February 5, 1886: Unknown Man

Today we learn about a lynching in Virginia by North Carolinians through the pages of The Leavenworth Weekly Times (Leavenworth, Kansas) dated February 11, 1886:

The North Carolina Way.

DANVILLE, Va., February 9.—Much excitement prevails among the people of Patrick, Henry and adjoining counties in North Carolina over the lynching, Friday morning last, of an unknown white man for mule stealing. About two weeks ago it is alleged the man stole a mule from a citizen near Patrick court house and took it over to North Carolina and sold it there. After receiving the money the man remained in the same neighborhood for some days and then stole the same mule again, but when running off further south was overtaken and captured by a party of North Carolinians, while a party of Virginians from the neighborhood of Patrick court house arrived and claimed the prisoner for the original theft of the mule. He was given up to them and the Virginians with the prisoner started to take him to Henry county. When they reached the neighborhood of the county line of Henry and Patrick counties they were overtaken by the North Carolinians who demanded and again took possession of the prisoner, when they dragged him into the woods near by and hanged him to a tree.

Thank you for joining me and as always, I hope I leave you with something to ponder.