Victim ID: VA1866061901
Victim Name: Unnamed Negro
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: Unknown
Job: Unknown
Method of Death: Hanged
Accusation: Attempted outrage on a young white woman, a school teacher
Date: 1866-06-19
City: Faber’s Mill
Mob Composition: Unknown
Summary: On the evening of June 19th, 1866 an unidentified African American man was castrated and hung from a tree near Faber’s Mill in Nelson County. The unidentified man was accused of assaulting a local teacher.
On June 19th, 1866 an African American man allegedly attempted to assault a local teacher on her morning walk to the school house in Faber’s Mill, Nelson County. The teacher was walking through the woods, when the man allegedly attacked her. The unidentified man seized her by the throat and tried to choke her. The Staunton Spectator reported that “She defended herself heroically and called for help which fortunately soon arrived, whereupon the Negro ran off and concealed himself.” It was discovered that the unidentified man had been working for the teacher’s father, but had recently been fired. According to the Staunton Spectator, after being fired, he was heard saying “that he would have revenge by killing three members of the family”. The details of the assault spread quickly through town, and by nightfall a crowd of citizens had gathered. After the crowd was able to apprehend the black man, “proceeded to inflict summary and condign punishment as a proper measure of justice” (Staunton Spectator). The crowd then castrated and hung the black man from a tree by Faber’s Mill. The Daily Dispatch commented that “the verdict of all respectable people will be: ‘Served him right’.”
News Coverage: Daily Dispatch; Staunton Spectator
Article Link (from The Daily Dispatch published on 1866-06-22)
Article Link (from Staunton Spectator published on 1866-07-03)