Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-12

n UySuSElOu9 MuR0ef ana . k1f0-
Eventual Career OF the ylctim-An.
tecedents Of JacksOn-His Arrest
and Trial-A Crowd Of Country PEG.
Ing Followed by q Panic.
Yesterday being the day designated for the
execution at Leonardtown, Md, of Thomas
jackson, cOlored, for the murder Of james
Schofeld, "a mysterious crime which attracted
great attention at the time it was committed in
April last), and there being no communication
by railroad or telegraph with that place q spe-
cial reporter of TIE STAR was sent there to
write detailed account of the event, and for
ward 1t by any means which would ensure its
delivery in time for THE STAR of to-day. This
duty he has accomplished, and the following is
his account of the execution:
Especial Report for The Evening S.ar.l
LRoNARDTowN, Md, July IL, 1873.
To-day, between the hours of one and two
O'Clock p. m, the colored man, Thomas Jack
son, paid the penalty of the law to which he
was sentenced on Monday, May 10, by Judge
Ford, for the murder of James Schofeld, mer-
chant of this county, on the night Of the Sd of
April last. The execution was pubic and was
witnessed by about $500 persons, the most of
whom were colored people, and among them
many women.
The Crime.
The circumstances of the case were as fol-
lows: On the night of April Sd, between IL and
IL O'Clock the store of James Schofeld at Fair
child, about 16 miles from this village, at the
intersection of the Point Lookout and Three
Notch roads, was burned and totally destroyed.
The children of Schofield, who were sleeping at
his residence about 200 yards f,om the store, as
also neighbor, Mr.. Slattery, were aroused
from sleep on the night of April Sd, by the ex-
plOsion of the powder in the store in which the
proprietor always slept: Slattery went imme-
fol ~. hail. 4; ia
eral times for Schofeld, but could get no an
swer, and the heat then was SO great that he
could not get near the burning building. In
the morning human bones, supposed to be those
of the deceased, were found, and the skull had
several fractures made in it, apparently
by some such instrument as Ratchet.
The discovery of these fractures of the skull
led to the belief that the deceased had been
murdered and the house fired to hide the traces
of the crime. 1t was known by few of the
friends of the deceased that he kept quite a
sum of gold and silver coin hid in pile of rub
bsh in the upper story of the store house, where
he slept, and 1t was supposed that it had been
carried Off; but careful search was made for it,
ard the metal was found melted in the ashes
The deceased had been married three times,
and his last wife having separated from him.
colored woman was keeping house for him, and
taxing care OF his children, one of whom slept
with him usually, but on the night in question
afrlend having promised to stay with him. (but
disappointed hIm,) the child remained at the
residence, and he was alone in the stere waen
the crime was pei petrated.
THE MURDERED MAN scHoFIRLp
was about so years of age, and seems to have
had rather an eventful life. He was native of
Connecticut and formerly lived at or near
Hampton, Va, where his property was de-
stroyed by fire, and he lost nearly all he pos
sessed. He came to st. Marys in the early part
of the war and purchased a small tract OF 80
acres of land at Fairfield, and settled with his
hildren, his wife having died at Hampton.
Shortly after he had erected a store Q to, nado
down and deSlrOye6 a 0f
his goods. He, however, rebdilt, and about this
time paid his respects to Mis- Sallie Penn
broke, very respectable young lady of that
section. About this time rumOr gained cur
reney that he had Q wife living at Hampton,
and Miss Pembroke declined his offer of mar
rage until she could satisfy herself OF the truth
Hampton and brought up the tomb stone off his
wife's grave as evidence, and, she accepting it
as such, they were married, and iv; d together
until she died, in 1870. Some time afterwards
be answered "persopal' in paper, which led
to correspondence with lady who desired q
husband, and, without seeing her, he met
we're marrea RfPSs new % %ie aha snsy
was not satisfied, and after living with him
month or two she packed up her trunk and left.
handy about almot everything he undertook,
and frequently wrote for the papers. He was
a good vocalist and a fair organist. He attended
business man, and did a thriving business, and
was believed to be making money. A few years
ago one Thomas (colored) demanded liquor from
him, and was refused, and became Quarrelsome.
Schofield struck him with Q heavy cane ana
killed him. For this he was arrested, tried,
and acquitted on the ground Of self defence;
and 1t was to this occurrence jackson referred
when he said on one occasiOn that Schofeld
had not been sufficiently pun shed.
THE SEARCH FOR THE MURDERER.
This affair Occasioned much excitement in
the county, and the officers Of the law, ss well
as the citizens, left nothing undone from which
could be obtained clue to the perpetrator or
perpetrators of the crime. At the following
grand jury was charged particularly Is to this
case, and several parties were summoned before
them. Among these was the prisoner who
lived in the neighborhood, and it is presumed
mat he testified that he knew nothing about the
murder. He was summoned to appear before
he grand jury on the 7th of May, but about the |
same. a time an anonymous notice was posted on
Ford, stating that If Jackcop's house was
searched, some of the goods taken from Scho-
neid's store would be found. That officer, with |
several pieces of calico and one of dress goods
similar to the goods sold in the store. |
The Arrest and Trial.
The constable on the 9th returned to the |
court house, and jackson having been before |
he grand jury. was taken into custody and /
'ommitted to Jail. On being questioned as to /
he goods, he made contradictory statements. |
The grand jury in q few days returned into
curt with an Indictment charging him with
he murder, and on the 10th OF Nav he was L
allied tor trial. The states, attorney, Mr., j,
aaron Crane. was assisted by Mr.. W. d.
5lakst0n, formerly states attorney, and the
prisoner was ably defended by Messrs j. S. |
Downs, X. O. Combs and j. H. WILSON, Not |
the fact that thee case bad a trscted
o much interest, and had been talked Of from |
ne end Of the county to the other, nine jurors |
we're selected from the regular panel, and three |
ales-een were easily obtained. On the trial it |
VS. testified by several witnesses that jackson,
long ago as last summer, had asked parties |
Q aid him IN making raid on the store, one Of |
hem stating that he urged him to 90 with him
0 the house OF deceased, 90 as to get something |
live on, and when they went there and he |
anne to the door they could knock him in the |
cad. 10 was also shown that the goods found |
2 jackson house were similar to those sold by |
!ch0held, and that be had told contradictory |
tories ebout them-drst that he bought them |
Baltimore, and then from three c6lOred men |
mo had Peddled such goods through the coun- /
y. On the part Of the defense It was shown
hat subsequent to the murder jackson won't |
YER 10 Calvert county and worked several
eeks and showed no unusual excitement. The l
ny, AFTER dehberatng "a minutes on the case, l
eturned With verdict Of guilty, and on the
blowing Monday he was sentenced TO death.
AoKson'e APPRARAxCR AND HIS oARxsR. /
jackson Was rather short and stout-built |
ian, Of dark ginger color, Weighing perhaps |
70 pounds. He wore side-whiskers, but thev |
1auhk L. L