Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-16


person Of young girl. The community
has been moved 70 excitement beyond all
precedent, and, it must be confessed, the
greater share of residents in that locality are
inclined to condone the work OF the lynch
ers, for the negro's crime was of such an out
rageous character that there is general feel
ing of relief at his death.
THE NEGRO AND HIS CHILDISH VICTIM
The negro upon whom this summary ven
geance was visited was named George Peck
and more villainous young scoundrel
never lived in the neighborhood He was
black as jet, with a particularly brutal cast
Of countenance. Though but twenty two
years of age, he had become notorious for
his conduct, and had several times been in
Jail at Rockville When a mere lad he at
tempted a similar crime upon the person of
a little chield, and at that time narrowly es-
capped lynching He lived at Bealsville
abouttwo miles from Poolesville, and for
several months past has been in the employ
Of Mr.. Lemuel l.. Besll, the proprietor Of
the store at that place. He was strong and
somewhat burly fellow, weighing over 100
pounds.
DETAILS OF THE OUTRAGE.
On Saturday morning last, Ada, who is a
strong and weil-built girl, though young in
years, went out to the barn of Mr. Reeves
to milk the cows. There she saw Peck, but
paid no particular attention to him, he was
in the habit Of being about the premises, do
ing odd jobs when he saw It, She
sat down to her work. began her milking,
and while she was thus engaged Peck came
out from behind the straw rick, brushed by
her and passed into the stable. She thought
nothing of the occurrence, and having fin
ished milking one COW, proceeded to another
er and resumed her work. Scarcely had she
begun when Peck quietly stole up behind
her, and before she was aware of his imme-
diate presence, grabbsd her by the throat to
prevent her screaming threw one arm around
her waist, lifted her from her feet aad carried
her by main force behind the straw rick
There he had made hole in the straw and
laid her in it, In spite Of his efforts to
compel her silence by gsgging her with his
hand and threatening her life If she dared
to scream aloud, she was able and had the
boldness to give one cry for help. Fortu-
nately this cry was heard, and while the
brute was on the point of effecting his pur-
pose upon the person 81 the helpless girl,
Baptist clergyman, the Rev. Mr.. Amy, who
happened To be passing at the time and heard
her scream, came TO her rescue. He was
just in time 10 save her from injury. As
soon as the negro saw Rev. Mr.. Amy he
darted away from the rick into the stable,
where he stood quietly and stubbornly, re-
fusing to answer any questions and appar-
emily as unconcerned as if nothing had hap
pened The girl told the vrole story Of her
wrongs to the clergyman, who happened to
have a revolver on his person, and who,
when he heard the details of the outrage,
could hardly refrain from shooting the me-
gro dead on the spot. Rev. Mr.. Amy kind
ly and carefully lifted the tremblig and af-
frighted girl in his arms and carried her into
the house, where she was kinely cared for.
1t was found that she was but very slightly
hurt, as the timely arrival Of the clergy man
had prevented the negro from accomplish
fng his brutal purpose.
IN THE HANDS OF THE Law.
Having left the girl in the house, Rev.
Mr.. Amy fastened to the store of Mr.. Beall,
where Peck was employed and reported the
occurrence. A messenger was hurried of TO
Pooesville for an officer, while the clergy
man and Mr.. Beall went back TO the barn 10
keep watch on the negro.
They found that Peck had remained in the
stable, and apparently had no intention of
making any attempt TO escape. At 10 o'clock,
Miles, Of Pooesvile, came in sight, Peck
darted from the stable and fed like deer
across a field into stretch Of pine woods.
By this time the news Of the outrage had
spared from mouth TO mouth, and quite
crowd Of excited men had collected, and,
with the Poolesville officer, Immediately
gave chase. Peck was surrounded and
for fear that he would make another attempt
to escape was securely handcuffed and chain
ed The first question asked him was wheth- |
er he intended to outrage the girl, W which |
he replied that such had certainly been his
intention, and he would have accomplished |
his purpose had 1t not been for the interior |
ence of Rev Mr.. Amy. This confession on
his part, which was given with apparent
81 90 Tod |
nous threats from some of those in the crowd |
and undoubtedly sealed his doom.
DEATH PENALTY.
Officer Miles reached Poolesville with his |
prisoner about p. NJ, placing Peck in Odd
Fellows's Hall, where he intended to keep |
him until he could bring him to Jail. II very |
soon became apparent that trouble was brew
ing A crowd began TO collect about the
hall, growing larger each moment, and
threats Of lynching were by no means in
frequent. The officer stood bravely at the
door Of the hall and refused admission 10
any one. For six hours or more the crowd
stayed, until about II O'Clock at night, when
IL began to dwindle away, and soon the
officer was loft alone with his charge. This
offered. the officer thought, a good oppor-
tunity for him to take the prisoner 20 his
own house, where he thought there would
be less danger Of violence. The officers
house is located about half mile from
Poolesyile, and on his way he stopped at the
store Of Mr. William r. Walter, wishing 10
make few purchases before going home
He took Peck with him to the store and
locked the door ster him. Scarcely had he
done this when the store was surrounded by