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

Gallow's Ball III - No Jail to Keep Them In

Yesterday's post related how the prisoners from New Kent were being held in the Henrico county jail instead in New Kent " . . . because the jail of that county was burned last summer, and has not since been rebuilt."

 BURNING OF NEW KENT COUNTY JAIL.-

The jail at New Kent Courthouse was destroyed by fire on Sunday morning about 2 o'clock under the following circumstances: A colored man, whose name could not be ascertained, was confined in the upper cell on a charge of felony. He set fire to the flooring, and as soon as a space sufficiently large was made descended to the lower cell and made his escape through one of the windows. He doubtless had help from the outside, as the windows were made secure by heavy iron bars. At last accounts he was still at large.

 -The Richmond Whig, 16 January 1878


Another paper has a briefer account that gives the man's name as Fox. There was according to court records of the period a man by that name being held awaiting trial.

Gallow's Ball II - Further Details . . .

LOCAL MATTERS

 The Lacy Murder

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE HORRID CRIME- NAMES OF THE ACCUSED- THEY ARE SAFELY LODGED IN THE HENRICO COUNTY JAIL-

Information received here yesterday fully confirms the account of the brutal murder of John C. Lacy of New Kent county, published in the Dispatch yesterday; and additional details fail to furnish any motive for the perpetration of such a crime other than that of mere petty larceny. From all we can learn, a plan was formed and agreed upon by three young negroes, named Pat. Smith, Claiborn Smith, and Julius Christian, to waylay and rob Lacy, and, if necessary, to kill him in accomplishing their purpose. As before stated, it was known to two of the negroes who had assisted Lacy in killing his hogs that be had come to this city to dispose of them, and that he would return with the proceeds of the sale on Friday evening. Accordingly about dark on that day the negroes stationed themselves, at a lonely wooded spot on the Forge road about eight miles from New Kent Courthouse to await the coming of their victim. They were not detained long; for soon the old man's cart came rumbling along and passed them. They then set out in pursuit, when Claiborn, who appears to be the youngest and who perhaps was less of a villain than the rest of them, stopped behind, ostensibly to tie his shoe, but really, as he states, to "back out of the job," which, as its execution neared, be did not relish. Claiborn lingered behind, listening eagerly to ascertain what the others would do, and in a short time after they had left him h heard the voice of Lacy crying, "Murder!" "Murder!" in agonized tones, until it became hushed in death. He fled and was soon at home in the house of Andrew Whitney, an old negro aged, about sixty years. On Saturday morning, when the body of Lacy was discovered, suspicion at first fell upon this old man, Whitney, and Claiborn Smith, because they resided nearest the scene of the murder, and probably owing to other circumstances. They were at once arrested, and a search of the premises resulted in the discovery of some of the blood-stained clothing of Pat. Smith and Julius Christian. These discoveries, and the "confession," or rather volunteered statement of Claiborn Smith, who related the plot of Friday and his connection therewith, led to the arrest of the other two, Pat. Smith and Julius Christian, on Sunday morning, at their home, on the farm of Mr. Alfred Selden. When arrested the hat of Mr. Lacy, four dollars in money, some groceries, calico, and a quantity of matches, also his property, were found in their possession. The inquest took place on Sunday, and a preliminary examination before a bench of magistrates followed on Monday, at which the four negroes, Andrew Whitney, Pat. Smith, Julius Christian, and Claiborn Smith were committed for indictment on the charge of murder. The repeated rumors of attempted lynching could be traced to no authentic source. Citizens in the vicinity, of course, were horrified at such a cold blooded and atrocious murder, but there was neither an attempt at lynching nor even threats to that effect. The people of New Kent are too well known to be law-abiding and peaceable to indulge in such a violation of the laws of the land as lynching. The prisoners, who were expected hereon Monday evening, did not arrive until yesterday morning, and they are now safely locked up in the Henrico-county jail. Their removal here, however, is not clue to any apprehension of lynch-law on the part or the people of New Kent, but simply because the jail of that county was burned last summer, and has not since been rebuilt. The two Smiths are aged respectively about sixteen and eighteen years, are medium sized, and of a light, ginger-bread color. Christian is about twenty years old, and black, and the old man Andrew Whitney is brown skinned, tall, and muscular. The two alleged murderers are notoriously bad characters in New Kent county.

- Daily Dispatch, 22 January 1879

Gallow's Ball I - Brutally Butchered

BRUTALLY BUTCHERED

AN INNOCENT NEW KENT FARMER BRUTALLY MURDERED BY A PARTY OF NEGROES WHILE RETURNING HOME-HIS HEAD NEARLY CHOPPED OFF WITH A HATCHET- THE PARTIES ARRESTED &C

John C. Lacy, a citizen of New, Kent county, who lived on his farm, near the Williamsburg road, twenty-four miles from this city, was brutally murdered by four negroes on Friday night a short distance from his home.

On Thursday Mr. Lacy killed his hogs at his place, six miles, from Tunstall's station on the Richmond, York River and Chesapeake road, and then put them into his cart and brought the pork to Richmond to sell. After making sale, and buying a number of articles which were needed on the farm, he started home with the balance of the money in his pocket. When he had gotten to Cedar-Grove Cemetery, near Emmaus church, or in that vicinity, he was met by four negroes, who commenced a conversation with him and finally requested that they be allowed to ride home with him. This was refused by Mr. Lacy, because the roads were bad, his team was tired, and he was anxious to get home. Finding that they could not get at their victim in this way, they determined to take possession of his cart by force. It was Mr. Lacy's habit to always carry a hatchet with him, and knowing this they determined to get possession of it- thus disarm him, and if necessary use it in carrying off their plan to rob him. So they stopped the cart, got possession the hatchet after some resistance, and not being able to get his money without killing him went to work and well nigh chopped his head off. Rifling his pockets and taking such of his purchases as they desired, they drove on toward the farm-house of the murdered man, opened the gate, and turned his horse and cart into the yard.

One of the negroes, it is states becoming alarmed at what his associates were doing, left the party, went on ahead, and gave notice of the murders and probably mentioned names of those who were engaged in the horrid crime.

On Saturday a coroner's jury was summoned, an inquest held, and a verdict rendered in accordance with the facts above storied.

On Sunday the body of the deceased was buried at Emmaus church, near where he was murdered.

Mr. Lacy, it is said, raised one of the negroes who murdered him- all four of whom have been arrested. The man whom he raised, as well as one or two of the others, were with Mr. Lacy on Thursday when he killed his hogs, and were cognizant of his visit to Richmond. The two men first arrested seemed to have been innocent of the crime, and they are believed to have been let off. A negro woman who lived in the neighborhood had been employed by the other two to wash for them, and in her possession a pair of pantaloons was found. that had been washed but which were not dry. On these breeches were many blood stains. These two men were arrested- Sunday morning about 10 o'clock. The men first arrested gave the names of the others. In the possession of one of the latter the sum of eight dollars was found, and from the pocket of the other man was Mr. Lacy's hat taken. 

The men were arrested by Sheriff Royster and Constable Higgins and were taken to Talleysville, four miles from Tunstall's station. There is no jail in New Kent county, the jail having been destroyed by fire some time ago.

It is supposed that the men will be brought to the Henrico county jail for safe-keeping.

The citizens of -Sew Kent are indignant at the crime, and much excitement prevails in the neighborhood of Mr. Lacy's former residence.

- Daily Dispatch, 21 January 1879

Gallow's Ball - Prologue

For the Halloween season this website will present an extended series on the Lacy murder of the winter of 1879 and the subsequent trial, executions, and, . . .well,  . . .strange occurrences that followed.

Reuben Burrell and the Champagne, Sep- Oct 1918 - II

More on Reuben Burrell

In addition to the 369th Infantry Regiment (old New York Fifteenth) and the 370th (old Eighth Illinois), the 371st and 372nd Regiments, also composed of colored troops, were brigaded with the French during their active service overseas. It had been first decided by the United States War Department that these four colored regiments should form the nucleus of the 93rd Division (Provisional), but it was finally decided not to organize the 93rd Division, but to brigade these four regiments with French troops.

The 371st Infantry was organized August 31, 1917, at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, in compliance with War Department General Order No. 109, of August 16, 1917, as the First Provisional Infantry Regiment (colored). Col. Perry L. Miles assumed' command of the regiment September 1, 1917. All the officers of the 371st regiment were white. On September 5, 1917, fourteen colored men from Pensacola, Florida, were received as the first recruits for the regiment. The time of arrival of recruits for the regiment was delayed by the War Department for about a month, because of the shortage of labor in moving the 1917 cotton crop. It was not until early in October that the first considerable body of recruits was received. By November 20, 1917, however, 3,380 men had been received by the regiment. These men were not all received at once, but in varying sized draft increments at different times. Of this number, 1,680 men were transferred to labor organizations and 500 to a combat organization at Camp Upton.

Under a staff of French officer instructors and interpreters the 371st Infantry was reorganized on the French plan, soon after its arrival in France (April 23, 1918), with 194 men to the company and three machine gun companies to the regiment instead of one as on the American plan. All the American equipment was turned in, and the men were given the French rifles, bayonets, helmets, packs, and other equipment of the French soldier. Only the American khaki uniform remained. After a few weeks' instruction in this new equipment and in French tactics, the regiment went into the trenches as part of the 157th French Division under General Goybet. It remained in line for over three months, holding first the Avocourt and later the Verrières. subsectors (northwest of Verdun). The regiment, with its division, was then taken out of line and thrown into the great September offensive in the Champagne. It took Cote 188, Bussy Ferme, Ardeuil, Montfauxelles, and Trieres Ferme near Monthois, and captured a number of prisoners, 47 machine guns, 8 trench engines, 3 field pieces (77s), a munition depot, a number of railroad cars, and enormous quantities of lumber, hay, and other supplies. It shot down three German airplanes by rifle and machine-gun fire during the advance. 

Flag of the 157

During the fighting between September 28 and October 6, 1918, its losses---which were mostly in the first three days---were 1,065 out of 2,384 actually engaged. The regiment was the apex of the attacking salient in this great battle. The percentage of both dead and wounded among the officers was rather greater than among the enlisted men. Realizing their great responsibilities, the wounded officers continued to lead their men until they dropped from exhaustion and lack of blood. The men were devoted to their, leaders and as a result stood up against-a most gruelling fire, bringing the regiment its well deserved fame.

-Scott's Official History of the American Negro in the World War- Emmett J. Scott, A.M., LL.D.
Secretary of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. (Eighteen years Private Secretary to the Late Booker T. Washington )

For its extraordinary service in the Champagne offensive, the entire regiment was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm.  In addition, three of the officers of the 371st were awarded the French Legion of Honor, 123 men won the Croix de Guerre and 26 earned the Distinguished Service Cross.  Corporal Freddie Stowers won the Medal of Honor.

- http://371regiment.homestead.com

"I grappled the Boche at the throat and made him yell for mercy. Our glorious comrades who died are well avenged. ”- General Goybet, commander of the 157th Division

General Mariano Francisco Julio Goybet

Reuben Burrell and the Champagne, Sep- Oct 1918 - I

Citation 

BURRELL, REUBEN
Private, U.S. Army
Machine-Gun Company, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F. 

Date of Action: September 30, 1918 

Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Reuben Burrell, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Champagne Sector, France, September 30, 1918. Private Burrell, although painfully wounded in the knee, refused to be evacuated, stating that if he went to the rear there would not be enough left for his group to function.
General Orders No. 46, W.D., 1919
Home Town: Conshohocken, PA

 His birthplace is listed as New Kent, Virginia.

This would be the same Reuben Burrell listed in the Census of 1910 as part of the household of Nathan Burrell in Cumberland District

Head Nathan W Burrell M 65  

Son         Rebedee Burrell M 23  

Daughter Ada Burrell F 21 

Daughter Josephine Burrell F 26  

Son         Ruben Burrell M 16  

Son         James H Burrell M 14  

Son         Clarence Burrell M 12

Some of the Burrells went to the Philadelphia area (Conshohocken is between Philadelphia and King of Prussia) around the time of first World War. 

Next-  more on Burrell and the 371st Regiment