of this country; his escape from Death one of the most miraculous events in the history of the world. It was a surprise that men professing to be good citizens should have been concerned in such a dastardly outrage.
It has been said that a people cannot be expected to be any better than there laws and it is now an open question whether or not they are as good.
It is a shameful commentary Upon Our Christian institution when officers of the law, sworn to do their Duty shirk responsibility app on a technicality and failed to take the proper steps for the punishment of criminals.
Attempted murder is a felony. To beat, shoot, or otherwise seriously injured a citizen with intent to kill is a crime for which the law provides confinement in the Virginia Penitentiary.
All officials in this Commonwealth, and otherwise swear before God to maintain and support the laws of the United States and those of the state of Virginia. They swear to recognize the civil and political equality of all men before the law.
That is, they assert that they will labor to punish a white man for a crime committed upon a colored man as quick as they would labor to punish a colored man for a crime Committed upon a white one.
Isaac Jenkins was lynched during the month of July, 1893. It is rapidly approaching the time when the 12 monthly Milestone from that period Will have been reached. During that time the vials of Wrath have not been poured upon The would-be Executioner's but upon the victim.
Jenkins has been hounded from court to court. His enemies have been tireless in their efforts to legally execute him.
Were it not for effort of his devoted friends, he might no doubt even now be under the sentence of death. No one word has been altered against the lynchers.
The laws of Virginia have been violated. Not a member of that band of lynchers has been indicted by a grand jury...
It has been said that a people cannot be expected to be any better than there laws and it is now an open question whether or not they are as good.
It is a shameful commentary Upon Our Christian institution when officers of the law, sworn to do their Duty shirk responsibility app on a technicality and failed to take the proper steps for the punishment of criminals.
Attempted murder is a felony. To beat, shoot, or otherwise seriously injured a citizen with intent to kill is a crime for which the law provides confinement in the Virginia Penitentiary.
All officials in this Commonwealth, and otherwise swear before God to maintain and support the laws of the United States and those of the state of Virginia. They swear to recognize the civil and political equality of all men before the law.
That is, they assert that they will labor to punish a white man for a crime committed upon a colored man as quick as they would labor to punish a colored man for a crime Committed upon a white one.
Isaac Jenkins was lynched during the month of July, 1893. It is rapidly approaching the time when the 12 monthly Milestone from that period Will have been reached. During that time the vials of Wrath have not been poured upon The would-be Executioner's but upon the victim.
Jenkins has been hounded from court to court. His enemies have been tireless in their efforts to legally execute him.
Were it not for effort of his devoted friends, he might no doubt even now be under the sentence of death. No one word has been altered against the lynchers.
The laws of Virginia have been violated. Not a member of that band of lynchers has been indicted by a grand jury...
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Carlos Serrano
Citation
“Isaac Jenkins’ Lynchers,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 12, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1587.