Smyrna times., 1882-03-15
Gbe Smgrua Dimes.
Smyrna, De/.,
Wednesday Afternoon, March Is, 1882
Patty Cannon's Career.

fact about old Patty Cannon, who years
ago was the terror of lower Delaware
furnishes an interesting account Of that
remarkable and Infamous character.
The centre of this WomanS acts is Can
mons Ferry, on the Nanticoke some miles
from SeafOrd. The inn where SO many
negro-traders were received and where
the slaves were imprisoned still stands,
though much changed in appearance now.
Patty lived near this inn in low house
which tradition says stood on the Maryland
and Delaware line and its occupants
could get from one jurisdiction to another
| bv merely walking across the floor. Del |
awares position on slavery was similar to |
that Of Pennsylvania, which was that |
such slaves as existed in the state might
be kept, but could not be sold outside the
State. nor any other slaves, nor even free
blacks. introduced. Consequently the
slave property of Delaware had slight
value compared to what it would bring II
seduced or forced across the line into
Maryland, where the laws vigorously
favored slavery. kidnapping these bcla-
ware blacks, both free and slave began i'll
the latter part of JetIerson's administra-
ton or the early part of MadisOns, and
Patty Cannon and Ii, gang did more oft
than anybody else. Slave-traders from
the South were often visiting her place.
This woman was thick-set, large
breasted, powerful-necked athlete of
woman, with black hair and dark eyes.
She was beautiful in youth, and had Il
beautiful daughter by her husband, who
was q plain farmer named Jesse Cannon,
tempted to marry into her low condition
by her beauty. He soon dicd-perhaps
harassed to death or put out Of the way
and she consorted with the negrO-traders.
and set the example of raiding the free
negroes Of Delaware, putting on male at
tire, riding her horse astraddle and lead
ing her Young kinfolks and iamiliars on
midnight enterprises.
Patty Cannon and her family circle con-
stituted a queer crowd. Her daughter
was beautiful and married Harry Brereton,
who was hung with John Griffin in 1871
for the murder of q negro dealer named
Ridgeway \ fellow named John John
son, about whom more hereafter, was
indicted with her for murder. johnson
married Patty's daughter after Brcretor
was executed. Two GritiiMs also belonged
to the gang.
The gang soon turned their attention
, from negro stealing to numbering negro
traders who came TO her house to buy
:. kidnapped slaves. 1t is believed tina
Patty Cannon was the instigator of thi
system of murder, the extent of which
will never be fully known. The first on,
9 happened in 1914. At that time Patt!
Cannon was perhaps 4G years of age
Two other Southern traders disappcare,
about her premises. and one of these
whom she killed single-ha handed in lS2(
was so far from his friends in the cOtto
States that his name could never be pu
in the indictment. though he died in
"a town of 400 people riding in dead or dyin:
~ as they had shot him on the way.
cd The murder in 1914 created great excite
ment at the time. \ negro-trader, Ridg,
way, came to the den but no negrOt
- were for sale. He had many Thousand
rs in his wagon, and drove on to Laurel.
As soon as he started old Patty Canno
and the brothers named Griffin, and ht
son-in-law BreretOn, too, with prObabI
Johnsons, gallOped for place callC
Shutdown, a mile above CanOn's Ferr
crossed the river ia a skiff', and reached
n point in the road to Laurel Town in a
II vance of the trader, and hastily obstructC
n the road with brush, or saplings, so as
n force him to halt Patty Cannon was
4 mans disguise and with the spirit Of assa
i sination, urging her son-in-law to Il
81 deed and driving the Grifilns on. AS Il
man came to the felled brush the gal
III arose from concealmeHt and shot hi
II fatally, and also wounded his horse. !
n the animal leaped wildly with pain, t
II man fell forward, but, with swooning il
u uties. drew his pistol and with his dyi
n eyes presented it, while the horse rush
III over the barrier and running wild carri
the stranger into Laurel Town.
The dying man dealer lived till next ds
and his horse, it is said, also died. but t
blood of a white man, shed i'll that unla
full business, did finally cry for yengean'
and the murder was tracked to the t'
Griffins and to Brereton and other mast
line parties unknown. BreretOn saw
Patty from exposure, and she CARED
= her devilsh trade for 10 years morr.
Sometime after the murder of the trad
Ridgeway a man wanting to buy negro
Nm came to Patty's house and dropped
lin remark that he had $4,000 to spend
10, kidnapped slaves. lie was given lodgi
for the night. As lac was sitting with
y back to the open window eating SUPP
Patty slipped up behind him from t
M yard and shot him through the head w
a horse pistol. He was buried in
garden where the bodies of other murd
ed men had been concealed under the 81
tpr and Cyrus James, q bound boy Of
'ON' murderess saw her and her cOmpaniC
only carrying the dead trader to his last resti
- place. Years afterward he told the ste
when Patty was under arrest.
The crime came to light finally by az
dent. In the spring of 1929 James Moo
---' who had rented the farm, was engaged
I plowing in the garden. He was hinde