Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-17
MURDER AND LYnCHIHG.
EDWARD WHITE SHOT BY DAVID
JOHNSON THE LATTER HANGED
BY A MOB.

/ ~ " AhD III T. rllOl Ia ia ~
JOHNSON-THE LATTER HANGED
BY A MOB.
CUMBERLAND, MD, Sept. H.
The quiet town of Westernport, this
state, opposite Piedmont, W. va,
was the scene today of n peculiar
and horrible double tragcdy-a de
liberate murder, followed by a
lynching. The victim of the first
crime was Edward White, an en-
ploye of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad shops at Piedmont, and
his slayer was David Johnson, a
middle-aged man, generally sup
posed to be insane.
Shortly after twelve O'Clock today
White, who lives in WesternpOrt,
was on his way to dinner, accom-
panied by several other persons, and
started up ladder leading to a
path going toward his homo on
WesternpOrt hill. Johnson was in
the path at thetop the of adder, and,
without saying a word, he fired on
the pnsuspecting White with n
double.barrled shotgun. lie fired
twice, both loads taking effect in
Whites head, killing him Instantly.
The murdered man was aged
about IS, and leaves wife and sew
en- children. He bore an eXcellant
reputation, and was not known to
have had any trouble with John
son. The murderer was about 80
years old, and leaves family. He
had lived III Piedmont many years,
and formerly worked at the Balti-
more ard Ohio shops there. Lat.
terly he has not had regular en-
plOyment, but was sexton of one of
the Piedmont churches. 1t is said
he had tried to kill several men,
and had threatened White. 1t is
said the propriety Of locking him
up as dangerous man had been
often discussed, but never acted on.
From all accounts religious mania,
combined with homicidal tendency,
seem to have been his trouble
johnson was an old resident of
Piedmont, and was a leading wit
ness in the case Of Brydon vs.. Bal
timOre and Ohio Railroad Company,
tried in Baltimore.
lie was placed in the lookup at
Westernport and Sheriff IIouck
was teiegraphed to come up, prob
ably with a view to his safe re-
moval to Cumberland Jail, as the
citizens were much incensed over
the affair, White having been very
popular. Before the sheriff reached
Piedmont Johnson had paid the
penalty of his crime. All the even
ing an angry crowd surrounded
the lookup and at eight o'clock it
became a bloOd.thirsty, surglng
mob.
Finally the llimsy building was
entered and the trembling man was
led out and hung from a beam o.
the county bridge over Georges
creek. 1t is said his body was
hurled in.o the creek. No further
details are known here. There was
intense excitemen, in both Pied
mont and Westcrnport, which are
on opposite sides of the river. The
lynching is said to be the first IN
AlIegany county.
ROwLESBURG, W. VA, Sept
David Johnson, WHO was lynched
tonight, was a ScOtchman, living at
Westernport, Nd. He had been
for long time very much incensed
against the Irish. He was thought
to be ont of his head, as there was
no reason known for his being so
opposed, to persons Of that nation
atty.
About week ago Johnson made
an attack with a hammer on a fell
low. workman named Rooney, in the
same boiler shop where White
worked. lie was discharged from
the shop and has been doing moth
ing since. 1t is not known wheth-
er his killing of White today grew
out of the discharge. About three
years and half ago Johnson's son
was very badly crushed in one Of
the mines of the Cumberland re-
gion. lie lay for three years per.
iectly helpless, and the father had
this care on his mind, which is be-
lieved to have affected his reason.
About three months ago the son
died.