Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-01


after. The body Was sent TO the morgue.
The lsallONs in Maryland.
"Bu0" cEPHAS HANGED TO-DAY AT CAMBRIDGE FOR A
BRUTAL MURDER.
CAMBRIDGE Nd, August 1.-Frederick, alias
"Bug" Cephas. colored, was hanged at noon to-day
7th OF April last He spent quiet night, sleeping
soundly from O'Clock until S this morning. after
which he was closeted with his spiritual advisers
He ate hearty breakfast and was apparently quite
unconcerned at his approaching end, saying TO the
jailer he was prepared Tor death The sea fold was
situated in the rear OF the JAIL surrounded by high
board fence, which prevented the execution being
seen, except by those within the enclosure.
HE GOES TO DEATH SINGING.
At 1910 p. M Cephas was led from his cell to the
scanod, passing In view OF three hundred people.
He ascended the scafiold singing "Jesus. lover OF
my SOUL" and was accompanied by the Clergyman
throughout He made few remarks confessng
the crime, and prayer being offered the black cap
was adjusted He bade goodbye to his attendants
and professed his readiness to die. When the
Sher1n cut the rope the cap, not having been Sc
curely fastened on, few on exposing his distorted
features The scene was sickenlng. Death Resulted
In q Few minutes from Strangulatlon.
CEPHAS' BRUTAL CRIME
Mrs Bush was an aged woman. and lived on a
small farm which she owned. and performed the
greater part OF the labor herself On the day the
murder she harnessed her horse TO the cart and
went to the woods for load or fuel. CepLas. as
we'll as many Others OF her neiehborhood. had an
idea that she kept considerable money IN her house
and he determined TO murder her ana obtain the
money Accordingly. on the morning OF the tragedy
he started for her house. and on the way provided
himself with heavy pine bludgeon with which TO
accomplish his rendlsh work. As he approached
her premises he discovered that she was ia tie
woods. and secreted himself behind some bushes
until she started for heE home with her load OF
wood AS soon as she passed he left his hiding
place and, approaching stealthliy, dealt her blow
on the back OF the head which stunned her. She
cried out, ..Wi you kill mel" and hung 10 the cart
with her hands, but second blow caused her 10
release her hold and she Eel! TO the ground. Ce-
phas then crushed her skull with the c!uo and the
blood from her wounds fell on his clothing. After
She was dead he dragged the body into the woods
and proceeded to her house. He found no money.
but took several articles, among which were some
pieces OF soap, the discovery OF which, at his house.
led to his arrest. Her husband, from whom she
but II was clearly shown that he was not I'm the
neghborhood at the time, and the officers were for
murderer. Some EXPRESSIONS @ % dpopDed dr. @ ' by the the
Wife OF CephaS directed suspicion against him.
and he was taken into custody. lie stoutly denied
any knowledge OF the murder. and the testimony
against him was entirely circumStantial. He was
brought to trial at the May term OF the circuit
court OF Dorchester county, and the jury rendered
verdict OF guilty as indicted. The law OF the state
requires that In all trials Tor murder the jury upon
convicting, shall name the degree OF MURDER and
an application for new trial, upon the ground OF
inforInality, was made by his counsel and granted
by the court. Early in June he was again placed
at the bar for trial. and on the second day a ver-
dict OF guilty OF murder In the first degree" was
rendered, and he was sentenced TO De hanged. The
governor subsequently appointed the iIrst day Of
August for his execution.
Cephas asserted his Innocence OF the crime for
which he was convicted until the death warrant
was read to him. Feeling That all hope OF escape
was gone. he then confessed. and declared that he
was alone when he committed the murder. Cephas
was shiftlfss negro, and lived by working occa-
sionaly for the white farmers In the neighborhood
Mrs. Bush-Murphy was an eccentric old woman
and had lived all her life the farm on which she
was murdered, holding but little communication
with her neghbors and IL was three days after her
murder before the crime was discovered
The Failures for a Week.
NEW YORK. August 1.-The business failures OF
the last seven days throughout the country, as re-
Tor the United States, 23s and for Canada is. or
total OF 2sl, as against total OF 234 last week.
War I'm China Imminent.
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO PAY The IN
DEMNiTy DEMANDED BY FRANCE.
LONDON, August 1.-The Times has dispatch
from Foo Chow dated July 81, which says: "China
has refused TO pay the indemnity demanded by
France. The time granted to China by Franc. TO
decide upon the matter has been prolonged beyond
the rlrst OF august. secret edct has been issued
ordering the Chinese not to molest foreigners
French civilians and mandarins, however. assert
that the lives OF foreigners are not Safe The Eng
lish flagship is landing sailors TO act I'm defense OF
fleet has been sold to American firm for $50 600
taels-nearly 81 100000 War TO all appearances is
imminent.
TERROR IN FOO Chow
LONDON. August LA dispatch from Foo Chow OF
this date states that great panic prevails there
Foreigners are arming for defense, ladies leav-
Ing the city, and the French consul Is preparing to
60 aboard a gunbOat
WAR CONSIDERED INEVITABLE.
dispatch OF to-day from Foo Chow to Reuters
Telegram company asserts that the general i'm
preston In that city Is that war between France
and China Is Inevitable. Both natives and for
eignerS are leaving the city. Marines landed from
the British corvette Champion assisted by the gun
boat Merlin, are guarding the foreign settlement
Shot Dead.