The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-13

IL the psrversity OF human nature that Fred
Lawrence, colored, was hanged IN Easton, In July,
1872 for the murder OF his wife; Ernest Smith.
colored, was executed here August 7, 1874 for cut
raging Miss Bartlett and George Wheeler. colored'
paid the last d. cad penalty. to-day. for the murder
OF Mrs. Margaret Whitman on the 1sth OF July last
The reason must be looked Tor In the sudden revo-
luton OF social institutions. Talbot be-
fore the war. was the wealthiest county
IN the state OF Maryland, and there
were perhaps a many slaves oWheo
in this county as in any other In Maryland. Tue
liberty gwen TO them at the close OF the war seemed
TO many simply unbridled license-tne power 70
90 what they pleased with perfect impunity.
The vast majority tutored by their masters In tho
paths OF rectitude, followed the teachings they
then received. and have made good citizens, but
there WAS necessarily turbulent element among
them-ignorant. besotted and vlcious-to c9eex,
which required the severest enforcement OF the
law, as the following facts Will snow:-
THE VICTIMS HISTORY.
The negro George Wheeler. was re empiVSeeN e sot
npon ms arm Inc uppeT pars araare Whitman
sickiy German. ID a small tenement house on Or:
Meals premises, and supported ner husoand ana
was a young woman, about thirty years OF age,
rather prepossessng In appearance, ana was sala
VINE mad eoped with Whitman, ner iatner's coach.
man. Leaving virglnia at tne close OF u, sne war
burned out and reduced to aoJect poverty. Tney
subsequently, came 10 Talbot and found employ
ment with Colonel Edward Lloyd. the la rgest land
owner In this sectlon or Maryland They con-
tlnued IN ms service two years. wnen they re-
moved to DR.. Neals.
The negro Wheeler, Who was Dr. Meals foreman,
days during The wheat harvest IN June last, ana
had excused his absence on the plea OF Sickness.
Mrs. WniIman overheard wheeler making MS ex TX.
cuses and contradicted ms statement 40. ut MS
alleged sickness, representing TO Or. Neal tnat ne
nau been engaged in WORKING MS own little gar,
cen ana adding tnat sne did not beneve ne nad
been sick TIE Doctor thereupon cehsured
Wheeler severely. The delnauent became ylo.
lenty incensed with Mrs. Whitman and threatend
TO wreak his vengeance on her. An opportunity
soon offered; On the evening OIL the sta l
wlle visited the store OF Henry zeig-
Ter at Long Wood to purchase groceries.
Wheeler, observing them in the store, lett the
group OF negroes Win wnom he mad oeen singing
and dancing, and went In quest OF MS lrlend,
After taking another drink together Wheeler
communicated 10 Kinds MS purpose to give the
WniLmans "a gooa oeaIlner Ia wnicn hin nas
behind an OLD blacksmith's shop, where they
might watch. unnotlced, the movements OF the
Whtmans, and at the same time furnish them
selves win the necessary implements for the
meditated assault wheeler armed himself
with a broken carriage shat and Hlnds pro-
vlded himself with pioughshare weighing eigns
or nine pounds. Thus accoutered they started In
mean time had LETT the store and were vending
their way Gomeward by road leading through
at night and quite dark. StealIhlly these black
dends IKE painters crepJ upon thelr prey, out,
wnen almost WITHIN reach OF their victims, an ap-
preaching horseman caused them TO turn from the
road. They then made a circuit through the wood
until they mad headed the Wnltmans and lay in
am oush In a thlcket by the roadside AS the I'M
suspecring couple approached Kinds proposed
Isa ansy sh rs 9man Whe" tSe Homent
arrived however, Tor him to carry out the part
assigned him IN TINS dlaDoical scheme the nerve
oil hlnQs suddenly Jailed HIM, ana Rlvlng the
plolgnshare 10 Wheeler, lie SAID Here George,
you DO 1T yourself; can't; my neart iais me-"
Wheeler cursed nm for his co~ardlce, aud seizlng
the plougnsnare, he threw IL at Wnisman, striking
him IN tue back and causing him to stagger
THE FAIST-HEARTED ONE
At this point Hlnas fed back to the store At
Long Wood but Wheeler, approaching Whitman,
dealt him a blow upon the back oil nls head with
the piece OF carriage shat, mat Ieled him,
stunned, to the eartn. He then turned upon the
vile, who ran, put whom he speedily overlook.
nands, screaming: "Dont Kill me! don't Kill
ner' The wretch needed not ner plteous cries
through ner skull. mrs. whitman drot ped dead
at MS ieet. contemplating for moment, as he
afterward sad, the result or his bloody wolk he
threw ASIDE Els STICK and lelsurely retraced his
cps to the store. John Whitman IN a short time
recovered consciousness aud made his way BACK
to the store Here he secured the assistance OF
J. I. Rowlns. Thomas Quincy and George Rowins
covered the hleIess DodY or the unfortunate
woman stretched out, lace DOWNWARD, upon the
roadside little SACK Of dour still grasped IN her
arms. IL Was douoe murder, Tor, mad she hveo,
there
Might have dawped fair and rnles child
1ut closed its little being without light
Ana went aoTp TO he graye WITH ose
The news OF the murder spread rapidly, the
whole neignoorhood was soon aroused. anu In
lew hours Il sufficient number OF men assembled TO
surround the wood. Hlnds, however, managed to
elude ns pursuers and reached ms nome, lew
miles distant, where he was found the following
s sna saas nat woSd be %anssa
on the SPOT by ms captors, attempted
nan al a T..
edge OF the wood, covered with blood and In
1aintlng condition. The Doctor dressed the wound,
which ne found to be dangerous, Inc windpIpe be.
ing nearly severed and the carotid artery ex-
poseo. He confessed MS guilt 10 Dr. Neal, and
prepenaed and taken In charge by parLies VINO
mad been In pursuit OF him. lie was taken to
the body OF Mis-. Wnltman, and a verdict rendered
IN accordance with tue TACT. Wheeler having I'M
plicated hlnds, they we're both committed TO tne
LYNCH LAW ATTEMPTED.
BY this time the citizens were thoroughly
aroused. and were with diinculty controlled.
rope was procured ana preparations made, and
but for tue nrmness and presence OF mind OF Mr..
hedges thompson, IN whose charge the prisoners
mao oeen placed, their miserable carcasses would
have DANCED rom the nearest tree. AT the No
venDer Term OF the Circuit Court 1or Talbot
county Wheeler was put upon nis trial. HIS
counsel, hessrs. Powell and Harrington, iaDored
to MS lie, out Mr.. Charles IL. Gibson, the
State Attorney was 100 much lor them, and the
prisoner was found guilty OF murder in the hrst
degree.
Upon the trial OF Hinos Wheeler was used as a
win IS Tor tue prosecution, and gave the horrible
details oil tie Tragedy, as narrated above. HiDds
was also found guilty oil muroef In the nrst de-
gree, put obtained new tfIal, which resulted In
judgment OF murder IN the second degree. Suo-
seq1ently he was sent 10 the PenItentiary Tor
twelve years.
DESCRIPTION OF WHEELER
Wheeler Is scout, thIckset man, with brown
snn scarcely muattU ABOUT twenty-five years
OF age. lie has a vile ana three children, VINO
repeatedly visited aim III Ja. He stouty denies
ever having intended TO Klil eisher ar. or Mrs.
WaItman, and attributes Dis crime TO the TACT Of
nls being ipnamed W drink at the time. Rev. l..
b. Newman OF the Ne hOdlst Episcopal CnuTch
has been IN constant Attendance upon The ptIs-
oner, and under his Inlulstfat6ns ne PROCESSES 10
have made his peace with COD. remarkable
feature oil the case Is that he seems to receive
sympathy from those OF bis own race.
TINE PRAYER MEETING.
At eleven O'Clock to-day tue preachers impro-
vlsed prayer meeting Ia the prisoners cell. IL
was very earnest. ana 10 was really dnicult % de-
termlne WHO was The gulltY party. WHEELER or