Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-04
THE MARLBORO, LYNCHING.
Inquest on the Body of Joe vermiIlion
Yesterday.

when the sun rose at Upper Marlboro yes
terday its rays shone on the half naked and
horribly mangled body of Joe yermillion hang
ing from the Patuxent railroad bridge. On his
feet were his Jail chains. His neck was cut by
the rope and his tongue lolled out of his mouth.
About o'clock the body was cut down and
Justice Harris held an inquest. Jailer Ridge
way told the story OF the mob's coming as re-
lated in The STARS dispatches yesterday.
One of his assailants he recognized
The Baltimore Suns correspondent in
graphic account of the affair says:
As soon as he released the prisoner
wrenched off an iron sash from the window and
made a furious attack upon his assailants. He
was soon overpowered, but not until he had
brought blood, which was smeared over the
iron Stats of the cell door and the sash. A rope
was tied around his neck. his feet and hands
were bound, and ne dragged down the
steps. out of the JAIL and thence into the street
There he again resisted, and two men, one at
his feet and the other at his head. dragged
showed and carried him to the bridge, the mob
accompanying on horseback. Vermillion's
cries and cp-ses rang out he was dragged
along, and awakened the residents, who raised
their windows and peered out to learn the
cause of the noise.
WARNED BY HIS BROTHERS.
In the cells adjoining that occupied by Joe
Vermillion are his brothers Edward, John, jr.,
George and Lloyd. Two of them in a cell
looking out on Main street had been awakened
upon the approach OF the lynchers, and they
yelled TO Joe across the corridor to be ready.
They say they also warned Mr.. RidSeway not to
open the Jail door, but the warning was not
heard. All the brothers begged the mob not
to harm Joe, but their appeals fell upon deaf
ears. Their cries for mercy were still ringing
through the cell when their brother was
dragged out. Then Mr.. Ridgeway released
and aroused several of his neighbors, but no
pursuit was made, as 1t was feared the mob
would use their pistols to repel an attack.
The mob's first halt after their start from the
jail was at an elm tree near the home of Sandy
Dent, colored, but some one approaching
and they moved on. An attempt was made to
throw a rope over limb of tree. After all
the details of Vermillion's death. as far as
certainable. had been heard by the jury they
rendered a verdict that he had met his death
by lynching by parties unknown to the jury"
The body of the lynched man was buried in
the Jail yard. No service of any kind was held,
but from the windows overlooking the scene
gazed Edward and John yermillion. jr., broth
ers of the dead man, weeping piteously.
Joe, who was hanged. about feet
inches tall. He was twenty-seven years old
and of 1.-the, powerful build. He had extra
ordinary courage and was OF a nature that re-
sented supposed injury upon the moment il
was offered. He had small black beard grow
ing upon his cheeks. lip and chin, black eyes
and rather gOOd-loOkinS face. The dead man
had figured frequently in the courts of Prince
Arundel county and when only six years old
was tried at Annapolis for stealing corn from
Thomas Clark. All the Vermiiions are litter
ate and bear a bad name