Victim ID: VA1893022601
Victim Name: Abner Anthony
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: Unknown
Job: Workman
Method of Death: Hanged
Accusation: Attempted assault of a married white woman
Date: 1893-02-26
City: Hot Springs
Mob Composition: About 40 men
Summary: Abner Anthony, a black male, was lynched in Hot Springs on February 26th, 1893, for allegedly assaulting a married white woman, Mrs. Newton C. Williams. He was later lynched by a party of 40 men about 40 yards outside his jail cell.
On February 26th, 1893, Abner Anthony, a workman from Cincinnati, found Mrs. Newton C. Williams, a white woman, walking alone on a road in Hot Springs at around 10 in the morning (The Times). Allegedly, Anthony lured her into the surrounding woods where he attempted to assault her. Her cries for help drew the attention of the surrounding neighbors. Anthony was later pursued and placed in jail in Hot Springs. According to The Times, “At midnight a party of indignant men from the neighborhood gathered here last night and demanded the keys from the jailer at the point of their pistols. The brute was then swung up to the nearest tree, scarcely forty yards from the courthouse door.”
The Richmond Planet denounced the lynching of Abner Anthony, calling the lynchers “butchers” and exhorting the authorities to capture and punish them.
News Coverage: Alexandria Gazette, Richmond Dispatch, Richmond Planet, Shenandoah Herald, Staunton Spectator, Staunton Vindicator, The Times
Article Link (from Alexandria Gazette published on 1893-02-28)
Article Link (from Shenandoah Herald published on 1893-03-03)
Article Link (from The Times published on 1893-02-28)
Hi – this was also covered in the Richmond Dispatch, (see https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RD18930228.1.2&e=——-en-20–1–txt-txIN——–)
“COMPLETE AND SWIFT JUSTICE. A Negro Fiend Lynched for an Attempted Assault on a White Lady. [Special telegram to the Dispatch.] Hot Springs, Va., February 27.—On yesterday at 11 o’clock Abner Anthony, a burly negro from Cincinnati working at the Hot Springs, attempted to assault Mrs. Newton C. Williams. Mrs. Williams had taken a lonely road leading from the public road to her father’s home. The negro followed her and after ascertaining that she was unattended he declared his purpose, dragged her from the road, and attempted to stifle her cries with his hands. She broke from him and her cries brought some neighbors to the scene. Immediate pursuit was given; the negro was caught and positively identified. He was brought here yesterday evening and placed in jail. LYNCHED. At midnight a party of indignant men from the Healing Springs obtained the keys from the jailer at the point of their pistols and swung the negro to the nearest tree, scarcely forty yards from the court-house door. There was no doubt about the crime, none about the identity of the criminal, and none about the completeness of the swift justice. Mrs. Williams is dangerously ill at this time.”
Thank you for indicating this additional article, I will add it to the inventory. Thanks!