Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-07-30
A FlENDIsH OUTRAGE.
The Perpetrator Lynched.

OH puHudy ldsl tuc CitlZtnS Oh ILLS county
were astounded by the news that another
dark and foul deed had been committed
within her borders. Upon inquiry it was
found that Mrs. Lille NJ Tschiffely, resid-
ing near Jamestown, had, on the previous
night, been brutally outraged and almost
murdered by a colored farm hand named
Diggs, alias Dorsey, who had been in the
employ of the lady's husband since the Goth
of February last. The brutal treatment of
the lady by this incarnate tiend aroused the
populace to a degree of indignation seldom
witnessed any where, and which continued
to rage with undated fury until its tragic
finale on Tuesday morning last
The villain who concocted and executed
the inaugural of this dark page in annals
of crime in Montgomery, and who accord
ing to the eternal fitness of things, surren-
dered his life at Il ropes end ON Tuesday
morning Dorsey first entered the employ of
Mr. Tschiffely ON the Goth of last February,
when he stated that he was from Damascus,
this county, and that he had formerly been
owned by Mr.. King, proprietor OF Kings
distillery, near that place. He was about %
years old, of remarkably black color, and
was noticeable for habit of continually
swapping his eyelids. He talks SO fast as to
render his words almost unintellgible. He
was very reserved, never leaving the farm
and, apparently stunning the society of
pvon tho manila Of biq own color Tho LOT
ter, on their part, showed an evident dis
like to him.
The alarm was Immediately given by their
neighbor, Mr.. Amos West, to whom the
lady fled for aid, and large body of mel
were speedily securing the country. The
negro had, for some reason or other thought
it best to leave both Of the horses, and the
tracks Of his bare feet were easily discover
able leading across cornteld. These were
eagerly followed by the excited crowd until
they reached stubbe field where they be-
came indistinguishable. The farmers spread
all over the country for radius of ten or
twelve miles, but were unsuccessful in their
search. 1t was believed that the negro had
taken refuge in swamp about half mile
from the scene of the outrage, and this was
surrounded. Early Sunday evening, how
ever, a clue was discovered which lead to
the belief that Dorsey had gone to Wash
ington. Two brothers of Mr. James Tschf-
iely, while securing the country, near Da-
mascus, were informed that tracks of bare
feet had been discovered at point about
two miles from the scene Of the crime, lead
ing twards the Gaithersburg depot. 1t was
supposed that Dorsey, if these were his
tracks, went to Gaithersburg and at that
point boarded the freight train which passes
about $50 o'clock in the morning He would
have had sufficient time to catch the train,
as he left his employers house shortly after
sunrise. Messrs. Tschiffely Immediately sent
word to their father, who drove to this place
and afterwards went to Washington. 1t was
learned that the postmaster at Jamestown,
on Saturday, received letter addressed to
John Diggs, care OF Mr. Jas. Tschitfely"
This was opened in the hope that it would
lead to some clue by which the villain could
be captured. 1t was n letter from Wash
ington City, dated the 10Th and postmarked
the following day, and was request for
money from person who signed himself,
"Your affectionate father, John L. Williams,"
whose address was given as Alb + street,
Navy Yard. Dorsey had represented him
self during the whole period of his employ
ment by Tschiffely rs being without father
or mother and had never mentioned Wash
ington.
| Nor did the excitement exist only within
the limits of this county-it had seized upon
the authorities of Washington and the adjoin-
| ingcounties of Frederick and Prince George
| 1t was currently reported that forty mounted
| police were engaged in the District borders
and with the aid ofwire, railroads and horse
| flesh it seemed that the Gend could escape
only through some marvellous dispensation
of Divine Providence.
Without putting the victim of this horri-
bic affair 10 an unnecessary annoyance and
pain we did not personally interview her AS
we learned that IL special reporter Of the
Baltimore GGzette had gone there and had
got the full particulars, so far as she is con-
cerned, from the lady herself Her state
ment made to that reporter Of the matter we
give entire. In it she says that ION Satur-
day afternoon my husband left home to go 10
Beltsville Prince Georges county, where he
was required TO attend To some business
| During the afternoon was visited by several
| friends, who remained until 1880 p. NJ. At
ter their departure | got John TO go to
Jamestown for some coal oil, and during
his absence Mr.. Amos West, "a neighbor,
came over to my house and sat with me I'M
til / p NJ. AS he was leaving Mr.. West re-
marked; Mrs. Tschiffely, If you are afraid
to stay here by yourself | will remain all
night | declined his Offer however, say
ing that John was in the house and felt
! perfectly safe, and after Il few minutes he
wished me good evening and left for home"
At this point in her narrative Mrs Tschif-
fely exclaimed in adespairing voice, son if
| had only let him stayw Recovering her
composure she proceeded: "Snch "A thought
and fearing to remain in the house with
John never entered my head as he had al
ways conducted himself quietly and re-.
spectfully, and prOfessed 10 be devoted TO
the interests of Mr.. Tschiffey. After Mr.
Amos West left went through the house to
the kitchen intending To go into the yard b
see if the chicken coops were all properly
closed up. As | opened the door from the
kitchen to the back porch found John Sit
ting on the steps and told him he had better
go to bed. AS he rose told him where he
could find some pears, when he muttered
something about wanting some wine. This
/ told him he could not have, when he enter
ed the kitchen and closed the door after him,
at the same time locking II. Something in
his manner alarmed me and started hastily
into the house and ran out the front door.
John then unlocked the kitchen door and
rushing around the house caught up to me