Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-03-11
WHOLESALE HANGING |
The Four Chesapeake Pirates Executed
Details of Their Crime!
A Fearful Scene at the Gallows |!
One Gets Loose and Climbs upon the
Soafold
A JAILoR PUSHES HIM OFF /.
PRINCESS ASSE, SOMERSET COUNTY,
A,rnt 9Th {


March 9Th.
The readers OF the COMMERCIAL already know
that to-day the four negroes, commonly called
the Chesapeake Pirates, are to be executed in this
town, for the murder of Benjamin f. johnson,
the Captain, aud Henry Cannon, the Mate, of the
schooner or oyster pungy Brave.
The names by which the prisoners have been
known are William Wilson, William Wells, Frank
Rounds, and Geo. Bailey. The last two names
are, we believe, correct, but the right name of
VIM. Wilson is Charles Wesley Denly, and that
of William Wells, Linsey G. Wells.
Wilson and Wells were tried, convicted and
sentenced to be hung on the 10th Of July last
Frank Rounds was tried on the 21st of October.
and Geo. Bailey was tried on the 18th of January
The others have been reprieved along from time
to time until all were caught and tried, and now
all are to suffer together.
The facts concerning their arrests, trials, and
attempts to escape have been too recently laid be-
tore our readers to need recaptulation at this
time.
From the evidence Of the prisoners on each
others trials and their confessions, the whole
history Of the crime is known, and IL shows 1t to
have been ono Of the most cold-blooded and pre-
meditated murders on record. 1t Is as follows t.
THE MURDER PLOTTED.
On Wednesday, March S0th, 1865 the schooner
Brdre was lying in Annamcsecc River, In this
county The Captain and Mate had gone ashore
to store leaving the crew of four men on board
while they were gone. Frank Rounds asked if
the Captain had any money, and suggested that
they XIII the Captain. Bailey proposed waiting
until he had dredgrd longer, rs he would then
have more money. Finally, however, all the
crew agreed to the murder.
After the Captain and Mate came from the
shore they went aboard another vessel lying near
the Brdre, and while they were there the iour
men modified their plan. resolving to kill them
ms they came on board, and prepared clubs for
the purpose. They then went TO the hold to
await the return of their victims, bat some of
them falling asleep the Captain and Mate returned
and got aboard before they knew it. and they
were called up to assist in hauling the punt, or
small boat, aboard.
THE MURDER COMMITTED.
The Captain then called on Rounds and Bailey
to 20 forward with him In cast another anchor.
They went for-a,u, accordingly, and as they did
.o, hounds picked up his club. As the Captiin
stopped to fix thu chain, Rounds struck him with
the club, with all Ills might, Telling him to the
deck
Wilson aud Wells had meanwhile followed the
Mate into the cabin, where Wells Immediately
struck him across the face with a heavy club, and
Wilson broke In the back of his head with another
club.
THE CAPTAIN NOT YET KILLED.
Tho crew then got the vessel under way, George
Bailey taking command. About this time the
Captain got up, when Rounds or one of the others
went forward and flushed him with an axe.
THE MATE ALIVE AND BEos FOR LIFE
| About half an hour after this the Maze was seen
coming up out of the cabin with gun in his
hand. George Bailey went aft and took it from
him. he begging at the time to be put ashore and
prpnisinU n m nOfhinp nbout Roilox, nj
him he would do so and pushed him back In the
cabin and then told Wells to go down and kill
him.. Wells accordingly went down and Knocked
him in the head with an axe.
rr~ ~suoosEn RIMS AGROUND
About two o'clock, next morning, their vessel,
which they had intended to take to Norfolk, ran
aground on Muscle Hole Bar, in Tangier Sound
This was March 31st the murder having been
committed at about ten o'clock the night before.
After several Intellectual efforts to get the vessel
of, the murderers resolved TO abandon her, and
make for shore In the punt. They waited for
daylight to accomplish this. Shortly after day
light they all went on deck, and threw the dead
body of the Captain overheard.
THE MATE YET LIVING.
When they went to the mate they found him
still alive and conscious. He called piteously on
George Bailey to save him, crying George -
"Geofgc ~ but the other three lifted him up and
cast him overheard, alive and he sunk, still call
ing TO George" to "save him. Rounds and
Bailey had meanwhile riiled the vessel and only
obtained $3.50, when they had expected to OBJ
tain several hundred dollars.
THE MrRDERERs ESCAPE IN THE rUST.
After the nurderers deserted the vessel, they
went in the punt to Smiths Island, from which
they were carried to Accomac county, by an old
colored man. They then separated, and Bailey
and Rounds went to Baltimore, while Wilson
went TO live with a Mr.. Topping, near Drum
mOndstown. Having let fall a remark to some
one that he had "helpcd kill two men," he was
arrested and at once confessed his crime, and
gave Information of the whereabouts of Wells.
Both were brought to Princess Anne. and tried
in April, found guilty, and sentenced to be hang
ed Rounds was tried in October, and Bailey in
January, both with similar results.
THE GALLONS.
The gallows were erected In the jail-yard in this
town. They are of old date and were built to nc
commodate triple execution of Ned Davis, Bob
Jones, and Morris, slave, who were convicted
of rape and hung, several years ago. AS there
was now fourth victim to be executed, it was
necessary to enlarge the gallows for the purpose.
THE FXECUTION