Daily Republican., 1880-07-28
LYNCH LAWN m,nYE.ND.
H~nxtng or q Negro for am Afro.
cious Assault Upon q White wO-

HWmktng OF q NegFO for am Afro.
ciOus Assault Upon q White wO-
man.
WAsHNeToE, July 27.--Jshn Diggs,
the negro, who brutslly outraged Mrs.
James rschiffely last Saturday night,
near Dsrnestown, Md, was captured
last night at Mechanicsville and car
ried to Rockville and lodged in jail.
Shortly before A O'Clock this morning
about fifty men appeared at the jail
and one Of them demanded admission
on the plea Of identification. Sheriff
K4lchner refused admittance to any one
while the crowd remained, and they
fell backward few feet. ......
Another formal demand being made
a slight demur was made by the Deputy
Sheriff at the door, but this was only
the signal for an assault. The door
was then broken in, despite the resis.
tancs of the Sheriff. While the door
was being forced quite melee occurred
with the officers, and even after the
negro had been brought ont into the
open air Mr., Kelehner made another at
tempt to rescue his prisoner. He was
immedis tely caught and held by two or
three Of the party. In his struggles he
received a cut on the arm.
The crowd hurried Diggs off, his
ankle irops clanking as he was forced
down the road at q quick trot. He was
taken up the road leading to Darnes-
town, man guarding him on each
side. While being taken to the scene
Of his execution he seemed quite calm
and said he was willing to die. The
Indifference he showed is said to have
awakened suspicion even among the
party who thus took tha law in their
own hands. An effort was made to
force him to relate the details of his as
sau;t upon Mrs. Tsohiffsly, hut beyond
acknowledging the fact that he COM
mittad the crime he would make no
confession.
Arriving at point on the road some
distance from town the party met q
horse. This had evidently besn a pre-
concerted arrangement by confederates
of the crowd, and showed that they
we're determined that nothing should
fail.
Opportunity was given for the villain
to make peace with his Maker, although
he appeared callous to this part of the
proceedings. The necessary ropes were
within reach, and the brute's hands
and arms were pinioned. 1t was then
found that the idea TO place the negro
on the horse and hang him by running
the animal from under him was imprac.
ticable. The moose was placed around
his neck and willing hands lifted his
body from the ground. He made but
little resistance, evidently knowing
from the first that any such effort would
be worse than foolish. The body was
left hanging. Sheriff Xslchner stated
this morning that Diggs made full
confession Of the crime to him previous
to the jail being forced.
The details of the crime committed
by -Diggs are that he entered the resi-,
aence OF Mrs. james Tschiffsly, high
ly esteemed married lady, whose hus-
band, a prominent citizen Of Montgom-
cry, was absent in another county on
business. The lady was seated at a
table engaged in reading, when the
negro suddenly sprang into the room,
md, seizing her by the throat, choked
ber into a condition OF i-c0nNcious-
ness, and threatened, il she made an
appeal for aid. to murder her and burn
the house. He then dragged the terri
led woman up the staircase and kept
aer prisoner in Der room during the
night, repeatedly assaulting her. He
eft the room early in the morning, and
that he had fled, his victim
managed TO leave the house and started
% the residence Of neighbor.
The negro, however, was lying in
wait, and, upon meeting her on the
avn, seized her by the hair Of the
,sad aud dragged her back
o the house, where, after subjecting
Ter to further gross assaults he struck
Ter over the head with q chair. The
,low fell with crushing force, cutting
he face and head Of the lady, forcing
Ter eyes almost from their sockets. She
vas, tesides, terribly dis6gured, her
leck and face being horribly cut and
wollen and discolored. The negro then
scaped. Mrs. Tschiffely regained con-
oiousDess, and under the care Of
'hysician is improving. She is IS
ears of age and q lady Of recognized
ocial position, attractive personally
nd entertaining in manner.
Eighth Ward ReBubIleanS.