The Origin of Lynching left on the floor of the bungalow by workmen who finished that day the installation of a heating plant. That
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was where Dillon blundered, and that is why he looked in vain for the glare of the burning bungalow.
Springfield, III.
The Origin of Lynching By William Romaine Tyree attorney-at-law, lynchburg, va. HOW many people, should they be asked as to the origin of lynch law, would answer that such executions were first in favor somewhere west of the Pecos? These same persons would be greatly surprised, I dare say, if they knew that Lynch's Law (as it was then known) was the outgrowth of a peculiar state of affairs in no other a state than that of the ancient Commonwealth of Virginia. However, Lynch's Law did not necessarily call for capital punishment by hanging; in some instances it was flogging, in others imprisonment, and in few cases, death. In the year 1724, there was a lad, Charles Lynch or Licht by name, aged 15 years, who became dissatisfied in his Irish home over ill-treatment from a stepmother and the harsh discipline from a schoolmaster. Young Lynch determined on leaving the Ould Sod as one day he chanced on a sea cap tain on the eve of sailing for Amer ica. The lad told his story and asked to be allowed to accompany his new acquaintance. Consent being given, Lynch started on his eventful jour ney, but a few miles off shore repented of his rashness, leaped from the deck and attempted to reach shore. He was rescued by the crew, the ship continuing her journey.
At length the perilous voyage came to an end; and the good ship, having weathered stress of weather, came to anchor at her berth in His Majesty King George's colony of Virginia. What disposition was to be made of the lad was a question with the captain. At length he happened upon the expedient of apprenticing his charge to one Christopher Clark, a Quaker and wealthy tobacco planter. Lynch went to work with a heavy heart, but fate was kind to the friend less youth; for the Quaker's daughter, Sarah, being moved to sympathy for his friendless state, fell in love with him and they were married, such a union seeming to be with the consent of Christopher Clark, for the young couple moved on to one of the latter's planta tions, "Chestnut Hill," in what is now Campbell county, about a mile from the present city of Lynchburg. Here Charles Lynch secured large tracts on the rivers James and Staunton. These grants from His Majesty George II, through William Gooch, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, were bestowed for a few pounds sterling on the promise of improving the land, which embraced thousands of valuable acres. Six children were born of the mar riage of Charles and Sarah Lynch — Charles, Penelope, Sarah, John, Chris-
