I believe this argument was made in the 1920s when the Senate filibustered the legislation: that a federal anti-lynching law would be redundant to state murder statutes. But prosecuting "murder at the hands of persons unknown" under state laws was obviously a non-starter and no doubt was so intended. No one would be convicted as a participant. With no defendant on the indictment, the process was probably seen only as a formality--the law was upheld-- although I think it did open up the avenue for civil suits for wrongful death. I know such suits were successful in other southern states, but I am unaware of any Virginia examples; perhaps someone on the list does? David Kiracofe David Kiracofe History Tidewater Community College Chesapeake Campus 1428 Cedar Road Chesapeake, Virginia 23322 757-822-5136 >>> James Brothers <[log in to unmask]> 06/24/07 11:32 AM >>> An argument could be made that anti-lynching laws were, and are, redundant because it is generally against the law to kill someone.