The Lynching at Tappahannook
May 9, 1896
Summary
The Planet publishes a reader letter that speaks of a lyncher left unpunished in his hometown.
Transcription
Dear Sir: - Again I pen you a few lines to let you hear from this section. Thank God, we are yet alive. Trees are full of fruit, peas are in bloom, wheat and grass are looking prosperous, plenty shad and herring. Farmers are busy planting corn. Everything indicates better times in the future. For these blessing we should be very, very grateful to our heavenly Father.
Nothing has been done as yet about the lynching of Thomas Washington on the 22nd of March at Centre Cross, Essex Co. Va. No reward has been offered for the capture of the guilty parties. They are yet at large. A set of murderers, with nothing to molest them.
The white fiend who attempted to assault the little daughter of Mr. A. Moore, colored, on the 25th day of the same month made his escape. No warrant was issued until 4:30 P. M. Applications were made early in the morning. After the warrant had been issued the officer did not leave to go in search for him unto he had been notified of the intended arrest. This he testifies on his return that some one had told the captain a warrant had been issued for him and he had made his escape. Some of them stayed on the vessel all night waiting his return, but no one attempted to search the vessel when it passed here two days afterwards, thus allowing him to pass on unmolested. We pray God that the time may soon com when justice will be meted out to all evil doers.
I am yours for truth, D. F. P.
Nothing has been done as yet about the lynching of Thomas Washington on the 22nd of March at Centre Cross, Essex Co. Va. No reward has been offered for the capture of the guilty parties. They are yet at large. A set of murderers, with nothing to molest them.
The white fiend who attempted to assault the little daughter of Mr. A. Moore, colored, on the 25th day of the same month made his escape. No warrant was issued until 4:30 P. M. Applications were made early in the morning. After the warrant had been issued the officer did not leave to go in search for him unto he had been notified of the intended arrest. This he testifies on his return that some one had told the captain a warrant had been issued for him and he had made his escape. Some of them stayed on the vessel all night waiting his return, but no one attempted to search the vessel when it passed here two days afterwards, thus allowing him to pass on unmolested. We pray God that the time may soon com when justice will be meted out to all evil doers.
I am yours for truth, D. F. P.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Liam Eynan
Citation
“The Lynching at Tappahannook,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 20, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1618.