Gallow's Ball IV - "A Spirit of Revenge"

 The Recent Murder in New Kent

Further information relative to the recent murder in New Kent county reveals the fact that up to the time of the arrest of the parties charged with the deed there existed in that portion of the county an organized gang of robbers as desperate as any community was ever afflicted with. It was the intention of the murderers to commit the deed about two miles higher up the road, but the victim having arrived at that point earlier than they expected, they went on down the road with him, chatting in a friendly way, until it became dark enough for their purpose. It is also seated, upon good authority, that this same gang, of which these negroes were members, had planned four other murders, partly for gain and partly to right some fancied wrongs- two of the intended victims being white and the others colored. It is believed that the murder of Lucy was not prompted by gain alone, but that it is now believed was done in a spirit of revenge, as one of the parties implicated had been beard to make threats of violence against him. 

The excitement among the colored portion of the community was intense, and had they received the slightest encouragement from the whites, it is believed that the State would hot have been put to the expense incident to a trial.

-Daily Dispatch, 25 January 1879