Newspaper Reports Regarding the Life and Death of Aaron Thomas Bowden & "The Sanctified Band" - Part 1
The shooting of Aaron Thomas Bowden was the third shooting death on Chincoteague. The first was in March 1878, when Joseph J. English, owner of the Atlantic Hotel shot a guest for non-payment of his bill. The second was in June 1885, when Tom Freeman shot 13-year-old Jennie Hill.
The first local newspaper report regarding the death of Aaron Thomas Bowden, followed by newspaper accounts from other cities, by publishing dates:
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 8 September 1894, on page 3, column 2, under the heading "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
Mr. A. T. Bowden was shot in his bed through a window, near which he was sleeping last Saturday night, and died in a few hours thereafter. At the coroner's inquest held over the dead body, Irving Sturgis testified, that he and twelve other young men had been up the Island in search of members of what is known here as the "Sanctified Band" who have made themselves offensive to the citizens of the Island generally by their lewd habits, and that on their return while near the residence of Mr. Bowden, he shot in the air to frighten his companions and supposed he accidentally shot Bowden. The deceased was a highly respected citizen and his death has cast a gloom over the whole Island. He was a poor man and had a wife and six children dependent upon him for support."
In column 3:
"A. T. Bowden Shot And Killed.
Mr. A. Thomas Bowden, as reported elsewhere in these columns, was shot and killed last Saturday night, at his home on Chincoteague, and eleven young men charged with being in the party that killed him, were brought fo [sic] Accomac C. H., last Wednesday.
Upon application for bail, Judge Gillet, after hearing the testimony, agreed to bail them under bond in the penalty of $1,000 each.
Henry Savage, Daniel Beebe and Oliver H. Jester, three of the prisoners, gave the required bail and were released. The others, Irvin S. Sturgis, Fred Fresh, D. J. W. Lewis, Arthur C. Byrnes, Wm. B. Mumford, Solomon Daisey, Wm. B. Bloxom and John Daisey, in default of bail were committed to jail.
The young men were sent to jail by Justice Maffit, after an inquest held by him, assisted by Justice L. F. J. Wilson, the verdict of the jury being "that A. Thomas Bowden came to his death on the night of September 1st, 1894, by a bullet from a pistol fired in the hand of one Irvin S. Sturgis and the rest of the crowd, (given above), equally as guilty."
The circumstances under which the fatal shot was fired, as detailed before the jury substantially were as follows:
That Sturgis with the others, upon invitation of some of them, went up the Island in search of a man by the name of Workman, who is a member of what is known as the "Sanctified Band" - that failing to find Workman and "get a move on him," as they declared was their intention, they started for home and while on their way a shell was thrown against the house of John Bowden and soon after the shot was fired with the fatal result stated above. According to their own account, when they started to look for Workman none of them were armed, but on the way somebody gave Irvin Sturgis a pistol. He fired it in the air and as he did not know Bowden and could have no feeling against him, that the ball from the same passed through the window and killed Bowden, appears to have been accidental.
The young men when they went in search of Workmen [sic] made the mistake in attempting to punish him for his immoralities by taking the law in their our [sic] hands, but there is no doubt that so great is the indignation of people of the Island generally against him and others of the "Sanctified Band," that they reflected by their action, the sentiment of the best people of the Island, and the wonder is, that the lewd and lascivious habits of the Sanctified crowd, practiced by them under the guise of religion, has not led to bloodshed before.
The young men implicated in the affair are among the best on the Island, and no one more sincerely deplores the killing of Bowden, we presume, than they do.
Mr. Bowden, though he had once been a member of the "Sanctified Band" left them in August, when the improper motives of the leaders were disclosed to him, and it is stated, so great was his disgust for them, that he was known to be in sympathy with the crowd that went to drive Workman from the Island."
.jpg)
Christ's Sanctified Holy Church on Chincoteague Island - rebuilt in 1903
From The Alexandria Gazette newspaper, edition of Tuesday, 4 September 1894, in Alexandria, Virginia on page 2, column 3, under the headline "Virginia News:"
"About midnight Saturday night the report of a pistol shot rang out in front of the residence of Mr. A. T. Bowden, at Chincoteague, which was followed by the fleeing footsteps of several persons. Mr. Bowden and his wife were asleep in a room near an open window. A bullet took effect in Mr. Bowden's left temple. He died ten hours after being shot."
From The Roanoke Times newspaper, edition of Tuesday, 4 September 1894, in Roanoke, Virginia, on page 1, column 3:
"An Infuriated Mob's Work. - They Wreck a Church and Kill a Prominent Citizen.
WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 3. - A Special to the News from Chincoteague, Va., says that Thomas Bowden, a prominent citizen of that place, was assassinated on Sunday night as the result of a sectarian feud.
A mob composed of those who oppose the teachings of a sect known as the "Sanctified Band," said to believe in free love, attacked and demolished a church belonging to that sect on Sunday night, after which they stoned the houses of several members of the congregation.
While passing Bowden's house the mob fired throuh [sic] the open window, instantly killing Mr. Bowden who was asleep beside his wife. He leaves six small children and his death has wrought the people of the island up to fever heat."
From The Alexandria Gazette newspaper, edition of Wednesday, 5 September 1894, in Alexandria, Virginia on page 1, column 2:
"Assassinated In His Bed. - A dispatch from Frankfort, Del., to the Philadelphia Record gives the following account of the assassination at Chincoteague, on Saturday night, mention of which was made in yesterday's GAZETTE:
The "Church of Sanctification" at Chincoteague Island, Va., was burned down Saturday by firebugs for the second time this year, and Thomas Bowden, and [sic] influential member, was assassinated.
It is the custom of this "church" to have a certain member act as dreamer for them and to direct them who to preach "sanctification" with, and after receiving his direction the male member proceeds to the house of a sister in religion and retires to a room separated from the rest of the family, and proceeds to pray during most of the night.
The assassin is unknown, but it is believed the deed was committed by one of the dissatisfied members of the church, as Bowden and his wife (who is a very pretty woman, despite the fact that she has had six children), have incurred the enmity of the other members by refusing to preach sanctification with any other man or woman belonging to the little band.
Bowden had just retired to bed with his wife for the night when he was shot, the ball coming through a rear window of the bed room and entering his head, causing instant death.
The founder of this peculiar sect is one Joseph B. Lynch, an ignorant man, who claims to have been directed in a dream to draw up and found this "religion." The citizens of Chincoteague Island made a fruitless search for Lynch last Saturday night with guns and bloodhounds.
There are about 200 of these there and about 100 near Lynch's place. The burning of the church is believed to have been caused by some of the disgusted Islanders."
From The Alexandria Gazette newspaper, edition of Thursday, 6 September 1894, in Alexandria, Virginia on page 2, column 3:
"How Bowden Was Killed.
Eleven young men were brought to Accomac Courthouse yesterday from Chincoteague Island, charged with being in the party who killed Thomas Bowden there Sunday night.
The preliminary trial was held before Judge Gillet, who, after hearing the testimony, fixed the bail at one thousand dollars each. Three gave the required bail and were released. The others, in default of bail, were committed to jail.
The killing of Bowden appears to have been a pure accident. The people of Chincoteague have been greatly annoyed of recent years by a band of religious fanatics calling themselves the Holy Sanctified Band. They came originally from Delaware, and settled on the upper part of the island. Their meetings are held every night, and they have succeeded in making proselytes of many of the weak-minded men and women on the island. Their practices savor of free love and they have caused many wives to leave their husbands. The leaders of the band are Lynch and Workman, two ignorant men. Workman lives in Salisbury, Md., and visits the island occasionally to stir the band up. Last Sunday night Workman was on the island, and about forty men collected and started for the meeting house of the Sanctified Band, intending, as they said, to get Workman under way. They were followed by the eleven young men who are now under arrest.
According to their own account none of them were armed, but on the way somebody gave Irwin Sturgis a pistol. While they were passing the house of Thomas Bowden, Sturgis fired the pistol in the air. The ball passed through the upper window of the house and struck Bowden in the temple. He was lying in bed asleep with his head resting on the window sill, and never spoke after he was shot. He had once been a member of the Sanctified Band, but had withdrawn and was known to be in sympathy with the crowd that went to drive Workman from the island. Intense feeling has long prevailed on the island against these fanatices [sic]. Workman heard of their coming, and, it is said, hid under a house until the crowd dispersed, and then he left."
From The Richmond Dispatch newspaper, edition of Thursday, 6 September 1894, in Richmond, Virginia on page 1 column 8:
"KILLING OF BOWDEN. Arrest of Eleven Young Men Charged with Being in the Party. CHINCOTEAGUE"S SANCTIFIED. The Filthy Fanatics That Caused the Fatal Accident - Prisoners Respectable and Not Uneasy.
TASLEY, VA., September 5. - (Special) - [Then follows the above article....]
From The Norfolk Virginian newspaper, Saturday, 8 September 1894, on page 1, column 1, and continued on page 3:
"THEY HOLD STRANGE VIEWS - Chincoteague Chunkers In Jail For Manslaughter. - A Story Without a Parallel - How Lynch, the Messiah of Sanctification, Poisoned the Minds of Many Islanders and Broke Up Their Happy Homes. - Special to the Philadelphia Record - Chincoteague, Va., September 6. - The sensational killing of Ava [sic] Tom Bowden, of Up-the-Neck, has caused more talk here than any single event since the famous September hurricane of 1821, when three vast Atlantic tidal seas rolling in from the southeast overswept the island one after the other, drowning many people and multitudes of ponies.
The simple news in the matter is that eleven men - all Chunkers - have been lodged in Accomac county jail at Drummondtown to answer for Bowden's taking off. The Chunkers thus placed in hoc are: Irvin S. Sturgis, Arthur Burne [sic], William Mumford, John Daisey, Solamon [sic] Daisey, William Bloxon [sic], Henry Savage, Daniel Beebe, Lewis Daniel [sic] and Frederick Fresh.
Chunker Sturgis did the killing and he did it under the following circumstances: Last Saturday night he joined a "picked-up" gang and they went hullabalooing up the Neck. Their purpose was to scare Sanctified Preacher Workman off the island. About half-past 11 o'clock the Chunkers were in front of the Sanctified Church. As Workman was not comeatable and as about all the windows in the church had been smashed, the only thing left for them to do, according to their own notion of it, was to kick up a racket for the purpose of terrifying the people who live in Sanctified houses near by. Within a rod or so of the Sanctified Church dwelt Bowden, an oysterer - a good, peaceful man - and his wife and six small children, all boys, who range down in stair-steps style from 10 years to 7 months.
Bowden and his wife were in bed in the upper front room of their story and-a-half frame house. The mattress was on the floor. The baby was asleep between its father and mother, who were still as death, listening to the Chunkers. They had been Sanctificationists, but were getting out of the church. It was a hot night, and Bowden lay with his head close to the mosquito netting of an open window, overlooking the Chunkers. There was a shot. A bullet cut a hole in the netting, entered Bowden's skull and embedded itself in his brain. A gush of blood stained the weather-boarding under the window. The wife, startled by the shot, reached over the baby and put her hand on her husband's body, calling "Tom! Tom!", but, like the fool in MacBeth, poor Tom was a cold.
The Chunkers ran. Across the way lived another Bowden, a zeal-fired Sanctificationist. At first the story went that Bowden had killed Bowden. The bitterness of brother against brother and kinsman against kinsman here in this Sanctification war is intense, hence the accusation. But on the Coroner's warrant Chunker after Chunker was gathered in. There was tall lying. The inquest was searching. A young Chunker finally told the truth. Then Sturgis confessed that he had fired off his pistol. The pistol was found hidden under a pile of rigging on board the oyster boat of which he is the captain. Sturgis is a one eyed man and hails from Drummondtown. He is said to have killed a woman on the Virginia main. As to age the jailed Chunkers range from 18 to 25. The Daiseys are of noted Revolutionary stock.
This is the simple news of the Chunker shooting, but back of the news is a big story - a story that, in one sense, is morally uncanny and disgusting, but, in another sense, piquant and amazing. Here it is:
LYNCH THE MESSIAH.
Chincoteague is seven miles long and less than a mile wide. To the east are Assateague and the ocean, to the west Chincoteague broadwater. The town proper is midway the island on the bay side. All below is Down-the-Neck; all above Up-the-Neck. The Chunkers call Up-the-Neck "Delaware City" because it is mainly peopled by Sanctificationists, who hail from Sussex in Delaware.
"Delaware City" is the seat of the Sanctification war. The Messiah of Sanctification is Joseph B. Lynch. Lynch comes from Baltimore Hundred, Sussex. There he was a farmer; here he is an oysterman. He has lived in Chincoteague for twenty years. He is a dark-visaged man, low in stature and quick in his movements. His eyes are black, likewise his beard. His nose has a lumpy bridge. His wrinkles, which have proved so fascinating to the Sanctified sisters, have no lady-killing beauty in them. Yet at 55 he would make a splendid Mormon.
FELLOW-WATCHMAN SARAH.
Lynch says that he feels no fear of the Chunkers, but latterly he has kept aloof. Chincoteague threatens to rotten-egg him, to tar and feather him and even to execute his own name upon him. So, since the killing of Bowden, he has kept away. Yesterday he was seen sailing down the broadwater. To a sailor who hailed him, he said that he was bound for Hog Island and that he should never return to Chincoteague. In his canoe were two women, one of whom is of a celebrity almost equaling his own. This Sanctified sister, Sarah E. Collins, a married woman, is spoken of as Lynch's fellow-watchman. She is young and pretty. She has black hair, rosy cheeks and is of the dashing sort. She has more book knowledge than Lynch, who is so illiterate that when he reads from the Bible in public he makes all sorts of blunders. One Chincoteaguer says of Lynch: "He don't know B from bull's foot." But Sister Sarah knew enough to write a little book on the discipline of the Sanctified Church. Moreover, by the Two-by-Two doctrine, she is the Fellow Watchman of the Messiah of Sanctification.
TWO-BY-TWO.
This two-by-two rule it is that has set all Chincoteague by the ears. It has parted man and wife, broken up home after home, set father in deadly hatred against son and son against father. What is two by two? There is a passage in the Scriptures whereby Christians are to study the word "two by two." Therefore, when Lynch, who broke away from the Methodists, founded the Sanctified Church, he arranged that its members should study the Bible two by two. There is another passage in the Bible which says that Sarah was deeper in the knowledge of God than Abraham. Consequently, argued Lynch, man must study with woman and woman with man, two by two.
But would not the secret meeting of a man with a woman give rise to scandal? "No," answered Lynch, "the man is sanctified and can do no wrong; the woman is sanctified, she can do no wrong."
In his dreams, said Lynch, a man will see the vision of a woman. It is God who thus tells him that the woman must become his fellow watchman in the study of the Word. The man must go to the house of the woman, and by the light of the lamp they must sit together and ponder upon the ways and means for the spread of sanctification on island and on main, from empire to empire.
RISE OF THE SANCTIFIED.
Lynch obtained from the Accomac Court license to perform marriage. He built a large, handsome meeting house Up the Neck. For a time the congregation grew. The people who joined were all illiterate, but of the decent, simple sort. There were great meetings in the new church. The singing and the shouting surpassed anything of the kind ever known on the island. White winged canoes sped across the bay on a Sunday morning, bringing curious people from every creek and cove. It brought to mind the glories of Tangier when Parson Thomas drew to him the boatsmen of the Chesapeake shore. But Parson Thomas was of robust, sterling character. He had no two-by-two doctrine in his catechism.
THE BREAKING UP OF HOMES.
Trouble soon overtook this theological Coxey leading his rag-tag up Zion's hill. There were unsanctified husbands with sanctified wives. Such a husband coming home from the ocean, where he had fished all day, would find a man closeted with his wife. The wife would turn the key against her husband. "He dreamt of me," she would say; "I am his fellow-watchman; I am sanctified, and I can do no wrong." A husband warned Lynch not to come near his house. "I am sanctified," replied the blasphemer, who had declared from the pulpit that he was as good as Jesus Christ; "God told me to watch your wife."
"And God told me," cried the man, "to knock you down."
So the angry husband knocked the Messiah down and kicked him with a good honest boot.
This caused talk. Many other similar cases caused talk. Scandals flew from one end of the island to the other. To the minds of the wholesome-hearted, intelligent people of Chincoteague - and in the population of 2,000 souls there are hundreds upon hundreds of such - Lynch was as a devil with a forked tail that swept from Chincoteague light to the light on the tower of Assateague, threatening to extinguish both. He was about to put out the moral light of the whole island. Husbands tried to get their children away from their wives. With each new birth a man came to doubt the paternity of the child that cried to him as father. There were many separations.
Hard, bitter, bad things were said every day and every hour. People began to threaten violence. Hence the Chunkers. Per se, the Chunker, is not such a dreadful person. He is a boy or a man who throws chunks. He began to break the window panes in the houses of the Sanctificationists. "That scoundrel," he would say, "has driven Jim crazy, so I will hit him with a brick the first chance I get." The chunker is a simple fellow, but, for that matter, many of the Sanctified are merely simple. Let us see.
A METHODIST IN A RED SHIRT.
Ruben Bishop sat in the porch in his new house in Up the-Neck and talked about the trouble. He is an old man. In his red shirt and slouch hat he seemed picturesque enough.
"I have three sons," said he, "and Lynch has made them hate me. Mary, my married daughter, lives with her fellow-watchman. Mary is no longer like a daughter. She came to me almost on a run. 'Well. pap, I've come to tell you you're going straight to hell.' 'Well, Mary, what have I done?' 'You're not sanctified and you're going straight to hell.' 'Yes,' said Reuben, 'just look at me and my family. See the harm they've done. I had to move away from my house there by the church. I could see them meet and hug and kiss, and I knew what was going on."
A young man ran across the marsh and seated himself on the porch.
"You can't talk right plain," said the old man; "it won't do, but I've heard Lynch say the two-by-two was the only way to raise up a new holy nation. If that ain't the bottom of heathenism, I don't know what is."
The young man who had run across the marsh spoke up: "You can't come up to the Word of God, pap."
"Now hear him! Now hear him!," exclaimed the old man; "he pesters me in my own house. Hursh, John, hursh. You've got no education."
"God gave me my education. God sanctified me."
The red-shirted Methodist groaned. "He is my own son, but you see how Lynch has ruined him."
"God knows more than you do, pap. You don't know nothing. We go by the word of God."
This went on for an hour; and certainly more thankless than a serpent's tooth was the tongue of the old man's child, tripping him as he talked.
Mr. Bishop told of Lynch's church near Williamsville, in Baltimore Hundred. The people had risen and burned this church. There are many of the Sanctified in Delaware. One of them became much impressed with the Bible line "He took up his bed and walked." So the old man, though sick, gathered his feather bed up in his arms one Sunday morning and tried to "tote" it to church. He staggered under his burden, so finally hitched up his horse and carted the bed to the meeting-house. He placed the bed in a corner of the church, and kneeling beside it prayed till the roof lifted. Since then the old man has been going around with his bed on his back.
"LICK THE WHOLE WORLD."
"We can lick the whole world, pap," said the erring son by way of a parting shot. And when, upon leaving Bishop's, other places were visited and sanctified sisters interviewed, it was made clear that the other zealots echo the young man's thought. The women talked with sharp, harsh tongues. They were right, they said they were Sanctified and it did not matter what the world might do.
This, of course, was in the Sanctified part of Chincoteague. Down in the main town men sit around in the hotel and store porches and talk over the trouble in a very different strain. They tell many funny stories about the "Sancties." Capt. John Matthews, who spices his sanctified jokes with the red pepper of wit mixed with a pinch of the black pepper of raciness, can raise a laugh audible half way to Assoteague [sic]. It was asserted that Lynch built a scaffolding just under the surface of the bay and then pretended that, like Christ, he could walk on the water.
The Chunkers sailed out to the place and tore up some of the boards. Then when Lynch again essayed the miraculous performance he got a baptism not in his creed. But this is set down as one of the many inventions of the wicked. Nor is there a grain of truth in the bloodhound story. There are not bloodhounds on Chincoteague. There are husbands here, however, who feel like bloodhounds; and there are hundreds and hundreds of sound-headed people here who, while lamenting the pitiful state to which Lynch has brought their neighbors, have made up their minds to rid the island of its blight."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 15 September 1894, on page 3, column 2, under the heading of "Local News:"
"A Virginia newspaper having suggested editorially that the Governor ought to use the same means to disperse the "Free Lovers" on Chincoteague Island that he employed to rid Virginia of the Coxeyites, His Excellency was asked to-day if he had anything to say in reply to the suggestion. He stated that before driving the industrials out he received formal complaints from the authorities of Alexandria county, and if a similar complaint should be made to him in this case, the Chincoteaguers would have to go." - Norfolk Virginian 12th.
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 22 September 1894, on page 3, column 2, under the heading "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
Lynch and three others of the "Sanctified Band" now in jail, are there because of their refusal to give bond in penalty of $150 each, which was required of them by Justice Reynolds, before whom they were arraigned last week. They are no worse than some others left behind, and our people are heartily sick of the whole crowd - so much so that further trouble may be expected, unless checks are put upon them and their disgraceful doings. The people of the Island generally are very sore over the matter, and naturally are disgusted with the false reports, by which the good name of Chincoteague has been made to suffer. The "Sanctified crowd" in no way represent us, and it is hard to be classed with them as we have been, when the most of us not only are in no respect any part or parcel of them, but have a contempt for them and their methods."
Found in column 4:
" Four of the "Sanctified Band" in Jail.
Joseph B. Lynch, the leader, and William J. Chandler, John E. Collins and Sarah B. Collins, of the "Sanctified Band" of Chincoteague Island, were received at the county jail last Sunday. They stand committed by Justice of the Peace Richard P. Reynolds, who resides on the Island, to answer indictment for the following offenses:
"For a misdemeanor by them committed, in this that they did, on the 26th day of September, 1893, and on divers other days and times, before and afterwards, in the county of Accomac, unlawfully, and injuriously conspire, one with the other, to commit, and did commit, acts of indecency. That they did cause Mary E. Burton to leave her husband, Woolsey Burton. That the said persons did conspire together and promulgate the doctrine commonly called "free love," teaching married women to disregard their marriage vows. That said persons did conspire to appoint a male and female member as fellow-watchers, to sit up at night and watch. That by the acts of said persons, Joseph B. Lynch, William J. Chandler, John E. Collins and Sarah E. Collins, the people of Chincoteague Island to some extent have been scandalized. That the said Joseph B. Lynch, William J. Collins, John E. Collins and Sarah E. Collins, with others, did counsel the separation of wives and husbands. That the said persons, with others, in said county, have formed themselves into an organized band, in order to do their indecent work more successfully, and otherwise misbehaving themselves, to the great damage and common nuisance of all the good people of this Commonwealth, residing on Chincoteague Island, in the county of Accomac."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 29 September 1894, on page 3, column 1, under the heading "Local News:"
"Lynch and three others, the "sanctified crowd" committed to jail recently, were released on bail last Saturday."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 6 October 1894, on page 3, column 3, under the heading "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
Lynch and others of the "Sanctified Band" have returned to the 1sland [sic] and resumed their orgies at their church to the indignation of the people generally here. Their wild revels, it is hoped, will not be continued much longer and if the grand jury and courts do nothing, the aid of the Governor will be invoked - and if neither act, then means will be found in some way perhaps, to rid us of them."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 27 October 1894, on page 3, column 2, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
A petition circulated here this week was signed by all the business men and the good citizens generally, praying the court to revoke the license to marry, granted to a member of the Sanctified Band, as it is becoming more and more daily a common nuisance and serious results are feared as the outcome of the same. The fool craze has got to stop say our citizens, by peaceful means if possible - by forcible means if necessary."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 3 November 1894, on page 3, column 1, under the heading "Local News:"
"The trial of the "sanctified crowd" was in progress at the time of going to press."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 10 November 1894, on page 3, column 3:
"Commonwealth vs The Sanctified Band.
The trial of the leaders of the Sanctified Band of Chincoteague, which began on Friday of last week was terminated on Monday, by a verdict of guilty as charged in the indictment of Joseph Lynch, William J. Chandler and Sarah E. Collins, and of acquittal as to Jno. E. Collins. The finding of jury as to Lynch was, eight months in jail and fine of $250; as to Chandler, six months in jail and fine of $150; as to Mrs. Collins, four months in jail and a fine of $100. A motion made to set aside the verdict as being contrary to the law and evidence was promptly overruled by Judge Gillet, and the parties convicted were sent to jail, in default of bail, until their counsel can be heard upon a bill of exceptions to the order of the Court overruling the motion to quash the indictment. The latter motion is not likely to avail anything, and in the end the punishment fixed upon Lynch and the others for their sins, by the jury, will have to be met by them and ought to be, says the public generally.
The evidence, as given at the trial in its details, was too filthy for publication and fully sustained the charge in the indictment against them, as being nuisances. It was fully developed during the trial, that the doctrine of two and two as taught by the Sanctificationists, viz: the putting away of their own wives and taking the wives of others for the studying of the Scriptures - had resulted in breaking up of happy households, in estranging members of the same family, in breaches of the peace, in acts of lewdness - in indecencies, in fact, totally at variance with the moral law and in acts entirely repugnant to the laws of the land. The band had, it was stated at the trial, at one time 120 members, but at this time has only about 60 members, the most of whom were in attendance at the court. They were represented at the trial by Messrs. Spady & Russell, and were ably defended by them, Mr. Fletcher appeared for the Commonwealth and added new laurels to his reputation as an able, faithful and efficient prosecutor. The verdict of the jury is generally approved.
Since the above was put in print, Chandler and Mrs. Collins have been released on bail."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 17 November 1894, on page 3, column 2, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
The members of the "Sanctified" band convicted at the last term of our County Court, returned home on bail last Saturday and have been comparatively quiet since their return. Service was not held by them on Sunday or since. It is hoped that their experience will be at least beneficial to the good people in their band, and that they will make haste to get out of the bad company in which they are."
In columns 3 and 4, under the heading "County Court Proceedings. - October Term 1894.
L. Floyd Nock qualified as guardian of Ebe T., Earnest J., Paul, Irving W., Charles and Lloyd T. Bowden, orphans of Ary T. [Aaron Thomas] Bowden, deceased. [Widows were not considered capable of being court-appointed guardians of their children. - These are the children whose father was killed by the gunshot "fired into the air" the night a group of Islanders went to attack the leaders of the "Sanctified Band," on September 1st.]
The judgement entered against Joseph B. Lynch, Wm. J. Chandler and Sarah E. Collins, "Sanctified" persons convicted of nuisance, has been suspended for thirty days, to allow them to apply an appeal to County Court upon the defendants entering into bond to appear and perform the judgement of the County Court in case writ of error is refused by Circuit Court."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 1 December 1894, on page 3, column 2, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
The "Sanctified" band has about disbanded The board of trustees met last week for the purpose of selling their church. The leader, Jos. Lynch, has left for parts unknown and said when he left that he bid the Island a long and last farewell. Sister Sadie Collins, principal deaconess, has gone also and practically renounced the faith before going. It was not what she expected it would be she said and declared that the "two by two" arrangement was no longer to her liking. W. J. Chandler, another of the leaders, is arranging to protect his securities and will leave also. Private meetings are being held occasionally, but will not continue to be held long it is believed. The end of the craze is near doubtless, now that the deluded band is without leadership."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 15 December 1894, on page 3, column 1, under the heading "Local News:"
"A writ of error, to operate as a supersedeas, to the judgement of the county court, has been awarded by the circuit judge to the "Sanctified" people recently convicted in the county court of a nuisance, which means, that the county court judgement is suspended until the circuit court reviews the case and determines whether there was any error in the trial."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 22 December 1894, on page 3, column 3, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
The Lynchites are all leaving us for Baltimore and we will soon be rid of the whole band."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 12 January 1895, on page 3, column 2, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
Thirteen of the "Sanctified band" left here some weeks ago for Baltimore and finding they were not wanted there, went to Elizabeth City, N. C., which place they have since been ordered by the mayor to leave or be locked up. Those left here, we understand, are anxious to resume their meetings and more trouble and expense to the county may be expected, if they do. One of the gang, a Mrs. Gray, has deserted her husband and four little children. She left the children alone while asleep one night last week while her husband, who was a surfman at Green Run Life Saving Station, was from home, and who has since been compelled to resign his position, to take care of them."
From The Richmond Times-Dispatch of Richmond, Virginia on Wednesday, 23 January 1895, on page 2, column 2:
"THE "SANCTIFIED BAND." - The Appeal of the Convicted Leaders to Be Heard Thursday.
Accomac Courthouse, Va., Jan. 22. - Special - A special term of the Accomac Circuit Court will commence Thursday. Judge B. A. Hancock, of the Second circuit, will preside. It is ordered to try certain cases, in which the judge of the court cannot sit, and it will also dispatch some business left undone for want of time at the last regular term.
The cases of Joseph B. Lynch and others, leaders in the "Sanctified" craze, who were tried and convicted in the County Court of Nuisance, which is now in the Circuit Court on writ of error, will also come up for disposition.
The error complained of is "refusal of the County Court to quash the indictment on the ground that the offence charged therein was unknown in the common or statute law." The case is a novel one and viewed with much interest.
Our county clerk reports 228 marriages in 1894."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 26 January 1895, on page 3, column 1, under "Local News. - An extra session of the circuit court is being held at Accomac C. H., this week, Judge Hancock presiding. The only case disposed of at the time of going to press was the "Sanctified case." It was continued until another term." [The first Tuesday in April 1895]
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 23 March 1895, on page 3, column 2, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
All of the "Sanctified Band" left behind here, it is said, are preparing to join their brethren and sisters now located in Elizabeth City, N. C. They do not propose, however, to take their "unsanctified" husbands or wives with them, and will even leave their "unholy" children behind them. They say, in fact, they recognize none of the ties of kindred and are willing to break them - and want divorces from their husbands and wives and separation from their children. J. W. Jones, until he joined the band, a worthy and thrifty man, left this week leaving his wife and six children behind him. Others will follow soon, and it is to be hoped they will, and not be allowed to return here again to bring reproach upon our people."
From The Richmond Times-Dispatch of Richmond, Virginia on Sunday, 7 April 1895, page 2, column 2: "Accomac C. H., Va., via Tasley, Va., April 6. - The circuit court is still in session here. The common law docket is small, as usual, with right much chancery matters.
The "Sanctified Band's" writ of error will not be heard at this term, but will be probably in June next by Judge Hancock, at a special term."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 4 May 1895, on page 3, column 2, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
The sanctified band sold at public auction, on last Saturday, all their real estate and personal property, and will leave for North Carolina as soon as possible. They expect to take all with them that cannot afford to pay their way by sail boats - and among them will be husbands deserting their wives and wives deserting their husbands."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 25 May 1895, on page 3, column 2, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
John Bowden and John Collins bought the Schooner R. F. Hastings of Gordon Jones, of Oak Hall, for $500, last week, and sailed on Saturday for North Carolina, with thirty-two of the "Sanctified" band on board."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 6 July 1895, on page 3, column A letter from Old Trap, Camden county, N. C., states that the "Sanctificationists," who have gone there from Chincoteague Island, Accomac county, are demoralizing in the extreme. The writer says: "I think if these people stay here much longer half the inhabitants will go crazy. Already two men have lost their reason, the mind of one becoming unbalanced because the church of which he is a member is torn with dissention. The membership of this church was about 100 before the band came here, but now there are scarcely more than a dozen who do not side with the new comers. If they continue their work here much longer, I am satisfied that I will not live long enough to see the evil of their influence destroyed."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 13 July 1895, on page 3, column 1, under "Local News.
A special term of the Circuit Court for the county of Accomac has been ordered by Judge Gunter, to commence on Tuesday, July 23d. Judge Beverly Hancock will preside."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 27 July 1895, on page 3, column 1, under "Local News.
Judge Beverly Hancock arrived at Accomac C. H. on Thursday, for the purpose of holding a special term of the circuit court for Judge Gunter."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 24 August 1895, on page 4, column 4:
"VIRGINIA: - At Rules held in the clerk's office of the circuit court for the county of Accomack, on the third Monday in August, A. D., 1895, the same being the nineteenth day of said month.
Parker W. Bowden, William J. Collins and John E. Collins, members of the congregation of Christ's Sanctified Holy Church No. One of Chincoteague Island, Virginia, who sue in their own names and on behalf of the other members thereof .... Plaintiffs.
against
Joseph B. Lynch, Charlotte M. Lynch, John E. Collins, Sarah E. Collins, William J. Chandler, Elizabeth Chandler, Parker W. Bowden, Sarah B. Bowden, John W. Jones, John W. Bowden, Mary J. Bowden, Catharine Burch, Mariah Bowden, Margaret Powell, Lucinda Bishop, Joseph S. Gray, Mariah Collins and James B. Workman, survivors of themselves and Aaron T. Bowden, deceased, trustees in a certain deed dated February 18th, 1892, from John W. Bowden and Mary J., his wife, to them, for the use of "The ministry and membership of Christ's Sanctified Holy Church No. One of Chincoteague Island, Virginia ..... Defendants.
In Chancery.
The object of this suit is to sell Christ's Sanctified Holy Church No. One of Chincoteague Island, Virginia, and the lot on which it is situate; to pay out of the proceeds all the debts due by the congregation or its trustees for church purposes; and to dispose of the balance as the congregation may desire; in conformity with the provisions of Chapter 64 of Code of Virginia and the laws amendatory of said chapter.
Affidavit having been made before the clerk of the said court that Joseph B. Lynch, Charlotte M. Lynch, John E. Collins, Sarah E. Collins, William J. Chandler, Elizabeth Chandler, Parker W. Bowden, Sarah B. Bowden, John W. Jones, John W. Bowden, Mary J. Bowden, Catharine Burch, Mariah Bowden, Margaret Powell, Lucinda Bishop, Joseph S. Gray, Mariah Collins and James B. Workman, fourteen of the defendants in the above entitled cause, are non-residents of the State of Virginia, on the motion of the plaintiffs, by their attorneys, it is ordered that they, the said non resident defendants, do appear here within fifteen days after due publication of this order and do what is necessary to protect their interests; and that this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in the PENINSULA ENTERPRISE, a newspaper published at Accomack [sic] C. H., Virginia, and also posted at the front door of the court-house of the said county on the first day of the next term of the county court of the said county. Test: JOHN D. GRANT, C. C.
A Copy - Test: JOHN D. GRANT, C. C. - Blackstone & Bundick, p. q."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 26 October 1895, on page 3, column 4, under the heading: "Circuit Court Proceedings - October Term, 1895. ... Parker W. Bowden et als., members, &c., who sues, &c., vs. Joseph B. Lynch et als., trustee. Decree confirming entries at rules, referring cause to master to take account of church debt, ascertain wishes of congregation as to payment, sale of church property for same and disposition of balance and suspending further proceedings upon certain payments being made by the congregation."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 22 February 1896, on page 2, columns 4 and 5:
"VIRGINIA - At rules held for the circuit court for the county of Accomack, in the clerk's office thereof, on the 3d Monday in February, A. D., 1896, the same being the 17th day of said month.
Mary A. Lewis .... Pltff.
against
Joseph B. Lynch and James H. Lynch .... Dfts.
In Debt.
The object of this suit is to recover against the defendants a debt due the plaintiff for $175.00, with interest thereon from the 2d day of June, A. D. 1890, till paid, and the costs of this suit; subject to the following releases: $10.00, paid March 14th, 1892; $10.00 paid March 1st, 1893; and $90.00 paid September 25th, 1894.
Affidavit having been made before the clerk of the said court that Joseph B. Lynch, one of the defendants in the above entitled cause is a non-resident of the State of Virginia, on the motion of the plaintiff, by her attorney, it is ordered that the said Joseph B. Lynch do appear here within fifteen days after due publication of this order and do what is necessary to protect their interests; and that this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in the "Peninsula Enterprise," a newspaper published at Accomack [sic] C. H., Virginia, and also posted at the front door of the court-house of the said county on the first day of the next term of the county court of the said county. Test: JOHN D. GRANT, C. C.
A Copy - Test: JOHN D. GRANT, C. C. - Thos. W. Russell, p.q. -
"VIRGINIA - In the circuit court for the county of Accomack, in the vacation of the said court, the 19th day of February, A. D., 1896.
Mary A. Lewis, a judgement creditor of James H. Lynch and Joseph B. Lynch, who sues on behalf of herself and all other, the unsatisfied judgement creditors of the said James H. Lynch and Joseph B. Lynch, respectively .... Plaintiff.
Against
James H. Lynch and Lizzie, his wife, Joseph B. Lynch and Charlotte, his wife, Thomas W. Russell, trustee, and John T. Russell .... Defendants.
In Chancery.
The object of this suit is to subject certain real estate of the said defendants James H. Lynch and Joseph B. Lynch, situate on Chincoteague Island in the county of Accomack, to the payment of the liens thereon against them or either of them.
Affidavit having been made before the clerk of the said court that James H. Lynch, Lizzie Lynch, Joseph B. Lynch, Charlotte Lynch and John T. Russell, five of the defendants in the above entitled cause, are non-residents of the State of Virginia, on the motion of the plaintiff, by her attorney, it is ordered that they, the said non resident defendants, do appear here within fifteen days after due publication of this order and do what is necessary to protect their interests; and that this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in the PENINSULA ENTERPRISE, a newspaper published at Accomack [sic] C. H., Virginia, and also posted at the front door of the court-house of the said county on the first day of the next term of the county court of the said county.
Test: JOHN D. GRANT, C. C.
A Copy - Test: JOHN D. GRANT, C. C. - Thos. W. Russell, p. q. -
"VIRGINIA - In the circuit court for the county of Accomack, in the vacation of the said court, the 5th day of February, A. D., 1896.
William T. Bowden .... Plaintiff.
Against
Lydia A. Bowden .... Defendant.
In chancery.
The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce a mensa et toro between the plaintiff and the defendant.
Affidavit having been made before the clerk of the said court that Lydia A. Bowden, the defendant in the above entitled cause, is a non-resident of the State of Virginia, on the motion of the plaintiff, by his attorney, it is ordered that the said non resident defendant, do appear here within fifteen days after due publication of this order and do what is necessary to protect her interests; and that this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in the PENINSULA ENTERPRISE, a newspaper published at Accomack [sic] C. H., Virginia, and also posted at the front door of the court-house of the said county on the first day of the next term of the county court of the said county.
Test: JOHN D. GRANT, C. C.
A Copy - Test: JOHN D. GRANT, C. C. - Thos. W. Russell, p. q. "
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 13 June 1896, on page 3, column 3, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
Seventeen more of the sanctified band, and the last of them, left here to join the band in North Carolina last week. They sold their oyster boats, houses, &c, at a sacrifice. It is needless to add that we are happy to be rid of them."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 29 August 1896, on page 3, column 2:
"Sanctificationists Killed.
Over one hundred sanctifications from the Eastern Shore, Virginia went to Montrose, Chowan county, N. C., several weeks ago, and with their new doctrines have almost broken up some of the churches in that county. The believers in the new faith are principally young men. These believers in sanctification have four arks which are on barges in the Chowan river, and they go around through the country preaching their doctrines. The people of Chowan county have become aroused on account of the conduct of this sanctified band. Yesterday a large party of citizens met at Montrose, on Chowan river, and had it not been for the recent converts to the new theory of this sect, the sanctificationists would have been killed or badly beaten, and their arks destroyed. The new converts of the county insisted on giving them a show. The sanctificationists were given a short time to get on their arks and leave that section. After they had boarded the arks, and were moving up the Chowan, the crowd began to fire and killed several of them. They were told to leave there by this morning at 10 o'clock, or more would be killed, and their arks and barges destroyed. - Richmond Times, 23d."
From The Peninsula Enterprise newspaper, edition of Saturday, 5 December 1896, on page 3, column 2, under "Neighborhood Notes:"
"Chincoteague.
The "sanctified band" recently home from North Carolina are again holding meetings at their homes up the Island, and it has been suggested, that steps should be taken to put a check upon them before they get on their "wild frantics" again."
***** Please note that the young men in the group who were with Irvin S. Sturgis, the young man who admitted to firing the pistol and accidentally killing Aaron Thomas Bowden, were never charged with a crime, and were never placed on trial. They gave evidence at the coroner's inquiry, they were subsequently arrested, with three being released on bail. In less than a week, everyone was free, and no charges against any of them were ever brought to court.
As for the guilty verdict regarding Joseph B. Lynch, Sarah E. Tarr Collins, and William James Chandler, Sr.: as was reported above, all three defendants were found guilty of the charges against them, and all three made bail to await the verdict from the Circuit Court Judge about the writ of error, which their attorneys immediately made. The hearing was delayed for over a year, and I have not been able to find any record of the Circuit Court hearing the case - the Commonwealth's Attorney, who would need to present his case before the judge, kept reporting that he was "too busy pursuing other cases" to pull together his notes and present his reasons for his questions and decisions in prosecuting the case against the 4 "Sanctified Band" members. As far as I can tell, the writ of error hearing "fell through the cracks" of the legal system, and was forgotten.
Of course, by that time, all three defendants had paid the monies that their bail bondsmen had made for them, and they left the state. Perhaps, with the newspapers carrying articles about Lynch, Collins and Chandler carrying the rally flag for the Christ's Sanctified Holy Church, and converting followers in North Carolina, and no longer having domiciles in Accomack County, the Court decided it was a moot point. - I hope you enjoy (and/or continue to enjoy) these historical blog postings. *****
Comments
Post a Comment