Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-12-03
Lynched

UPPER MARLBORO. Md. Dec. -Abouf
2;30 O'clock this morning band of masked
men came to the Ill, overpowered the keep
er and broke open the cell OF Joe Vermil-
| lion, took him and lynohed him on the
! bridge leading to this village. As soon as
J. A. Ridgeway, the jailkeeper, opened the
door two men grabbed him and covered him
with pistols. They then went up stairs,
broke open the CELL dragged Vermilion to
the bridge and INN ediately executed their
| work. His body is still hanging. waiting an
| inquest during the day. o. the night OF
November 22i, j ,hn Vermilion, who lived
near Halls Station, was forciby taken from
his home and tied to tree. The unknown
visitors th 50 removed his furniture and set
| dre to the log cablo. Fearing bodily harm
the man promised to leave the vicinity i'm
medistely. whereupon he was released and
left for parts unknown. He had several
SOUS Ga Monday November %, near Mul
liken,s station, two large barns and tene.
ment house we're fred by incendaries. The
Saturday night before buildings were buro-
ed 10 different parts oiQueen Anne district
On the theory that the buildings were set
on fire out OF revenge for the treatment Of
Joe Vermilion, it was determined to arrest
the whole family of Vsrmlions, who had
taken up their residence at Benning.s sta
ton. Accordingly oonstabss from Upper
Marlboro went to the home Of the Vermi'
lions and arrested E lward. John jr, George,
Lloyd and joseph VsrmIlion, all fathers OF
large families, Charles Ball, q brother-ir-
law OF the Vermillions was also taken into
custody. Ths oonstables took the prisoners
at the point ofrevolyers. John Vermilion jr.
told the off ;ers that his brother Joe was
the CAUSE of the trouble. John said that on
Saturday night November 49, about $50
o'clock. Joseph, who had been living in the
woods, came to hs house and threatened to
gst ey en- with those who would not give his
father justice In the flair of the night before
friday when the elder Vermiliou's house
was. burned by band OF men, who tied him
to tree, aud only released him on a prou
ise to leave the neighborhood. Both the
father, who was 10 Johns house. and John
himself tried to persuade Joe from carrying
out the threat, whereupon he left. About
1880 Joe returned to the house and asked
to be admitted, carrying in his hand ccal
oil can. He told J)hn that he had little
fire of his own. He Immediately left and
nothing was known of his whereabouts III
til he was arrested. John Vermlion, sr..
aged 70 years, the father OF the men srres.
ed, was not arrested. At preliminary
hearing, John Vermiion, jr., testified as to
the burning of his fathers house near Halls
Station. Lloyd Vsrmilion testified that he
SAW his brother joe on Saturday afternoon
about O'Clock with coal oil can. Joe
stated he was going to burn out Mr..
]. 7. Clark that night as he had
burned one of his houses two yesrs ago. Joe Yer.
million pleaded not guilty, aud said be was not in
the county at the time. He was sent to jail to
await the action of the grand jury AMI imme-
dia:ey placed in irons after resisting the Off GERS.
As there was no evidence to implicste any one
else, the charge Of arson against the other Yer
millions was dismissed, but thirteen citiz,ps swere
cut peace warrants against each of the other Yer.
million boys, and they ware placed in jail in de.
fault of $500 BAIL