Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-03
The EBryantOyn Outrage,

CONFESSION OF THE CULPRIT AND THREATS OF
LYNCHING.
- A special dispatch to the Baltimore Sun from
day says:
Henry johnson, colored. the youth who on
sunday last, committed an outrage on three.
town, is still in jail. He acknowledged his
guilt TO Justice Dent, and has not since dentei
1t, but has given willingly to all who asked it a
1ull description and account OF the whole al
fair. On the committal Of johnson by Justice
Dent, the constable started of with his prisoner
70 lc0ge him In jail here, but said on locking
him up that he had no idea on starting that he
should be permitted to proceed with him IN
molested. A number of colored men i'm the Vi
cinlty OF Bryantown, it is said, expressed their
willingness to lynch him.
The prisoner states that he was born in Bal
timore, and that his parents live In that city,
IN Bethel row, On Saratoga street, near Gay
street. When years OF age he was sent to the
ColOred House or Reformation at Chelfenham
Prince Georges county, where he stayed five
years, and was taught TO read and write. About
TOUR years ago he says, he weat TO live with
Mr.. Mudd. He is but little over five feet high,
dark complexion, with fun African character
lstlcS eand expression. He talks more like a
Child than man, and evidently does not fully
appreciate the enormity OF his offense. He
eats heartily and sleeps undSturbed.
Last night for the first time he gave signs Of
uEeasineSS and fear. When asked IL he was
not afraid ne would be taken from the Jail and
hung, he replied: "YeS, man was here this
afteI noon and said 1 would be taken out to-
night and hung" and he was unable 10 talk for
some time, tears running down his cheeks
There is a difference OF opinion In the comunu-
nifty as TO his being hung by the people with
out awaiting his legal trial. Many think that
as some days have elapsed since the commits
sion OF the oneDse, the law will be allowed to
take Its regular course; others say that the
feeling against him gains strength every day,
and that he certainly Will be lynched Monday
night every arrangement was completed for his
execution, the rope provided and the tree Sc
hQ Q.Ha IN mt nj IN nnn
arrival of the deputat1on that was expected
from Bry antown These gentlemen sent word
that they should be waited for, but did not put
Ia an appearance and they were waited for
until the night was too far advanced to acG In
the matter. Every night since there has been
gathering of men bent on having the Life OF
the culprit, but for some reason they have
failed to act. They say very positively. how
ever that the lapse OF time does not affect their
intentions In the slightest, and that they will
take the boy out of jail and hang him.
The Jail is a two-suory brick structure, three
OF its sides included IN yard made by stout
board fence IL feet high. The mont or open
side of the jail is entered by wooden door OF
no decided strength. The building stands on
the outskirts OF the town, about two hundred
yards from any dwelling house Its only occu-
pants are the boy criminal and colored man
named Jln Craig, confined for theft. They oc-
cupy a room together on the second door.
Should the excited men OF the community seek
to carry out their threats OF vengeance, tnere
iail would readily yield to a blow from stout
jofst impelled by one or two strong men, and
the opening OF the inside door could pe readily
effected. Those speaking OF doing the execu-
ton make light Of any resistance the JaHer
could offer. Should the law be permitted TO
tcke its course, the case OF johnson would come
up at the November term OF court, ana. as
there is much on the docket his hearing might
be delayed some time.
The penalty for such crime as he has COM
mitted is death, unless his age be urged 10 ex-
tenuation. Mr.. Henry l. Mudd, father OF the
child, is brother OF Dr.. Samuel A. Mudd, who
was confined at the Dry Tortugas, charged
with assisting j. Wilkes Booth, the assassin Of
President Lincoln, to escape.