Another Roanoke Lyncher Convicted
January 20, 1894
Summary
A condemnation of the unjust a trial of a lynched man
Transcription
It would seem that one of the lynchers of the colored man Thomas Smith at Roanoke last September is to an extent at least getting his just deserts. Here is the telegraphic report:
Roanoke, Va., January 16- (Special) In the Hustings Court to-day the case of Walter Davis charged with inciting a riot on the 20th of September, was tried and resulted in a verdict of one year’s imprisonment in jail, and a fine of $100. When indicted on the same charge last November, the case against Davis was postponed, at his request, on account of the absence of a material witness. Since then he has been indicted for stealing brass, and forfeiting his bond of $100. He left the city, and it is said to-day that he is in Franklin County, and can be arrested. The verdicts against him of yesterday and to-day make his imprisonment two years and fines $200.
It is very unfortunate that public sentiment was not sufficiently strong to give him the full extent of the law. He was either guilty of murder or was an accessory thereto. The penitentiary should have opened wide it doors to receive him.
Lynch Law must go!
Roanoke, Va., January 16- (Special) In the Hustings Court to-day the case of Walter Davis charged with inciting a riot on the 20th of September, was tried and resulted in a verdict of one year’s imprisonment in jail, and a fine of $100. When indicted on the same charge last November, the case against Davis was postponed, at his request, on account of the absence of a material witness. Since then he has been indicted for stealing brass, and forfeiting his bond of $100. He left the city, and it is said to-day that he is in Franklin County, and can be arrested. The verdicts against him of yesterday and to-day make his imprisonment two years and fines $200.
It is very unfortunate that public sentiment was not sufficiently strong to give him the full extent of the law. He was either guilty of murder or was an accessory thereto. The penitentiary should have opened wide it doors to receive him.
Lynch Law must go!
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Carlos Serrano
Citation
“Another Roanoke Lyncher Convicted,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/66.