Daily Republican., 1879-12-06

He grew reckless, and his reputation
made men charry Of correcting
him until he fell under the disci-
tpiine ofa man connected with John
Lockwood as foreman. To him this
young man, flushed with long
course Of uninterrupted mischief, came.
Atthe first transgression Mr.. Lockwood
proceeded to chastise Waters which he
did most efectually. The spirit of the
young man was broken and he hence
forth confined himself to rows among
his own people, which were many and
serious. His mother endeavOred to
persuade him to reform, and with bowed
head he listened to her words and
prollsed better things; and then with
lie deep in his heart, went into the
corniield, quarrelled with his victim
and murdered him.
HIS ESCAPE, CAPTURE AND TRIAL.
After killing Whaley he left and 60
ing to Queen Anne's county was follow
ed by several citizens of Sassafras Neck,
who, one day, overlook him. He recog-
nized them and fed. As he was fleeing
the pursuers fred two shots at him
which took effect. He escaped however
but was subsequently captured in the
barn of his employer and taken in
charge of soon after by Sheriff Boulden.
His trial began on Monday, January
9Th. On Wednesday the jury retired
and returned on Friday with a rec uest
to be discharged standing one for &C
quittal and eleven for conviction. On
January 18th the case again came up
and Waters was convicted and SEN
fenced on 23rd of June last. An extra
ordinary effort was made to have him
reprieved, but there being no extenua-
ting circumstances in connection with
the death of Whaley, the Governor re-
fused.
| PREVIOUS EXECUTIONS
1t has frequently been asserted that
no person, except Robert Swift, who was
hung on Red Hill, in April, 1855, was
ever executed in Cecil county. But
there is reason to think that several
others have been executed. From in
formation furnished us by H. R. Tor
bert, OF Elkton, We learn that on June
9th, l724, John Hack, who was then
Sheriff, presented petition to the
Court, stating that a certain Robert
Dutch, then in his custody, was SEN
fenced to be hanged on the 10Th of that
month and being fearful he might es-
cape through the insufficiency of the
jail, he besought the court to order
guard to watch the prisoner and also
to summon the constables of the vari.
GUS districts to be present and assist
at his execution. The petition was
granted and no doubt the man was
hanged.
At this period the county seat was at
Court House Point, and there is no
doubt that at least two other criminals
We're executed there. One of them is
said to have been drawn and quartered,
and part of his body exposed on each
side Of the river. He was a slave and
had murdered his master, one Mr.. Saw
in, who lived in Elk Neck, opposite
Court House Point. The other one was
executed for the murder of Hugh Ma
hatfey, which occurred on the 18th of
Novenber, l749. Mahatfey lived on
Big Elk, short distance south of the
telegraph road, and was killed by the
paramour of his wife and an apprentice
boy, whom the guilty couple forced to
finish the work which thew had becun
by knocking Mahaffey senseless while
sitting by the fire. The boy was hanged
the man having escaped before the
murder was discovered.
In 1855, one John Dockerty was con-
victed of robbery and sentenced to be
hanged at Charlestown, but inasmuch
as tradition is silent on the subject, it
ia probable he was not executed.
A, +, Y.