Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-27
o. WASHINGTON D. c. TUESDAY, july 27 1850.

we get to the tree" After going short dis
tance, the prisoner running part of the way,
man on horseback was met, and a halt was
ordered. This man appeared to take temporary
command. He ordered the band to form a
circle, and he, standing in the CENTER near the
prisoner, administered an oath that they should
each observe secrecy as to the names OF the
about to take for the protection OF themselves
and their families Each man raised his
hands and took the prescribed oath. The
horse was then brought forward and an at
tempt was made to seat Dlggs on it. but
as he sttll had his leg irons on that was imp g.
siele The owner OF the horse at this time
warned those around the animal that he was
should be tied to the horses heels and be kicked
to death. The reply was made: s'No, no. we
ARE out the The They under
In the road, continued On, and reaching a
POINT POI, three, quarters Of mile from the
na jan ,,s stopped, near large cherry tree
and the rope tied, but the attempt to place the
prisoner on the horse proved a failure. He
could not sit on the animal and was taken
the leader said to Diggs: "John. have you any
thing to say? Ii you have you now have plenty
OF chance to say IT.. Don't die with lie In your
aoaR ensr bsgs bs yGe 9epad ht NM Tehy xah x
can do is to nang me. What's the use of saying
anything; you are going to hang me any how"
The leader: "Free your conscience"
Diggs.-"1 didn't do 1t. D-d ii you won't all
suffer for this" The leader.-'Youll have two
Or three minutes more.'' The rope at this time
got united from around Diggs and he started to
tied stronger. The question was again asked II
he had struck Mis-. Tschtf1ely, and he again de-
pied 1t. The leader then remarked. 1--WE can
do no more for you than to pray for you, and
although | am not m1nister will pray for
YOU The crowd formed circle and standing
with hats in hand the leader offered fervent
prayer In which he invoked such pardon for
hfS on. O. 1ll6 rod l. 13,$4,
the cross. saying that even for this fiend the
grace OF God, which is boundless. would suffice.
Diggs was then told that he might have few
moments for silent reflection. He stood per-
rectly motionless, with his eyes On the ground.
THE LAST SCENE.
The rope had now been arranged, and when
the prisoner was directed to walk he fell, but
the four men who had him in special charge
forced or dragged him beneath the rope, and
holding him up on his feet the moose was ad-
]usted. The crowd seized the end OF the rope.
and gave few pulls, raising the doomed man
about three feet OIL the ground. The end OF the
rope was then made fast to limb, so that the
body would remain suspended. 1t was about
O'Clock and the crowd, numbering not over so
IL a a.5er Rat1g for twenty MINUTES quietly
that the affairs was all over, and hundreds
walked outi 10 view the body. Among
these who out were saares Morgan and
got tangled up In rope In tree" They de-
cided to hold ali inquest at O'Clock. The town
was full OF people this morning, probably 400 or
500 coming in to meet the morning train up
which it was supposed would bring the prisoner
from BeltSvile.
The body was cut down this morning and
sumnoned: r A. sheEes foreman; co. .d.s James Mees
Patterson. James C. Nolan, N. .'' D. offut5, t.
Re,,s Mulngar Mrm james css1 Steele William No.,
The testimony of several parties was taken
including that of DR.. Anderson, who stated that
death was caused by strangulation. The usual
verdict In such cases, that death was caused by
parties unknown, was rendered. The body was
inferred at the expense OF the county. The
sheriff made statement to your correspondent
this morning to the effect that he had taken
every precaut1on, having anticipated trouble,
and he had been overpowered He believed that
II all his deputies had assisted him couraeeously
he could have held the jail.
AS stated in The STAR OF Yesterday ft WAS
supposed that Diggs was just north Of the Dis
trict line, and the county officers were put on
the alert; alert IS So general en- was the supposition that
last night some Of the citizens about the north
end of 7th street organized party Of dozen
mounted men and started on search for him.
scanning Ing the roads thoroughly An arrest was
named Jerome Goodwin. He was finally released
after being frightened nearly to death
Within the past eight or ten years there have
gomery and Frederick counties half a dozen
lynchings for rape. Two have occurred in
Prince Georges and two in Montgomery In
one OF the Prince Georges cases an innocent
party came near being hung-the guilty party
being discovered just In time to save the limo
cent ones neck. AS has been previously stated.
Diggs alias Dorsey alias Williams is pretty well
known In the District and the neighboring
counties. He has been for several years hiring
out as a farm hand. In case of rape about
years ago, lear Marlboro, he was suspected for
some time. He was arrested but was not held,
and it is thought now that he was the guilty
Darty.