Victim ID: VA1870022802
Name: Harrison Hammock
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: Unknown
Job: Unknown
Date: 1870-02-28
City: Lawrenceville
Summary: On January 28th, 1870 a group of disguised persons forced their way into the Brunswick County Jail, shooting two black men, Wyche Drumgoole and Harrison Hammock. Both men were accused of having killed the wife of Basset Rawlings, Lilly Rawlings, on January 24th, 1870. While Drumgoole was killed, Hammock survived the attempt to lynch him.
In January 1870, a black woman employed by the family of Mr. Basset Rawlings was discharged from her employment; on January 24th, 1870 Mrs. Basset Rawlings was “shot through the window of her chamber, while nursing her infant, and instantly killed” (Alexandria Gazette). Though the perpetrator of the “cold-blooded murder” made his escape unseen, the suspicion of the crime was put on Harrison Hammock, the husband of the discharged black woman (Alexandria Gazette). Harrison Hammock was quickly apprehended and shortly thereafter, his brother-in-law, Wyche Drumgoole, was also tied to the murder and apprehended. On February 4th, 1870 the Alexandria Gazette reported that “Wyche Dromgoole, a colored man, has confessed to the murder of Mrs. Basset Rawlings, in Brunswick County, several days ago”. Drumgoole gave details to the murder and claimed his brother-in-law, Harrison Hammock, had hired him. Both Drumgoole and Hammock were held in the Brunswick County jail in Lawrenceville, until their court day. On February 28th, 1870 while awaiting trial “the jail was forced by unknown persons – all disguised – and they were shot in their cells. They were left for dead, though on the following day both were still found to be alive. The murderer Wyche has since died, and the probability is that Hammock will die also” (Alexandria Gazette). However, Hammock survived the attempted lynching (Troy Daily Times).
News Coverage: Alexandria Gazette, Troy Daily Times.
Article Link (from Alexandria Gazette published on 1870-03-07)