The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-03-27
Another Outrage by a Negro.
SWIFT RETRIBUTroE.
THE NEGRO HUNG TO A TREE.


On Monday night last shocking out.
rage was perpetrated IN Prince Georges
county, in this State, on the wife Of Mr..
Edgar A. Nelson by negro named John
Henry Scott, who afterwards shot himself
out Of remorse, was arrested, and subsc-
quently, while on his way TO Upper MARI
boro' Jail was taken BY a crowd Of citizens,
whites aud blacks, from the hands of his
legal custodian and hanged on a tree.
The negro was employed on the farm Of
Mr. Nelson, known as the Nothey Hall
estate, which Mr.. Nelson, who came from
the North, purchased few years ago in
Prince Georges county, nearly opposite
Alexandria, Va. and seven miles below
Washington city A similar case Of this
kind occurred in the same community
some two years ago for the same oiieAse.
The facts are us follows:--Mr Nelson left
his home Monday evening for Washington,
intending 20 return next morning lie
left his wife at home, as also the colored
uAn, named John Henry Scott The
room occupied by Scott was in the lower
part of the house. About twelve O'Clock
Monday night, while Mrs. Nelson was
sleeping, he entered her room with lamp
in his hand. She was awakened by the
noise, and raising up in bed asked him
what he wanted. At this he pointed a
revolver at her head and informed her of
his purpose, say ing that if she refused he
would kill her and her baby, which lay by
her side, which is eighteen months Of age
She tried by every possible effort to make
him desist, but was unsuccessful. By
main force, he accomplished his purpose
and left the room, leaving Mrs. Nelson in
an unconscious state lie returned to her
room about an hour after and said he
intended to kill her child and herself and
then himself, as he was tired of living.
lie then told her he intended to outrage
her again, and by tho same threats sue
cecded. Then leaving tho bed he said he
knew he would be killed for his acts, and
that he would save her husband that
trouble by shooting himself, which he did 4,
in the left breast, Mrs. Nelson, taking
advantage of this ran out Of the .iOuse in
her night clothes with her infant in her
arms, and informed neighbor, II colored
man, residing near by. This man, named
Morris, immediately ran to the house,
where he found Scott suffering from his
wound. Mrs. Nelson was unable to say
anything, except that John shot himself y
Morris then ran after DIR. Bayne, who
/ lives near by aud also Justice H. Walter
Brooke, who with DR.. Bayne soon arrived
at the house. Towards daylight Mrs.
Nelson regained her senses and told what
occurred, when Mr.. Brooke took her affi-
dayit. He then ordered the commitment
of Scott to Marlboro jail, aud deputized
Curtis Smith to take him there. Mr.. Smith
started with the prisoner shortly after eight
o'clock, whep he was met at the door by a
crowd Of at least one hundred persons
eolored and white, all of whom were
masked They told Mr. Smith of their
purpose, and took Scott away from him
Placing him on u horse they rode him into
a hollow, whom placing new MANILA rope
about his neck, one end of which was tied
to Il black walnut tree, they drove the
horse away, leaving his body swinging in
the wind. The crowd then dispersed
quietly, the colored people in the crowd
making arrangements TO roast his body
having gone so far as to collect quantity
of wood and brush for that purpose
This, however, was not allowed, aud the
body was left hanging to the tree. Ii
was cut down about three O'Clock, and
coroner's jury summoned, who, after hear
ing all the evidence, returned u verdict