South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-06-17

Idtlon, OF course. Inc sentence was
one hour in the pillory, sixty lashes, 4
years imprisonment, (here is no soil
tary imprisonment in this state though
the law in this case directs iD fine Of
$l500-and the sale for seven years,
which is an affair altogether nominal
Such is the explanation Of this "fathel
severe" sentence, inflicted, not by the
"Hon. John M. Clayton" but by the
cosrt, composed ofChief Justice Clay
ton and associates Black and Layton,
and prescribed by the letter ofthe iaav.
A sentence was never more richly mer-
tied. The mode of punishment may
not please those who indulge morbid
sensibility on the subject of criminal
punishments, but that fault, if any, at
taches to the legislature and not to the
court. Delaware adheres to her an
Gent code, while modern reform has
been busily dealing with every thing
around her, but we know that reform
is not always improvement, and Della
ware is content to remain as she is un-
til something better than she has yet
seen is presented to her consideration.
While we are on the subject Of kid
mapping, some "reminiscences occur to
Us connected with Joe johnson and
Patty Cannon, whose names are men
toned above, which may be deemed
interesting to our readers. This Joe
Johnson and Patty Cannon few years
ago were as notorious in the lower part
Of this State, and Of Maryland, DIS muir
derers, kidnappers and robbers, as the
most reno wned heroes ofthis descrip-
ton, we have ON record. Toe Johnson's
house which is now occupied by Mi
chael Millman as kidnapper, 1--WE are
not aware that Michael has yet added
the title of murderer and robber to the
more inglorious one of kidnapper, )lies
in Dorchester county, Md, within a
stones throw Of Caroline county in the
same state, & ofSussex in our own state.
Patty Cannon's house was in Sussex
county, and but short distance from
Johnsons. Joe's house was recep-
tacle for all the kidnappednegroes from
this state and the country round, and a
more convenient location for such
purpose could scarcely be imagined.
1t was sequestered spot, at distance
from any road, in thinly settled neigh
borhood, and if pressed by the law or
its officers, nothing was easier than for
Joe and his myrmidons to escape in the
county of Caroline, or if it
suited him better, into our State. Pat
ty Cannoh's house was convenient too,
as sort of stopping place. where gem
tlemen of the kidnapping fraternity
might refresh themselves and their
charge before they reached the general
depot, Joe Johnson house. Patty was
a strapping wench--a woman of great
strength and fefocity. She could and
often did knock down a stout negro
man, tie him. put him in cart and
carry him over to Johnson's.
Patty Cannon had daughter who
was very handsome woman and had
been twice married. Her first hus-
band was notorious kldnapper, nam
ed Henry Bruinton, alias Brereton, who
died on the gallows-the second, was
Joe johnson. In Brjiinton's time, Pat
ty Cannon's house was frequently visi-
ted by persons from the south who
came to buy negroes, and the story was
told and believed. nay rendered Ger
tain, that many such persons, after Wis
ting Patty, was never heard of again.
At length the murders came out, and
the murderers were detected. Two
traders, one of whom was named Rid
cell, with sum ofmoney came to. Pat
tvs one evening to purchase negroes
she artfully detained them by the kind
est treatment, entertaining them with
apple toddyj and other gentle mixtures
while she sent out Bruinton 1.-TWO men
Of the name of Griffin, to fell a tree a
cross the Laurel road, TO which town
the travellers were destined. When
they were gone Patty dressed in mems
clothes, and armed with a musket,
started by a short cut through the
forest, to join the murderers. When
the traders came to the tree their hor-
SEES stopped, and all four of the murder
ers, who were laying in ambush, fred
at once. Ridgell was shot through the
body-but he had energy enough, for
the moment, to defend his life, and be-
ing armed with pistols, he and his COM
panion fred into the cover where the
murderers were lying, and drove them
from the field. Mr.. Ridgell was car
ried by his friend to Laurel, where ne
died that night. Governor Haslett Of
fered a reward for the muderers, and
they were all arrested. One of the
Grifin's turned State s,evidence, and
convicted his brother and Bruinton,
~ u,are hiiiior-=PattV. the fiend in