Victim ID: VA1893110101
Victim Name: Abraham Redmond
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 52
Job: Farmer
Method of Death: Hanged
Accusation: Desperado and assaulting a black man
Date: 1893-11-01
City: Drakes Branch
Mob Composition: White and black, disguised
Summary: A white man named Abraham Redmond was lynched on November 1st, 1893, in Charlotte County, after bragging about committing an attempted murder against an African American man. Redmond was lynched by an organized group of disguised men.
Abraham (Abe) Redmond, “known for years as the worst man that ever lived in Charlotte county” (Highland Recorder), in October 1893 beat up an African American man, mistaking him for another man. Taken before a justice of the peace, he was discharged due to lack of evidence. Later on, Redmond “acknowledged that he was the man who had served tho negro so shamefully, and only wanted an opportunity to kill the right one” (Highland Recorder). Taken again in custody to face trial, Redmond was housed in Constable Crutcher’s home to await trial near Drakes Branch. According to the Highland Recorder, “About 11 o’clock two of the guards were asleep and one on duty when the door was broken in with a crash and pistols. Without a word the prisoner was taken out.” The mob hanged Redmond from a tree on Constable Crutcher’s front yard. A Coroner’s inquest concluded that Redmond died at the hands of persons unknown (Highland Recorder).
Two white men and one black man were indicted by a grand jury in December 1893 for the lynching of Redmond (Richmond Planet), but they were found not guilty at their trial in May 1894 (The Times).
News Coverage: Highland Recorder, Richmond Dispatch, Richmond Planet, The Times
Article Link (from Highland Recorder published on 1893-11-10)
Article Link (from Richmond Dispatch published on 1893-11-26)
Article Link (from The Times published on 1894-05-10)