Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-06
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
How Mrs Groff's Assailaut Was Pro-
tected Against Lynchers.

BLADxxsBuRo, Sept l.
Sheriff Darnan returned from Marlboro
yesterday, where he had been sele-
graphed for to protect Henry Thomas,
the negro in Jail there for GU TRACE on Mrs
Croft some time ago aud tells some thing of
the excitement there in consequence of the i'm.
preston that Thomas would be lynched.
Thomas, it seems, had been hiding in the
neishborhood since the commission Of the
crime, about ten days ago, and turned up there
some days ago. He was arrested, not by Dep
uty Sheriff Dove on Monday, as published
but by Constable Frank Beall of Queen Anne
district on sunday. At the time of the com.
mission of the crime he was working for Road
Supervisor Lynthicum in the neighborhood in
which the Groffs resided. Mrs. Croft, the VIC
tim Of the crime, told Mr.. Linthicum that, the
guilty party was a man who had been driving a
certain cart in his employ for some days. When
arrested he was taken before Mrs. Croft, who
said she was pretty sure" he was the man,
though the clothes worn were not the same az
those worn on the day Of the assault When
asked what he had done with his other
suit he said he had sold it, He was
taken to Jail without trouble, but soon
afterward threats were made to lynch
him. pretty large and excited crowd
went to Marlboro and State Attorney Brandt
telegraphed the sheriff that he had better come
down Immediately and take charge, as trouble
was feared. He started of on horseback Sun
day evening about O'Clock and made the ride
of about twenty miles in less than one hour and
q half. When he reached Marlboro he found
excitement running pretty high, but saw no
reason to apprehend immediate danger.
Capt. Chew of the Prince Georges Rifles
offered to put his company at his disposal
to protect the prisoner. but he de-
clined military aid and asked the assistance
of three resolute men, who would take up
quarters with him in the Jail and defend the
prisoner at the peril of their lives if attempt
should be made to break in Volunteers were
Immediately forthcoming, and the. sheriff, with
his guards, passed the next two nights on guard
inside the prison. Sunday night passed with
out incident. About midnight Monday the
Jail door was shaken and he got his men
ready for the fray, but nothing fur
Their was heard of il. Whether an
Jail and the lynchers were frightened of by
seeing the preparations made inside to defend
the building or the alarm was false one he
does not know. Believing the danger about
over he put a guard at the fort yesterday and
came home. Mr. Darnau does not think there
will be further trouble, but believes there
might have been had not prompt action been
taken.
The Prince Georges public schools began
their fall session on Monday. Following are
coming scholastic year: Mr.. Ebert Dent is
transferred from Mullikens to the principal
ship of the Bladensburg school, vice Mr.. Lewis
Ford, resigned; Miss Louisa Gray is transferred
from the assistants place in the Bladensburg
school to similar position at Hyattsville; Miss
Belle Hurley is appointed assistant at Bladens-
burg; Mr.. Dent Downing is transferred from
Hyattsviie to Florencevilie; Miss Estelle Reach
goes to Wardville; Mr.. N. w. q. Neale to Camp
Springs; Miss Stella Tippett to Glenndale; Mr..
+. ]. Grant to the principalship Of Marlboro
academy; Miss Maggie Corbie to Branchville;
Mr.. James sherwood to Beltsville and Miss
Scasscer to North Keys.
Ground has been broken for the new Catho-
lie pastoral residence. The building is to be o
two-story frame, and is to be finished by Octo-
Der I.
The District line of the Bladensburg pike,
which has recently been macadamized
and otherwise repaired at a consid-
cradle expense to the District, needs con-
siderable attention from the authorities. The
earth is washed almost entirely from the stone,
which is being broken into great cavities in
many places along the line.
Miss Sallie Lewis Of Melrose institute, Hyatts-
vile, has accepted the position of principal Of
St James Hall, young ladies' seminary in
Bolivar, Tenn, and left here some days ago for
the new field of her labors. F..