Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-01-17
Lynch-Law in Maryland.

PooLssvrLLE, MONTGOMERY Co, MD,
Ian l2-George Washington Peck, a
negro man, aged abont 81 years, and a
rather notorious character in this ricini-
ty. was arrested at Beallsville, two miles
distant, on Saturday morning last, for
an attempted outrage upou the person
of a brig ht and pretty little girl, named
Ada Hays, the adopted daughter of II.
M. Reeves, respectable farmer of the
neighborhood, and while in custody Of
County Constable Hugh Miles was taken
by a party of masked lynchers and
hanged to q tree until dead. The partic-
ulars of the affair are as follows.
Saturday morning Ada Hays, who
has been living with Lemuel Beali, 3
storekeeper in the village Of Beallsv'lie'
had gone 10 the stable yard with buck,
ct TO milk the cows, and while engaged
in this duty was caught by George w.
Peck, colored man also in the employ
of Beall, and dragged to hole 10 astraw
rick, evidently previously prepared ior
tb. accomplishment Of his vile purpose.
The screams of the little girl fortunately
attracted The attention of Rev. Mr. Al
NEE, pastor of the Baptist Church, who
resided near by, and who immediately
ran in the direction FROM whence the
screams proceeded, and discovered the
negro in the act of perpetrating his
fendish crime. His FIRST impulse was to
use a pistol he had with him, but upon
second thought concluded TO allow the
law 10 take its course. He informed Mr.
Beall, and the two sought the services
of Constable Miles. Upon his arrival
Peck, who had remained in the yard,
started TO run towards the woods, but
after short chase ho was captured and
taken before Justice Donahue. He adj
mi,ted his guilt, and stated that he
would have accomplished his purpose
had he not been interfered with. He
was committed by the magistrate and
taken to Poolesville by Constable Miles,
who intended taking him to Rockville
fail yesterday. After being confined for
some time in the Odd Fellows Hall,
Peck was taken by Miles over 10 w. Il.
Walters store, where he (lhe constable)
desired making some purchases. Groups
Of men had been seen engaged IN ex-
cited discussion, and threats OF lynchiEg
were heard, but as yet no attempt was
made. Hardly, however, had the two
entered the store before a horseman
rode up and fired pistol shot. This
seemed to be a signal, for almost i'm.
mediately about thirty FIVE masked men
sprang from different quarters aud en-
tered the building. Officer Miles made
q stubborn resistance, but was quickly
overpowered, and in his struggles was
considerably injured. A moose was
placed around the neck OF Peck, and he
was dragged out, and who, frautically
and piteously beseeching bis captors
to spare his life, said that he did not
want to die, etc. But his entreaties
were of no avail with these stern and
determined men. He was hastily taken
across the road, thrown over post and
rail fence into vacant lot and the rope
drawn through the fork OF locust tree
about seven feet high, and then fastened
TO the fence. When it was thought he
VAS dead, the crowd slowly DISPERSED;
not, however, before firing volley of
shots at the body, some of which took
effect
This occurred near the hour of twelve
at night. Yesterday morning horri
bic and CHASTITY spectacle was presented
to the people of the place in the dang
ling aud distorted form of the would be
ravisher. He was left to hang until a,
bout nine o'clock, within fifty yards of
the Presbyterian Church, and near the
centre Of the town. AT that hour .ju-
ry of inquest was summoned by Justice
Donahue and the body cut down. After
hearing the testimony, some of the ju-
rors insisted upon having an indorse
ment of action Of the mob inserted in
the verdict of death by strangulation at
the hands of unknown parties. The ju-
ry was composed of Chas. Elgiu, Ire
mont Jones, Frank Williams, VIM.
Griffith, Lemuel Beall, Richard Spates,
Frank Spates, Frank Sparrough, Chas,
Matthews, G. Macintosh, Thos Davis.
and Thos. Fife.
The body was buried in the field,
but was exhumed this morning by the
eolored people and given burial in their
churcbyard, near the village. Great ex
citement aud terrible indignation was
produced ia this usually quiet little town
and throughout the surrounding count
ry by this occurrence. 1t will be re-
membered that only as late as last April
a similar scene was enacted within dis
lance of Is miles of this place, in the
lynchingo the negro james Carroll, at
Point of Rocks, for brutal assault on
Mrs. Thomas, at Licksville. Peck was
of rather slight build, very dark COM
plexioned, and weighed about one bun
dred and fifty pounds. He had been in
prison several times, and was one ofthe
convicts who escaped from Rockville
Jail few years ago. He was also dis
covered once before in the act OF perpe-
trating upon another young girl an as
sault similar to that which he attempted
on Saturday, and for which he has
inst paid 80 terrible q penalty, but
succeeded in escaping punishment,
DR.. Ayler reports Ada Hays as suffering
from severe bruises, but not seriously
injured.