Soldiers Guard Negro
June 16, 1906
Summary
William Lee is arrested for assault, and the victims are not allowed to see him because the guards think they will form a mob and try to bombard the prison.
Transcription
Soldiers Guard Negro
Organized mob Vows to Lynch Alleged Assailant of White Women.
Cape Charles, Va., June 18.-- William Lee, a negro, who was arrested at Cape Charles on suspicion of having assaulted two women near Kingston, Ma., on Sunday night, is in the county jail at Eastville, Va., under the protections of a strong detachment of the 71st Virginia regiment.
The crime for which Lee is held was committed on Mrs. Robert Barnes and Miss Frances Powell, her cousin as they were returning from church. Their assailant escaped in the direction of Cape Charles, and a general alarm was sent out for his capture. The Cape Charles authorities picked up Lee on suspicion and notified the Maryland authorities. When the news of Lee’s capture reached Somerset county, in which Kingston is located, a party of 25 was organized and left for Cape Charles, with the avowed purpose of lynching Lee is he was identified as the assailant.
The two women, accompanied by Attorney H.J. Water, of Somerset county, Md., arrived at Eastville for the purpose of identifying Lee, but the authorities would not permit the two women to see the negro. The Northampton authorities fear that if the women should identify Lee the mob, which has gathered her from all sections of the peninsula, might rush through the troops and attempt to gain an entrance to the jail. Later the prisoner was taken Norfolk for safe keeping.
Organized mob Vows to Lynch Alleged Assailant of White Women.
Cape Charles, Va., June 18.-- William Lee, a negro, who was arrested at Cape Charles on suspicion of having assaulted two women near Kingston, Ma., on Sunday night, is in the county jail at Eastville, Va., under the protections of a strong detachment of the 71st Virginia regiment.
The crime for which Lee is held was committed on Mrs. Robert Barnes and Miss Frances Powell, her cousin as they were returning from church. Their assailant escaped in the direction of Cape Charles, and a general alarm was sent out for his capture. The Cape Charles authorities picked up Lee on suspicion and notified the Maryland authorities. When the news of Lee’s capture reached Somerset county, in which Kingston is located, a party of 25 was organized and left for Cape Charles, with the avowed purpose of lynching Lee is he was identified as the assailant.
The two women, accompanied by Attorney H.J. Water, of Somerset county, Md., arrived at Eastville for the purpose of identifying Lee, but the authorities would not permit the two women to see the negro. The Northampton authorities fear that if the women should identify Lee the mob, which has gathered her from all sections of the peninsula, might rush through the troops and attempt to gain an entrance to the jail. Later the prisoner was taken Norfolk for safe keeping.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Emma Roberts
Citation
“Soldiers Guard Negro,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 20, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/441.