Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-24
The 90. Mary. MAJ Murder.

APPROACHING EXECUTION OF JACKSON.
Particulars Of the CRIME for ichich he is to.Ssger
Death-HoU TIE Crtwe Sods Traced 10 Ha-
WAT tAe PrisoHer says aboat H-Catholie Con-
frmations.
Correspondence of The Evening Start
LBoNARDTowN, ST. MARY's Co., Nd, June
ed, ls73..The principal topic of conversation,
which confines Itself not alone to Le0nardtown,
but extends throughout the county, is the APP
preaching execution of Thomas jackson, now
under sentence Of death, to be carried into eff
James Sehofield, late postmaster at Fairfield,
about II miles distant from this place.
THE CRIME
was committed some six months since, under
peculiar circumstances Schoield was the
postmaster at Fairfield, and in the night his
store, which served the purposes of an office.
in trade stolen. and his body burned in the
destruction of the store, the murderer or muir
deTers having added arson to their black deed ,
with view, possibly, to thus conceal il. For
weeks the murder was
sHReUDRD IN MYSTERY,
and the authorities were about to give up any
idea of apprebending the guilty ones, when one
of those unaccOuntable, mysterious dispensa-
tons of Providence interviewed, which, cir
substantially at least, established the guilt of
him who, on the 18th of July, is to be executed.
jackson, the alleged murderer, at a recent SEES
sion of the court, was summoned as a witness in
q case entirely foreign to the murder. he came
to Leonardtown for this purpose, and portions
OF his clothing were recogni zed as having been
for sale in the store of Schofeld. This fact
GAVE RISE TO SUSPICION,
and suspicion to investigation, the results of
which, coupled with the strange and remark
able, as well as contradictory, stories told by
him, led to his indictment and arraign uent and
final convection as being engaged in the perpe-
Iation Of the horrible tragedy. IL is believed
that he had two or three accOmplices, but thus
far, although he has been solicited by his coun-
sci, he has tailed to implicate them.
Yesterday called upon him in his cell. The
air without was warm enough, but within the
confines of his small apartment the atmosphere
was almost sitting. He is a man of muscular
build, with bull dog looking heao; has a small
piercing eye, which setokens cunning and craft;
talks freely when Intercepted, but volunteers
no information not solicited. While he will
evidently die game he fails to realize that he is
to be hung, and labOrs under the impression
that the =" white folks" are trying to scare him.
SHORT CONVERSATION WITH HIM
elected the following:
"Well, jackson, how old are you?n
"I'll be 40 years old if the Lord spares my
life till the I'd of next August"
Have you a wife and children ?''
Il have had two wives. My second one is
casionally."
"well, jackson. you had a fair trial pre-
"well, boss, don't know about shat Some
strange stories were told about me that were
not true"
''Had you white or black jury?n
White; we don't have any niggers on juries
down this way"
'.You were satisfied with the jury, we're you
not?'
"Oh, yes; think my chances we're better with
white than black jury. 1t the lies that
the coOred people told that put me here"
whats your religion, Jackson?"
"I'se Catholic"
'tDoes the priest come to see your"
sHe used to come TO see me pretty often. A
lady in de village Gale upon me once or twice
a week and prays with me-"
~ suppose You are preparing for death?"
"Well, boss, don't talk to me about that
Have you any tobacco?" A piece was given
him.
"You Of course cannot expect pardon?n
"Well, | ought to have one; fought in the
war, and besides l did not Kill Mr.. Schofeld,
nor set fire to his house neither"
"Do you know who did, then?"
"Well, now, boss, Ise got to die; what's the
use of me making anybody else sufer?''
"Do you sleep well?"
yes, get along pretty well; awful hot wea-
ther, though"
The prisoner is securely ironed with leg irons.
he eats well, and many little delicacfes are
sent him by the villagers, both white and COL
ored. He likes whisky inordinately, and Is
given q liberal daily allowance. The execution
Will take place publicly in the courthouse
yard. There are whisperiDgs among the col
ored people hat an attempt will be made TO
rescue him, but ample nrecautions viii be taken
TO meet such an emergency.
CONFIRMATION.
Archbishop Bayly to-day confirmed at the
Sc Joseph's Catholic church c,ass Of sixty.