Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-22
BLACK FRIDAY.
Two Executions In MARYLAND
THE TOwsONTOWN HANGING,
LEVIN PALAER's END.
His Chine an Outrage On Q Young Girl.
How He Met His Fate.
BLACK FRIDAY.
LEVIN PALMER's END.
How He Met His Fate.
Especial Dispatck % Tke Star. /


TowsoNToN, BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD,
August %, ls53.-This morning, Levin Palmer,
a mulatto, suffered death on the scaffold in the
jail yard at this place for the crime OF rape,
committed on the person Of a white girl named
Mary Sengle, about nineteen years old, on
the Trappe road, northeast of Baltimore
on the Sd OF August, 1870. Owing TO the
high ground about the jail affording an oppor-
tunity for outsiders to view the hanging, aud
the wishes of the neighhors that the execution
should be as private as possible, the sheriff,
MT. Robinson, determined to carry the sentence
INTO effect at as early an hour as possible. To
this the prisoner made no objection whatever
but on the other hand desired not to be m.de
an exhibition of, and yesterday he requested
that the sheriff would carry out the sentence
then and there, at once; but this request was OF
course refused.
PALNER's VICTIM.
The victim Of the outrage, at the time stated
above, was in company with an old man named
Bickel. picking blackberries on German Hill,
and VIM. Pritchard and this man Palmer at
tackled and knocked down the old man. and,
seizing the girl, accomplished their hellsh pur-
pose There was much excitement in the COM
munity when the crime became known, and
active measures were taken to secure the arrest
Of the parties, and in three days they were ar
the 9Th Of January following Palmer succeeded
In making his escape, leaving Pritchard to be
tried. The latter was convicted and sentenced
to death, and on the 10Th of September, 1sT 1, he
expiated his crime on the gsllows.
RKARRKsr OF THE EsoAPRD PRISONER.
Palmer, after escaping in January, 1871, ira
veled considerably, but in December last. while
in Easton on his way to see his mother, was ap-
prehe nded again and brought here. On the
9TH OF May last, his case having been removed
from the county, was tried in the Criminal
Court of Baltimore city, Judge Gilmer-Mr. A.
Leo. Knott appearing for the state, and X. A.
verdict of guilty was rendered after the wit
nesses-the victim and Mr.. Blckel-had testified
positively that be was the guilty party.
DENIAL AND SUBSEQUENT CONFESSION OF
GUILT.
At this time he persistently denied his guilt,
and did so until the oath of July, asserting that
at the time of the commission of the crime he
was at sea. In July, however, he made a clean
breast of his participation in the commission OF
the outrage, and then turned his attention 10
religious matters. and placed himself under the
instructions of Rev. j. b. Stitt, of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, and within a few weeks
past has stated that he experienced religion and
was ready to go te glory; indeed, was anxious for
the coming of the day when he should leave this
world
WHAT HB SAID ABOUT HIMSELF.
He stated that his mother was not married,
and that he believed his father was white man
named Murray, and that he received but little
education, and was barely able to spell out a few
words. He was q light mulatto, 80 years Old, 5
feet 6k inches high, rather stout, weighing las
or $50 pounds, with an intelligent look. He was
Il
county, Maryland, and remained there until
16 years of age, when he went to Baltimore and
worked on some of the vessels engaged in
trading. In 1858 he went to Washington and
enlisted in the seth colored regiment, in which
ne served 81 years, being in the battles at
Charlottesville, Cold Harbor, Fort Harrison
and Fert Fisher. He then returned to Balti-
more and engaged in shocking oysters until
1851, when he enlisted in the regular army, but
the vessel on which he, with others, embarked
while on the way to Fort Fisher was wrecked
and he saved himself BY swimming and reached
Wilmington, n. c. He, however, did not return
70 the army, but went as sailor before the
arrest and during the interval in which be was
fugitive from justice.
HIS PRISON LIFE.
For the past few days he has devoted almost
his entire time to religious exercises several OF
the prisoners in the Jail who profess religion
Joining in the exercises with him. Sheriff
Robertson a few days ago went to his cell to take
his measure for his coffin and shroud, and he
refused to allow any measurement to be taken,
saying that he was feet 6k inches high, and
also made the request that the shroud should
be white one and the cap also white. On
Sunday last his uncle and several friends
and prayer. Yesterday his mother called again
to take leave of him and the parting was quite
affecting he assured her that all was well with
morning he dictated to fellow prisoner the
following
LETTER TO HIS MOTHER, BROTHERS AND SIS
TIERS:
al now give you the last day Of my life, my
last obedient with this sad heart, to think that
not one of you, would not come to see me, but
thank God it is well with me for the Lord is my
shepherd and says 1 shall die, but Jesus says
l shall live again. 1 was wandering sheep
and did not love the fold; did not love my
Fathers voice; L would not be controlled.
Dear brothers and sisters my prayers are that
you will be controlled by the good shepherd,
sos \ ord ,foh 49,
me. member when was feeding in the dark
pastures of sin, did not love my Fathers
voice, lat it was Jesus that loved my soul. IL
that made me whole. Now l am no more a
wandering sheep. loved to be controlled;
will sOoI be at home.
oh my God! my Life! my Love!
To Thee, to Thee call
Oh come % me from heaven above
And be nv God, my all
Oh! good Jesus, Prince Of peace, give me peece.
My jesus dear, my King divine,
Is come 10 me from heaven above.
He chose my heart for his abode
He there become nv daily bread,
With his aesh my soul 10 fed.
The wa, is long my child, but 1t shall be
Not one step longer than is best for me,
And thou shalt know, at last, when thou shaft
Close I, the gate, Oh how did take thy hand
And quick and straight led to heavens gate my
"Dear mother, brothers and sisters, am this
day happy to inform you, and all the world that
/ have made my peace with the Lord Jesus
Christ and in him put my trust, and no other,
fer he tells me am his child. You all may
have all this world, but give me Jesus for
Heaven Is my home. There / shall see my
brother and sister and hope to meet West,
who is to 20 at the same time and also hope TO
meet Hollohan and Nicholson. hope to meet
them at the pearly gates Of Heaven and say TO
me have you come and then we will say Glory
to the Lord which taketh away the sin Of the
world. Dear friends, am not saying this be-
cause am to 60, but for you all to follow on
You know that you all must die and cannot
live. Alter death you must come to me to iudg-
NJ, Mt. Let your Judgment be for the right.
LIMB Of God IL You WIN come, will meet you
On re will say farewell farewell to friends and
Ieistions and farewell to the world. NV Lord
calls and must 60 to meet him In the promised
land.
''The one that loves you all with all my
b cart"
YESTERDAY.
The prisoner yesterday Afternoon was visited
~ Rev. Mr.. Sutt, and several other persom
we're allowed in his cell, and all engaged In
religious exercises singing and prayer, In which
Palmer heartily Joined.