Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-10-27
NEGRO OUTRAGE - HORRIBLE
AFFAIR.

Scarcely day passes since the @g's
ofFfreedomp was ushered in by the
late lamented, but some horrible out
rage, like the one detailed below,
occurs in the Southern section, where
Sambo is supreme. The Maryland
Prince Georgian says:
The most intense excitement has
pervaded our county since Tuesday
last, occasioned by the commission of
a most heinous crime upon the day
previous, near Fort Washington, the
particulars of which are almost too
horrible to relate. From parties resi-
ding in the noighborhood, we gather
that, on the morning in question,
most estimablo, accomplished, and
beautiful young lady, (whose name
we withhold whilst proceeding to
the primary school, of which she has
had charge for sometime past, was
assaulted by negro man, badly beat
on, robbed and her person violated.
She was discovered shortly afterwards,
still insensible from her brutal treat
ment, and conveyed to tho residence
of Mrs Shaaff, with whom she board
ed,) where she now lies in a critical
condition. Constable Underwood, hav-
ing heard of the affair, proceeded TO
investigate it, and succeeded in arrest
ing a negro man named Tom Jessecks,
who resided with Mr.. Adams, TO whom
suspicion strongly attached. Although
numerous circumstances added to very
strong testimony of two other negroes,
indicated that he was the guilty party,
Justices Brooke and Brandt preferred
to have him identified, if possible, by
his victim before committing him to
Jail upon tne charge; and when she
became conscious, he was accordingly
taken before herand thoroughly recog-
nized. He was then fully committed,
and Officer Underwood, with several
assistants, started to convey him to
this place. The party had only reach
ed "Hatton's Hill" near Piscataway,
however, when they were set upon by
acrowd ofabout twenty persons, whose
faces were completely disguised, the
officer and his assistants bound, and
the prisoner hung to tree near by.
The great indignation naturally evoked
by such crime, gave rise to the hppre-
bebsion that the prisoner would be
dealt summarily with, and induced the
Court Immediately upon being inform
ed of the fact, to despatch Sheriff Dyer
10 the vicinity, with orders TO take
charge Of the prisoner, and to summon
posse comitatus if necessary, to secure
his safe conduct 10 the jail but justice
had already gotten its dues, and the
Coroner was engaged in holding an
inquest upon the body when the Sheriff
arrived. Upon the communication of
this fact TO the Court, Judge Ford
addressed the Grand Jury in the fol-
lowing words:
Gentlemen Of the Grand Jury: The Court this
morning learned Of act Of violence committed
in this county, which no Law abiding citizen can
look upon with favor. In the State Of Maryland
our Courts are open, and law is here supreme
and no matter how henous the crime, this tribunal
can never sanction its punishment by violence and
mobs. The supremacy Of the Law shall be fully
vindicated whilst we have seats upon this bench
Under your onths, gentlemen, II becomes your duty
70 lnNettlkAte matter Iuliy ana fairlY. II ~
your sworn duty to bring these offenders to pun
ishment, Il you can possibly ascertain who they
are and trust you win spare no exertion 10 the
investigation Of this matter.
A large number of witnesses have
been summoned, and are now under
going examination before that tribu-
nal Whilst it is always desirable that
the law should be allowed TO take its
course, the circumstances of this case
justify as fully as any could, the action
Of the community. The treatment Of
this young lady was Of the most brutal
character. She was badly beaten, and
the scene of the conflict shows that
her struggles must have been almost
superhuman. The evidence of one of
the negroes goes to prove that the
attack was fully premeditated, and
had been alluded TO some weeks pre-
vious. The guilt of the criminal was
established beyond all doubt, and
although it would have been better TO
have allowed him 10 lie in jail and
suffer the stings of remorse, yet his
punishment cannot be deemed other
than most Just. The officers of the
law, we are assured, done everything
in their power to secure the prisoner
from the mob, and the result can only
be deprecated.