Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-27
THE MONTGOMERY OUTRAGE.
Swift Retribution.
The PerpetratOr Tracked. Seized
and LynChed.
Especial Dispatch to The Star

ment over the terrible outrage committed on
Saturday night by the black brute, John Dor
sey, alias Diggs, alias Williams, on the person
OF Mrs. James Tschiffely, and late In the day
when rumors had gained credence that the
m1screant had been captured the trains
were watched carefully. 1t was known
that Sheriff Kelohner had gone to Wash.
ington, and 1t was believed he would
Upon his return here crowd numbering sew
e1al hundred assembled at the station to await
the arrival of the train, which left Washington
at 4:3O p. m.. believing the sheriff would then
arrive with DIggs, whom, it was reported, had
been captured. The sheriff, however. did not
arrive, but rumor was spread that DiggS had
been captured near Beltsv1lle. and would be up
on the 1910 train. This had the effect of
bringing still larger crowd about the
depot, and when the sheriff arrived with
no one In custody murmur Of disappoint-
ment went through the excited aSSembiage.
Sheriff Kelchner made statement to the gath
ering to the effect that he had heard many
rumors, but could report nothing certain be-
where every effort was being made to secure
the arrest OF Diggs The crowd then thinned
out with the Understanding that they would
come out ID the morning fully prepared to s1ete
caught. Some, however, hung round the hotel
discussing plans for the morrow.
ARRIVAL OF THE PRISONER.
About II i o'clock a VIZ yon, In which was
seated Mr.. Zachartah Das!s and his son Ed
ward, with the culprit firmly bound between
them. was quietly driven up to the jail Diggs
was LOGGED In jail before The fact of his capture
and arrival was known in the town. 1t was,
however, soon known, and some IL or Is people
went over and We're admitted into the build
lng-a stone structure OF two Stories about 40
by so feet In size-and there saw the prisoner,
VINO was placed In cell On the lower floor.
TIE STORY OF THE CAPTURE.
Mr.. Davis, who captured Dggs, is a large.
framed farmer OF about IS years of age and
resides near MechanicsviIle. When asked for
the particulars OF the capture he gave them to
your correspondent as follows: 81 was on my
way nome frOm Germantown with my two
children IN the wagon, and / was driving q
rather sk1ttish young colt. had Just read in
ne ne paper pal description Of the perpetrator OF
ticed man walking along the road and on
getting close to him1 saw that he answered the
description desc generally. l called to him Hello,
J@ohn @ and he looked up and said How do you
and he answered Looking Tor work
Questioning him further, he said he had been
working fol Mrs Tsohi1ely, and had left her
told Diggs to get in and would give him work
He jumped In the wagon, and I drove on to
Mlechanicsyille, Ne three or four miles distant.
While driving there thought OF the danger
TO secure him. Reaching Mechan1csville, {about
oclock) drove up towards a store, and,
,hanolng the lines to Diggs, said: Hold the
lines John; want to get something here
went In the store aud came out with coil of
rope, With moose in one end, and with the help
OF Two or three men who came out OF the store
we tied him fast. Some OF the men at the store
wanted to kill him there, but I said no, and
grove on 70 my own house, about miles further.
prisoner while went in and got nv supper.
Then we lOosened the ropes on Diggs so that he
could get his supper, which was placed before
taRe 70 Ga Pgs that hat would have to
ana l suppose they win hang me hen they
get me there?' / then asked: what are they
going to hang you fol? You are only arrested
there, and I'll kin any body who says did a6V 5
harm to Mrs. Tschiffely.' then called one OF
my poys and we started for the JAIL"
THR CULPRIT's STATEMENT.
Dggs had leg irons slapped on him on being
placed In the cell, and it was not long before he
laid down on the floor. THE STAR reporter. on
questioning him, got out a sort of rambling
statement made with suffering lips that he
nae commltte1 the rape but did not assault the
iaoy. he 1urther volunteered remark affect
Ing the ladys character. After leaving the
pace on sunday morning, he walked 12 miles
10 MS bare feet, and when he reached Gathers
ourg he put on his shoes He laid by most OF
Saa s4gek sha 15s Hs denied that
had gouged one OF her eyes.
THE sHERIFF's PRECAUTIONS
The husband OF the victim having left word
that nothing should be done until he had been
sent Tor, carriage was started for Jamestown
ana all further proceedings were postponed
rnt1l its return, which it was calculated would
De about three O'Clock. The sheriff, about this
ume. nnQlng dozen or more men around the
JAIL summoned them as deputy sher1rs and or
dered them TO arm themselves and report tmme-
dlately. He also attempted to summon others
out Id each case the party ran of to avoid serv.
no rnlo
with the Ja1lor, and locking the door on the OUT
SIDE. he handed back the key to the TAILOR. One
enterprls1ng reporter determined not to lose any
sleep 1mprov1sed Jent and LEFT orders to
AWAKEN MIN on the commencement OF host,li-
Ties, and others In the same business took seats
on nelghDorlng fence, while the guards were
then voices could be heard In the woods. and If
was evident that preparations were being made
70 execute Lynch law. AT about 3:l5 o'clock a
delegation arrived from DarnestoWn. and an
Organization embracing about40 men was AT once
ehected. captain was appointed and each
man was given number 10y which only he
was 10 De knoWn).
PARLEYING WITH THE SHERIFF.
The sheriff lad kept at the jail two ferocious
looking blood hounds, but when the crowd an.
peared In front Of the building it was found that
they had been enticed away. Going up to the
jail door, which is reached by few steps, the
sherln was found, and the captain OF the band
said: I'VE have a man here who wants to iden-
CDy DSSS IL is MT. IScnlHely." Tne Sner1n
replied: ''He can see him. but you fellows will
have to go away first. Now ali of you go out
side. IN defend the outside and the jailor Will
defend the inside. j intend to do my duty
The captain then said: 1--WE don't want any
foOliShnesS What we intend to do we
will Go In broad day light 1t
is terrible thing, but we feel that the case
demands 1t. Some OF us are masked, as you see
IsOme had handkerchiefs Or other coverings
over their faces.l but l am not. ! demand en-
trance 10 that Jail, and assure you that resist
aDce viii be fruitless, for we outnumber you 10
TO here, and we have large reserve to draw
rom" The sheriff, In reply to this, said. 81
distinctly want you to understand that do not
intend 10 surrender. ! know my duty and am
abie to perform it. You can't get in this iail.
Understand ME now, you can't get In this iail.
ana you may as We'll 60 away" Just
as the sheriff had uttered the last
word, the Captain blew whistle. and
number OF men rushed out from the sides Of the
building TO the front. The captain called
Boys we are going In. Come on" In an in,
staLt the sheriff was knocked of the steps and
seized by four men, who carried him across the
ROAD, and the guards were each seized nv four
men. BY some means the door was onensd and
a NUMBER OF men rushed in, seized the i,flor
and four guards, who were there fo assfst him
and forced them into side room. one of the
sherinis men, Mr. s. Mollock, showed a reynlyer a,.
but IL was taken from his hand and he was
knocked down. TIE crowd at once
made for the prisoners ccll and. the
door being forced open, Diggs, by the
light CT a candle was seen living dowp
yad Mt h{