Victim ID: VA1901070101
Victim Name: Joseph Walton
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: Unknown
Job: Unknown
Method of Death: Hanged and shot
Accusation: Criminal assault on the daughter of a white farmer
Date: 1901-07-01
City: Lawrenceville
Mob Composition: 50-75 masked, armed men
Summary: A mob of about 50 to 75 masked, armed men took Joseph Walton, a black man, from the Brunswick County Jail in Lawrenceville at around midnight on July 1st, 1901, and then hanged and shot him. Walton was accused of having assaulted a young white woman.
On the night of Thursday, June 27th, 1901, 16-year-old Miss Clarke was asleep in her home near Triplett in Brunswick County, when Joseph Walton, an employee of Mr. J. H. Clarke, allegedly entered her room. Miss Clarke awoke when Walton attempted to take hold of her, but her screams frightened Walton off, before she could identify him (Richmond Dispatch). Mr. Clarke found that the tracks outside of his daughter’s window corresponded to Walton’s. Walton was later found hiding in the woods near the home of Mr. Clarke. Even though “the evidence against [Walton] was mostly circumstantial” (Richmond Dispatch), he was arrested and brought to the county jail in Lawrenceville. Court records indicate that Walton was scheduled to be tried on July 3rd, 1901; several members of the Clarke family were summoned to testify at the trial against Walton. However, on the night of July 1st, 1901 between the hours of 12 and 1 o’clock in the morning, an armed mob of 50 to 75 masked men went to the house of Mr. Mitchell, the jailer, and demanded the jail keys (Coroner’s Inquisition). According to the Richmond Dispatch, “Leaving a guard at Mr. Mitchell’s house to prevent him from giving an alarm, the nocturnal visitors went to the jail, and finding the prisoner, tied his hands securely. After adjusting a rope about his neck, the men dragged him from his cell into the jail-yard and out into the street.” The mob then carried Walton about four miles from Lawrenceville to the Gholson’s Bridge across the Meherrin River, where he was “tied with a plow-line to the arch in the middle of the bridge and allowed to swing, and it is supposed that he was shot, one shot taking effect in the forehead” (The Times). On the same day a Coroner’s jury met at the site of the lynching and examined several witnesses, including the jailer; their report stated that “Walton came to his death at the hands of a mob unknown to us.” Dr. Osborn concluded that Walton “came to his death from Strangulation caused by a rope from which he was hanging by his neck.”
In an editorial, the Virginian-Pilot criticized the lynching and the indifference of the authorities in taking action against the mob. The Commonwealth Attorney for Brunswick County, E. P. Buford responded to the editorial by denying the accusation. In August 1901, Buford claimed that he had summoned a grand jury to investigate the Walton lynching, as he believed that he had information that could lead to the identification of some of the lynchers (The Times).
Archival Sources: Commonwealth Cause, Coroner’s Inquisition
News Coverage: Alexandria Gazette, Portsmouth Star, Richmond Dispatch, Richmond Planet, The Times, Virginian-Pilot
Article Link (from Richmond Dispatch published on 1901-07-02)
Article Link (from Richmond Planet published on 1901-07-06)
Article Link (from The Times published on 1901-07-02)
Article Link (from The Times published on 1901-08-13)
I am from Brunswick County and always was told the story of my Great Great Great Uncle who was lynched on the Gholson Bridge, which in fact is near my house. I think of this story every time I cross the bridge. Thank you for giving me insight on my family history.
As my son Tylik said I think of my great great uncle everytime I cross the bridge. RIP to my Uncle Joe Red
My grandfather David Walton always told us of this story. I remember one year when I was small he took us to the bridge you could feel whatever is there. I am happy my cousin Monica and her son posted this article.
Brunswick County has a long and sorted history of Racism and segregationist laws that afforded no real justice or accommodations to Black People. I have always attributed those segregationist polices as leading to the untimely deaths of my younger brother and 1st cousin on June 19, 1968. Where are the road markers to commemorate these deaths, as well as the hanging of your uncle. I have read about these events for years but had no clue David Walton was related. Chances are, there was never a real investigation into the murder of Mr Walton at the hands of this crazed and ignorant mob.