The New York herald., 1877-02-07
A CRUEL ER
Hint from a Letter to Woman Which
Will Hang Two Men
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.
PoRr ropAcco, CHARLES COUNTY, Nd,

beyond. The location Is unique No other such val
ley can be found In Southern Maryland II appears 70
have been scooped out by nature for an Indian village
Its Indian name was Pota Phaco ga river between
high hs'. and Port Tobacco Creek, an inlet Of tho
Potomac glides peacefully along at The foot Of the
town. Some Scotch settlers away back in the Colonial
tme built huge warehouses al the head OF the creek
TO tho trade from both sides OF the stream.
Their foresight abundany rewarded and for many
years brisk traffic in tobacco was carried directly
with tho ports OF foreign countries. The ruins OF the
warehouses remain, but the washings OF centuries
have filled the bed Of the stream for mile more,
and wherc once the great ships OF Europe
quietly rode at anchor and received their ira
grant freight the battcau and dugout now furnish
for their owners . precarious livelihood among
the oyster beds tho bottom OF the river.
Port Tobacco, like most OF the villages which reared
their heads ambtously In Colonial timcs, has fallen
from it's high estate While plentiful crop OF the de.
pendants OF dukes ears and barons may be gathered
from the surrounding hills, the old town longer
echoes the ring Of their merriment Stag Hall has
crumbled TO DUST the streets grown with
grass and the hum and hustle OF enterprise appear
have deserted them, forever The lew ements that
remain mostly IN stumble-down state and the pub
lie buildings somewhat dilapidated red brick
court house, square built stone church and jail in
unpleasant contiguty. 1t will not be matter OF
prise that the community should be considerably
cised over the approaching execution OF James Henry
Butler, alias Charles Henry Simpson, and Charles Will
son, alias Martin Henry, the colored convicted
OF the murder Of John W. Everett during the night Of
the 10th OiJuly 1876 Such thing public execution
mas not occurred in Charles county for upward OF nifty
years
John W. Everett the victim, was clerk In Mr.. War.
ng's store in q little settlement called Pomonkey,
about three miles from Giymont one Of tho steam
boat landings on tho Potomac River. He about
twenty four years Of age, universally liked and at
she timc engaged to be married TO q lovely and accom-
plished GIRL who has since his death become raving
maniac. The circumstances were as follows:-On the
eth Of July two coored men landed AT Glymont from
the Harry Loader, steamer which plyed between
that landing and Washington city. Refusing
thew proceeded In IN the direction Of PomonSev AZ.
riving there they visited several stores before nine
O'Clock p. NJ, among them Mr.. warIna's OF which
young Everett had charge. There unusual
alarm during the night; but IN the morning young
man named Barclay went to Warnings store TO make
purchase Finding the front door OF the locked,
and receiving answer 10 his repeated summonses,
he went back Of the store and found the entrance
open.
Finding no one III the store he went up stairs TO
young Everetrs sleeping apartment and there he dis
covered him stretched upon the bed hts skull crushed
10 IRON two heavy blows and wound on the cheek
bone. The bed was covered with thick mass oil
about two inches In diameter and two half eet
long, was on the door by the sido OF the bed. An
minati0n Of the store revealed the motive. The
money drawer had been rihed and the disclosed
evidence Of attempt burst open natchct ana
chise being found BY the side OF IT. Some riing ar
carpet bag. Pccunarly the vsny was not success.
About $50 was taken from the drawer, and the other
Articles distracted would scarcely amount 10 So IN
value
PURSUIT ELrDED.
The alarm given the whole country aroused.
Immediately adopted tor the apprehension the
murderers There having been a slight tall OF rain the
ught before they easily traced by their
from the store 10 avage called Middetown, SIX miles
from pomonkey one OF them had pulled oil his
shoes TO climb 10 the porch root OF the store,
that he might enter the window OF Evcrcit's room,
his hurry to leave the spot bad neglected
could easily the print Of the stocking IN the mud
Al Middlel0wn the trail was ost aud some hours
;Icar start o their pursuers They went from Middle
own to White Plains, and thence across the country
10 Washington, where they were temporarily lost sight
81 ih Fighting and TIN Cup alieys-congenial haunls
Tor depraved villains like themselves.
pKuiTLRss sEARcHINGs.
Rewards offered by the Governor OF tho State
the Commissioners OF Charles county, the citzens anu
the Masonic lodge ut Port Tobacco, uRgrcgating sum
IL the hooa OF 81 600; but secure IA the fast
ton they for time set at defiance the efforts OF the
authorities Every steanboas landing and railroad
station carefully watched. Many arrested
suspicion In different parts Of the country; some
Virginia, some North Carolina, two IN Frederick
they proved to DO cases OF mistaken identuy. Detec
tivcs from Washington and Baltimore, stimulated TO
faithfully, but AL to purpose, and gradually the
citement died away and the Everett murder began to
be talked OF one ol those awful and mysterious
crimes from which only the judgment DAY would brush
away the mask and reveal the perpetrators.
A WOMAN IN
Al length Simpson wrote lcter TO Jane Butler, en-
ploycd by Colonel W. B. HutchIns, oi st. Mary's
county, Maryland. Jano could not read ard asked
Colonel Butler ~ make her acquainted with the con.
tcOt Qufln ma mis- 8tl a.
Charles county murder was called to his mind aud hc
suspected tho writer 10 be one OF tho culpriis Follow
ing w the cew with great sagacy and determination,
n September last he found the guilty pair ut Sandy
Spring, Montgomery county, Md. He industrously
strange men who had visited Warnings store on the
evening preceding the murder and had been traced
discovery. Bong separately arrested thcy both maue
confessions, each blaming his companion as ,he man
who dealt The fatal blows while the rcator stood gard
bcneSh tie open window, was subsequently, let into
The store by hts partner from within aud joined In
robbing the store
Henry and Simpson were brought to Port Tobacco
aud tried ut the November term Of the Court. They
we're ably deisndeu, ,hc case occupying three days,
scntsrccd to death by Justice Brent, aud Governor
Carroll has since named Friday, February Q, as the
arrest have bcen carefully guarded day and night, by
detail OF six citizens 10 prevent their escape rhcy
greater security, but with this exception they have
ceivei tho kindest Of treatment IRON sheriff Wade and
his deputies.
SPIRITUAL COUNSEL
Fathers Wigct aud McAtcc, from the Jesuit station
81 81 Thomas, have been unrcmittng IN their care tor
the souls OF he prisoners The former Will be rcmem
bcrcd by the public the spiritual adviser OF Mrs.
SurrAtt Ill the last moments OF her troubled lie and
the spiritual also OF the wretchcd Wirz who
was executed IN Washington shortly after the war be-
tween the North and tie South because VI his cruel
Teatmcn! Of prisoners a. AndcrsonviIle. Henry and
Simpson both profess repentance Tor thor MIS-
deeds ana are sincerely anxious TO make their peace
Win God. There IL as yet very little OF the serco-
typed ar Of the gallows piety about them They arc
quiet, attentive TO tho instructions OF the holy theis
communicative upon ordinary topics, but somewhat
reticcnt with regard 10 the numerous murders and
other crimes with which they popularity supposed
70 have been connected, OF which moro anon.
yEARs or RESCUE.
Tho latest scare IN the negnborhood has been tho
rumor, extensively circulated aud very generally
credited, that there will DO an effort to rescue tnc
maeuc,ors on or before tho day appointed Tor their
execution Doubtless tho proximity OF Washington