Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-19
. TRIAL OF LYNCHERS.
Interest Centering in the Trial of Malone,
the Whites and DriscolI.

the Whites and DriscolI.
| Spscial Telegram TO the Register:
WESTERNPORT, Md, November 15.-
The attention ofwestern Maryland and the
surrounding section of West Virginia is
now centered on the proceedings of the
Circuit Court of Allegheny county, Mary
land before which Court Michael E. Ma
lone, Timothy White, John White and
Pat Driscoll are being tried for the murder
of David Johnson, Oh the night of Septem-
Der IA, 1856. The history of the crime is
as follows: David Johnson, who had been
of unscund mind for years, and for several
weeks previous to his death had become
very violent and made numerous threats
of killing different men whom he imagined
had done him wrong, which no one paid
any attention to, and Johnson was left
run at large, parading the streets of this
and the adjoining town of Piedmont with
double barreled gun on his shoulder.
At noon, on the 18th day of September,
with gun in hand, he took up his position
at the top of ladder which number OF
men working in the b. & 0. shops ascend
ed to gain a foot-path leading TO their
homes, on Westernport hill, and there
awaited his victim, Mr. Edward White
vino had gotten partly up the ladder
when johnson discharged both barrels at
White killing HIM instantly. Johnson
was then arrested and lodged in the West
ernpOrt lookup" until the evening train,
when the authorities intended taking him
to Cumberland to await the action OF the
grand jury meeting in October. Large
crowds gathered around the lookup and
Turing the afternoon numerous threats OF
lynching were made and at $50 when the
town Balitf fattempted to bring Johnson
out, the demonstrations of the crowd were
50 violent that he abandoned the idea OF
taking him to Cumberland at that time
md telpgraphed for the sheriff, who
did not arrive until after nine
o'clock. In the meantime, the
lookup was broken Johnson was beaten
until inseDsible, If not dead, and rope
placed around his neck and pulled to Il
bridge crossing Georges Creek, about
thirty feet from the lookup. One end OF
the rope was then wrapped around the
bridge and the body was kicked of, per-
mitted to hang few minutes, then let
I;tll into the creek. All this occurred be-
tween 7:30 and O'Clock, and not more
than fifteen minutes had elapsed from the
commencement of the attack until John
son was corpse, lying in the middle Of
I. IL
that night, and it was not until the fol-
lowing day that the citizens realized
what terrible disgrace bad beiallen our
community. The tact that an insane
man had been lynched could hardly be
believed.
States Attorney Richmond took vigorous
measures. Detectives were employed and
every effort was made to bring the guilty
parties to Justice. The result OF these cf-
forts was that on the 18th day OF Septem-
Der Sheriff Hank, with fifteen deputies,
came 10 this place and arrested Michael
MalOue, John White, Larry Gillen, John
O'Brien, Mr.. Shaughnessy and Patrick
Riley. ShaughneSsy and Riley were
discharged rs there was not sufficient evil
dence brought against them to commit
them. In few days af-
ter Pat Driscoll, Tim White
and Charles McDade were arrested and
committed to await the action Of the
Grand Jury, who found indictments
against Malone, John and Tim White and
Driscol as inurdercrs, and Gilien, McDade
and Abram as accessories. Malone, the
principal, is a merchant, and stands high
in the community. John White is the son
of Patrick White, of the firm of White,
Glceson & Co., and is 4 nephew Of the
man Johnson killed. The prisoners have
able coui sci, Hon. VIM. Walsh, Messrs.
Semmes aud Sloan, with MessrS Rich
mOnd & Price for the State.