The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-30
OUTRAGE ON A WHITE GlRL-1aE CRIME.
Vain Appeals for Computation Of
the Death Sentance.
a Conversation with the Condmncd-O.azsd
and Haunted BY aallueinationh but
Firm at,she TMcshsld Of Death.
His Last Speech Denouncing His
Judges and Accusers.
TowsKNrowN, Baltimore County, Nd, i


TowsENrowN, Baltimore County, Md,(
Sept 70, 1871.
Towsentown Is the county seat OF Baltimore
county, and Is sniuuaed-looking village of about
biteen hundred inhabitants. 1t is OF inc Oldest
towns in the State OF Maryland and is surrounded
by an agricultural region noted for its wealth and
fertility II mas to-day been the scene OF much busy
hustle and excitement. The town has been full OF
people OF all ages, and conditions ever since
early morning, gathered TO witness the execution
OF William Henry Prltcbard, coored man, who
wts hung mere to-day for the heinous crime OF out
raging young German girl named Mary Sendel
THE CRIME.
The facts in relation to the commission of the
crime and the circumstances surrounding It, as de-
veloped by the evidence given upon The trial. shows
that one night about the middle OF August 1870,
Psi,chard and companion named Palmer much
older than himself had escorted two girls OF their
own color from social gathering at the house OF
colored man named Dickson, living in Baltimore
county about Elk miles from Baltimore city, to
Their homes, on what is known as the Trappe road.
After leaving the girls the boys for some reason did
not GO home but loitered along the road and two
O'Clock A. N. found them walking along the highway
In the direction Of Baltimore city. On the outskirts of
the city toward which these boys were approaching
i've many poor people who, in the berrying season,
on the morning alluded to Mary sendel, accompanied
by her aged grandfather, left her home about one
O'Clock for the purpose OF gathering blackberrles.
They left at this early hour that they might ill their
baskets and return home in time to escape the ex-
cessive heat or midday. The girl and her aged
companion had got about five miles from
the CITY when they met Pritchard and his companion.
The boys spoke TO them friendly, giving the usual
saulanon, Good morning. and then suddenly
wit
man and Knocked him down. When he could
regain himself he started in the direction Of Balti-
more, running as for hts life.
The rest Of the story Is soon rold.
THE YOUNG AND INNOCENT GIRL.
VINO had valnly tried TO escape while the attack
was being made upon the old gentleman, was over.
taken and made the victim OF the brutal lusts OF
both Prtchard and his companion Palmer.
When they had gratihed their brutal passions they
left the poor Rlrl by the roadside and ran away.
She. as best che could, made her way to a farm
house near by, half dead with fright and the Injuries
she ha received, walked the inmates up, and to the
mousse vile
RELATED THE FEARFUL STORY
OF wrongs done her virtue that will fill her whole
lille with unutterable sorrow and woe. The noble
woman into whose ears she poured the story or the
dreadful crime listened with womanly affection to
her simple recitation and at once took
her bodily sunerngs while her husband
immediately started In pursuit OF the youthful
villains, and the next day they arrested taken
to Towsentown and lodged IN jail They were both
ediaely indicted for the henous offence but for
some reason the cases were postponed over two
terms OF court, and Palmer broke jail and escaped.
Prtchard's counsel moved his TO Baltimore CITY,
Of the Criminal Court and resulted in his being
,t,.r o Sr,SaEd AMP 1 SENTENCED TO DEATH
moved to tine jail at Towsentown, where be has
Eince remained. For some time past there have been
great efforts made by large number Of influential
people TO have Prltchard's sentence commuted to
number tnaI he was controlled entirely By Palmer Eea
who was much older, and fully shown to have been
the principal actor, the first to make the proposition
and the first TO commit the outrage. Prichard's
youth was also strongly urged as reason why he
should not be hanged. The pressure upon Governor
bowie on behalf Of Pritchard was very great in.
aeed, and almost continuous since his
DEATH WARRANT WAS ISSUED,
but the Governor steadily refused to Interfere and
on the 26th inst sent the following letter In reply to
he last appeal in his behalf giving his reasons for
not interfering with the sentence OF the Court
= ,coLLISsToS Posi- OFFICE, Sept %, 1871
NY DRAa sI.YSu appeal IN behalf of Prachard was
ponns en;rey Is' s Ike
ample time
Annspes f hs could out
esad~His wan. Of friends AL NUMBER Of The e most
prominent gentlemen in the State who were
him Hon most ss,i%abie 'e cerr ~.
saos hi. iShys and n 1 as
been entirely refacd sergeant police Of ,ha. dis
were good. Her leaving the city il The niaht -''A'
at Of the year when The Kind Of work she usually
% al ns ~ s. has as
aI 4: 9s
-. 1 boy himself adnlss lbs gun, ana plead. Only
yG hope e S s Se Ms s %s S
sucn HoRnrp CRIME AS rHrs
sa Sa 70 a Ss rv for Ana the fact that he
and s and struggling gr bru.ay ravished by
@ anu Ssn so 9 sls act shows thai be
ths case very carefully and with
and car imagine few crimes worthy OF capital punish
ts regards your appeal for rcPrieye .af-
hesn 5.a,Sn Tor srsnDs ether piCmes the Rev Mr.
sne ns. aSd S S.aa.y sncs 1a, TSad IN manner
. wosd Friday Friday 1 nss Any
AND lead hi, thoughts from preparation for hs hna doom
lie sickness, efti three q my S chit
dyeS T k,epng me ron Annapolis have caused you and
se iSf %Shs
on The 27rh inst, the day upon which The above
respondent OF the HERALD visited the Jail in Tow.
sentown; AID through the Kindness of Mr.. Nicholas
BuTAe, the Sheriff Of the county, was allowed " see
TIE CONDEMNED BOY.
He s short thick set negro quito black, and In
appearance stoli1 and sensual rather tpan intelll
gent IN TACT, nc IS such acoored boy as you might
meet Ia the daily walks OF life hundred times and
Gever see augnt In his form or countenance that
would attract your attention more than the other
boy OF as age that come IN your way; indeed, be
" quite The reverse from good looking In every
respect But there IS certain degree OF interest
that clusters around any human being under
sentence Of death. NO matter who they are, how |
they are, what they are how ungalny may be their |
personal appearance or how dwarled their intellect
ibeie y mysterious something that attaches itself
20 their thoughts actions and conversation that |
ATS them out OF tue ordinary sphere OF life and at
fashes 10 them ana ali their movements that vague
uncertainty that belongs TO the hidden future. As
Jrcbard. the simple negro boy, lie would attract no
Attention, but when awaiting
HIS FINAL DOOM,
which Ii nyed with that certainty that admits OF no
doubt AZ 10 when the fatal moment shall come he
becomes clothed win new character, by force OF |
the circumstances with which he is sur. |
i1 onnue ,nterest Nv frat 1 inpressisns acs