The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-07-03


COMMITTED TO JAIL ON SERIOUS CHARGE
Last Sunday morning Deputy Sheriff Carman
arrested Benjamin Preston and Charles Morgan,
both colored, on the charge of beating and rob-
bling white man named George w. Bishop.
At the hearing before Justice Lyle, Monday
morning, Bishop, who is from Chicago, testified
that lie is mill picker, aud in the course of his
travels arrived in Bel Air Saturday morning
After nightfall, in strolling around to see the
sights he encountered colored man pedding
whisky out OF basket and bought half pint
When that was gone he bought a pint more.
AS he was about TO pass the house of Ben Pres
ton, on Pennsylvania avenue, near Bond street,
he heard the sound of violin. Going in he
found Preston playing and several colored girls
dancing The scene being attractive he asked
permission to stay, which was granted. Pres
emily he informed Preston that he too was
fiddler and would like to play tune. Preston
handed him the violin and he played tune so
inspiring that the colored girls, who had stop.
ped dancing when he came In, began to dance
again. Then he proposed to send for beer
"tonic" beer, the only kind, Preston said, that
could be bought in Bel Air. Two of the girls
started for the beer but came back. He then
walked out and sat down on porch around the
corner. This was between 9 and 10 o'clo OK
Some time afterwards Preston and Morgan
came up to him. They asked him what he was
doing there. He replied that he was waiting
for a friend, whereupon Morgan told him he
felt like knocking his brains out Morgan then
said, "Where is that two or three dollars you
,uon fadt IN nj hot rir I'll ;rbt
do him harm, Bishop says he went away The
coloied men followed, throwing stones at him.
He went through the gate into the Methodist
Protestant Church yard, on Office street, and
walked towards the rear of the lot. The men
ran around on opposite sides and caught him in
the church yard. Preston struck him on the
head with a club and Morgan broke his right
arm with a stone. Some one called out of a
window to the men and they left him. His sill
yer watch and 500 in money, which he had when
he left the porch, were gone when the scuffie
was over. He went to pile of boards and re-
NAMED there until morning, when DR.. Lee set
his broken arm. Bishop said he had been drink
ing during the day.
Messrs. VIM. II. Bauer and John P. Flowers,
who live on opposite sides of the church, were
awakened by the noise and recognized the
voices of Morgan and Preston. Mr.. Bauer call
ed to Morgan that If he did not let the man
alone he would have him arrested, whereupon
Preston and Morgan left.
Messrs. e. L. Sawyer and James V. White
ford guests at Sweets Hotel, were also aroused
by the row, and thinking some one was being
murdered, dressed themselves and went out but
saw no one. Mr.. Whiteford, before he came
down stairs, heard the pursuit and voice cry
ing xiii him !" As the men were returning
he heard Morgan calling to Preston, saying,
"Come on, we've done this thing. I've got
money to Fay the fine"
Julia Barnes, one of the girls who was dane.
ing, testified that Bishop wanted her to take
walk with him, but she declined,
Sarah Preston, wife of Ben, Preston, testified