The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-03-30


place in the jail yard 10 that city. on
the 22 inst. The prisoner declare d
his Innocence ofthe crime upon the
scaffold. Tho following history of
the murderer we extract from the
Gdsene aad Buiir,in.
Lloyd I,riiton claimed to have bccp
bora at Little York, Pa, aud would IL
hc bad lived, been 30 years old Oct
l0tb, 1871. 1t is said by those who
knew him well, however, that he was
born near the Maryland fine. aud
came to Little York after no had grown
up llc was man bclow the mcdi-
um height, stout built, perfectly black
evidently being a foil blooded negro,
but having not all tho peculiarities of
his race. Hc was usually mild and
agreeable in his manners, aud present.
cd an appearance the reverse of mur.
derer. His parents had both been
slaves and were owned by parties liv-
ing in Baltimore county, Nd. His
father, who was also named Lloyd.
was owned by John Hunter, and his
mother by Henry Wilson.
Brittou served three or four years
at tho tanner trade with Fredrick
Bacher, Of Little York. lie attended
nigh, school at intervals aud learned
to read, write add figure enough 10
keep his own accounts. Two promi.
ucnt traits were early developed in his
character. Ono Of these was a con-
trolling passion Of licentiousucss. aud
the other was a propensity TO use
violence upon any person who hap
peped to come between him and the
consummation Of his evil designs.
On account Of his disposition In these
respects he was always in trouble.
and would no sooner ret out of one
scrape than he would become involv-
10 another. Whilst IN Little York he
had an ostensible wife with whom
lie lived, but evidently felt no oblica
,ioDs to cob6nc bis attentions 20 her
alone. The wife, or mistress of GER
tain Ben Brown attracted his amor.
o1s notice and be began to show her
delicate attentions. Brown meeting
him one day attempted to demonstrate
with him, when Britton at once offered
battle This Brown offered TO &c
cept on tie noxt day, and wheu the
time arrived ho was ready with the
officers, and Briftoa was arrested and
lodged 10 Jail, from which he was re-.
leased by the intlueoce of his employer
Bachcr. His next cbsruer was tho
wife Of q certain Squire Bradkins,
with whom he soon grew unduly inli.
mate Bradkius surprised tho two
together ut q barn near the town.
when Britton was about to assault him
with kuiie, but the later hsply was
armed with an ax with which he kent
his assailant at bay for tho time.
Brittou was no tot he ,hwarted, however,
and soon eloped with Mrs. Brad
kius. Bradkins pursued and over
took the fugitives at Lewistown, Pa
where Mrs. Bradkins remained and
Brittop proceeded TO Bcllcfoute. There
be was afterwards joined by his as
suped wife who soon afterwards died
in Bellctoutc, after which Brittou pro-
ceoded to Williamsport, where he ar.
rived about 1912. He first worked
for Maj. Burrows, who was oue of
the builders Of the Eagle Hotel. He
afterwards was employed by Mr.
Fields to work at his trade Of tanner.
He did not remain long 10 Williams
port at that time but soon contrived to
run away with the wife OF man
named Adams, who left her husband
and three small children to accompany
him. He located at Danville, but
soon had to leave there for Smuggling
in old brass, which he purchased at
a low figure from boys whom Re iuduc.
Cd to steal it. He next held forth in
Wilkesbarre iu 1913, at which place
he soou found q new sable subject for
bis affections. A rival appeared 10
the shape of James Kelley, son of the
venerable Rev. Samuel j Kelley, re.
siding on Gilmore street, Williams.
port Brittou met Kolisy one Sunday
evening and attempted TO maks.way
with him. Getting behind Kelly he
plundeed n knife two or three times
into bis back the blade breaking off
and being left sticking there.
For this little freak Brittou wss ar
rested and placed in Jail, but was re-
leased on Kelley's recovery, three
months afterwards He is accused of
figuring 10 another stabbing affair in
Wilkesbarre. A party came there in
pursuit Of fugitive slaves and some of
Them were roughly handled. one being
badly stabbed. Bri,ion when question:
ed by our reporter in regard to this
maftcr only said, "there was q man
stabbed, bnt they never knew who
done it' He remained five years in
Wilkssbare, and next figured as pro.
prietor Of a barber shop at Lightsireet
near Danville. From there he moved
TO Danvi'ls, remaining there until the
breaking oat OF the war. and accumu-
lated considerable property. He then
took his family consisting of his wife.
daughter and sou-in.law and emierat.
cd to Hayti. having received a quan,i-
" Of land from the Governor OF that
Island. Here he turned his attention
to farming aud cotton growing. His
health failing after he had been there
a short time, he accepted o situation
m oyerkser from the Maxnr Of pn.t.