September 21, 1878: Daniel McBride

Today we learn about a lynching in Limestone county, Alabama through the pages of The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) dated September 23, 1878:

ATHENS, ALA.

Daniel McBride, the Negro Murderer, Lynched Saturday Night. 

Hung From a Limb Near the Spot Where the Murder was Committed.

Special to the American.

ATHENS, ALA., Sept. 22.—Last night, about eleven o'clock, a crowd of men, estimated from sixty to seventy-five, rode into town and went at once to the jail. They demanded the keys of the jailer, who flatly refused. They then demanded that he should open the doors, and after his refusal, they provided themselves with axes, hammers and crowbars, with which to force the doors. When the jailer saw that resistance would be folly, and that they were determined to go in, he reluctantly gave up the keys, whereupon they entered the cell and took therefrom Daniel McBride, the negro who murdered the white man on the railroad, six miles north of here, on the night of the 7th of this month. They took him to the identical place where he had cut the man's throat, and he made a full confession, stating that he killed the man for his money and got from him eleven dollars. While they had him under the tree several gentleman made speeches, urging that the law should take its course, and while the vote was being taken the crowd, having increased to one hundred and fifty, some four or five pulled him up, saying they had come for that purpose. No fear of lynching was entertained by our Sheriff, or, in fact, by anyone. But since the hanging, it has transpired that meetings had been held in the northern portion of the county for several nights, and the determination to hang him upon the spot was freely made several nights ago. The matter was conducted so quietly that few of the citizens knew that he had been taken from the jail until this morning. The Coroner held an inquest on the negro's body to-day, and the verdict was "death by strangulation by unknown parties." Public opinion is divided. most of the citizens preferred that he should have had a trial, while others say "served him right," as he was beyond doubt guilty, and it was saving time and expense.

LIMESTONE.

I would like to apologize for not being as consistent in posting as I would like. My daughter is getting married this week-end and my time is spread thinly. After the wedding I should be better at posting regularly. Thanks for understanding.

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