George Quander versus the Law

Alexandria Gazette, August 13, 1897

George Quander, colored, of Fairfax county, who was suspected of stealing a cow, was recently visited by white caps [Ku Klux Klan], trounced and ordered to leave the neighborhood.
 

Alexandria Gazette, November 24, 1902

Attacked the Constable.

Constable Daniel Hall of Fairfax is said to have had a terrible experience yesterday with one of the Quander family. The officer, it seems, had two warrants for the arrest of George Quander, a relative of the old negro Felix Quander, who invariably stood on the defensive when an attempt was made to arrest him. Mr. Hall went on the negro's premises, a short distance below this city, for the purpose of arresting him, when Quander made a vicious attack upon him. The officer was knocked down and kicked on the head and face by the negro and he would doubtless have been killed outright had it not been for a neighbor, who rushed to the scene, armed with a pitchfork, and succeeded in chasing Quander away. Mr. Hall, who is an aged man, was found to be seriously injured, so much so that it is feared he will die. His assailant has not been arrested.

Alexandria Gazette, July 24, 1908

George Quander, colored, was before Justice W. T. Heistand, in Fairfax county, yesterday, charged with assaulting and beating Simeon Deavers, white. The victim of the assault by reason of his injuries, could not attend the trial, and it was postponed. It is alleged by Quander that Deavers set his clothing afire with burning straw, and provoked the assault. Deavers' condition is said to be critical.

Evening Star, July 24, 1908

Alleged Assault.

Constable A. J. Payne of Fairfax county, Va., has served a warrant on George Quander, colored, charged with assaulting and beating Simeon Deavers of Fairfax county. Owing to Quander's illness he was not taken into custody. Constable Payne said this morning that Quander claims he was robbed by white men in Fairfax county while asleep, they cutting the pockets of his trousers and taking $2.50, after which he claims they threw hay upon him, setting it on fire, and as a result he was badly burned about the leg. The report is being investigated.

Alexandria Gazette, August 13, 1908

Sheriff Kills Negro.

After a fierce encounter with George Quander, a murderous negro, of Fairfax county, Deputy Sheriff Wm. D. Cross, of that county, yesterday afternoon shot and killed the negro. The pistol used was of .32 calibre. It appears that the deputy sheriff had a warrant for Quander, who had assaulted another negro in Fairfax county last Saturday. The deputy said he had been hunting Quander since that time, knowing that trouble would ensue when the negro was caught. When he came upon the negro yesterday afternoon near Ballenger's store he denied his guilt and did not seem to want to submit to arrest, Constable Cross deputized Messrs. Robert Ballenger and Bert Ayers to assist him. The sheriff then requested these gentlemen to secure his horse and buggy and when Mr. Ballenger entered the stable the negro Quander grabbed Cross around the body and endeavored to draw the sheriff's pistol from his hip pocket. Then followed the struggle and the negro, who is a well built man, fought fiercely. During the tussle the pistol in the pocket of the sheriff was discharged twice, doing no damage except to the clothing of the officer. The negro then ran and the officer fired three shots at him, one of them with telling effect. The shot penetrated his arm and severed an artery. When overtaken a short distance from the store, he begged for mercy and told the officer he was wounded. When found in a clump of bushes he asked Mr. Ballenger to give him som water and when he had returned with it from a nearby spring the negro had bled to death. The body was brought to this city and prepared for burial by Demaine & Son. Quander was a dangerous negro having served several terms in jail. He was a nephew of Felix Quander, the desperado of Fairfax county, whom many remember as a general disturber of the peace. He was married and lived at Pohick. Following the shooting the deputy sheriff gave himself up to Mr. Robert Ballenger, of Fairfax county, who drove with him to this city. A coroner's jury was then summoned by Justice of the Peace Stuart, who acted as coroner, and the jury rendered a verdict that Quander came to his death by being shot by Cross and completely exonerated Cross from all blame. The jury was composed of the following: Frank M. Ballenger, foreman: George Watkins, George K. Pickett, L. S. Nalls, Sidney Hammersley, and Joseph Hartbower. It has been learned since the shooting of Quander that he has had considerable trouble of late. Last week, it is said, two young men by the name of Deavers and Taylor set fire to Quander while he was drunk and he was badly burned. He later met these men and whipped them both. It is also said that he assaulted a man and wife near Gum springs a day or two ago, and also shot three times at a negro near Occoquan.