Charles Whitley
MSA SC 3520-13736
Lynched in Prince Frederick, June 6, 1886
Biography:
Charles Whitley was lynched Sunday, June 6, 1886 for the attempted assault on the five year old daughter of Reverend L. M. Lyle of the M.E. Church South. Charles Whitley, an 18 or 21 year old African American moved to Calvert County from Stafford, Virginia with the Lyle family. He was employed by Rev. Lyle as a cook. He was reported to be an excellent servant by Rev. Lyle. Whitley was arrested by Sheriff Anderson on Wednesday, June 2. The arrest was made the same day as the crime had been committed.
Reverend Lyle described the event to The Sun on June 10th. He stated that Whitley was employed as his cook. According to Lyle's wife, Whitley asked their eldest daughter, Daisy, to accompany him while he went to pick a salad for dinner. When she refused he took a basket and went into the yard. He picked up Rev. Lyle's five year old daughter, Annie. He carried her into the woods. Mrs. Lyle panicked after trying to calm her upset three year old son Sammy who witnessed Whitley taking Annie from the yard. She then sent Daisy to find Annie. Daisy claimed she found Annie laying across Whitley's lap as he pinned her head towards the ground trying to assault her. Daisy took Annie into the house. She told her mother that Whitley had tried to bribe and threaten them not to tell. Reverend Lyle learned of the event from his wife after he returned from the store and blacksmith's shop.
Reverend Lyle apprehended Whitley with a pistol and handed him over to Sheriff Anderson. It was reported that around ten o'clock Sunday night 40 masked men rode to the jail and overpowered the guards on duty. Several shots were fired at the jail but no one was hurt. The men found Whitley chained to the floor and cut him loose with an ax. A noose was fastened around Whitley's neck. The men took him about a mile from the jail and hung him from a persimmon tree. His body was cut down the next morning and buried near the jail. Even though the guards were placed at the jail to prevent the lynching they were greatly outnumbered. Therefore, the guards were charged with no wrongdoing.
A jury of inquest was summoned by Sheriff Anderson.
The State's Attorney John B. Biscoe examined the witnesses and the jury
rendered a verdict stating that Charles J. Whitley came to his death on
Sunday, June 6, 1886. He was hung by persons unknown to the jury.
The jury also charged James W. Lyons with aiding and abetting a lynching.
He was identified by the Sheriff and one of the guards. There was no found
reports on the penalty of Lyon's charges.
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