October 31, 1893: Abe Redmond

Today we learn about a lynching in Virginia through the pages of the Highland Recorder (Monterey, Virginia) dated November 10, 1893:

ABE REDMOND LYNCHED.

Abe Redmond, who had been known for years as the worst man that ever lived in Charlotte county, was taken from a trio of officers and hung by a mob of unknown men.

Redmond was arrested at daybreak by an officer and a dozen assistants, and it was one of the few times that he was ever captured without trouble. He mistook the officer for a friend. A few days ago he was after a negro to kill him and caught the wrong one by mistake, but did not let him go without having beaten him nearly to death. He was taken before a justice of the peace and without any evidence was discharged.

Later, after threatening a number of the best citizens in the vilest manner, he acknowledged that he was the man who had served the negro so shamefully, and only wanted an opportunity to kill the right one.

The prisoner was taken to Dupres for examination before Justices Booth and Crafton. After a day spent in looking up witnesses he waived examination and was sent on to the grand jury. It being night Constable Crutcher was ordered to take the prisoner to his house, which was on the way to the courthouse, under the guard of three men, Messrs. Hamilton, Drigg, and Haynie.

They arrived safely at Crutchers house without any sign of disturbance. About 11 o'clock two of the guards wee asleep and one on duty when the door was broken in with a crash and pistols. Without a word the prisoner was taken out. It was a thoroughly organized crowd, every one knew his place, and in less than a minute every thing was as quiet as before the mob came.

One of the guards when asked the number in the party replied:  "Don't know. They came into the light like men coming up out of the ground and disappeared in like manner."

The body was found by a negro on Crutcher's place swinging from a tree white with frost. A coroner's inquest was held, and the verdict was that Redmond came to his death by the hands of a mob of unknown men.

Redmond's life was full of deeds of the blackest hue, and the community was in a state of terror while he lived No one felt safe around him. If a cow or a horse crossed his place he would often shoot them down.

Redmond was a man of means and his whole fortune was spent in paying lawyers.

When but a boy some hot words passed between him and his old father. Shortly afterward the old man was walking along with his gun on his shoulder, when he was suddenly shot by Abb [sic] from behind the corner of the fence. With the aid of the ablest lawyers in the State he got off with a few years in prison. Then came the burning of the house of a citizen. Redmond confessed to the burning, but said it was his own house.

Shortly after this the same man had a number  of his barns burned. Later a neighbor had a few words with Redmond, and in a day or two four of his horses were poisoned. An old negro was cut almost to death by Redmond, and for his crime he got two years in prison. When he came back he professed religion, joined the church, and pretended to lead a new life, but no sooner were liabilities removed then he went back to his old ways.

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