The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-03-12
FORTY MEN SENTENCED.
Two Judges at Baltimore Seal
the Fate of Navassa Rioters.
Three Men Condemned to Death,
the Others to Imprisonment,

George Singleton Key, the murderer OF
James Mahon; Henry Jones, who murdered
Thomas Foster, and Edward Smith, the
murderer of Samuel March, on Navassa
Island, on the 18th of September last, have
been sentenced by Judge Bond, in the United
States Circuit Court, at Baltimore, to be
hanged on the 28th Of March. Fourteen Of
the other rioters, who were convicted Of
manslaughter for participation in the same
crime, were sentenced by Judge Morris tc
long terms at hard labor in the Albany On.
~ Penitentiary, and twenty-three others,
who were convicted simply Of rioting on tho
island, were sentenced to the Maryland
House of Correction for terms ranging from
six months to two years.
The court room was packed while an idle
crowd, mostly colored people, congregated
around the building. The sentencing at one
time of forty human beings to death or i'm.
prisonment for crimes ranging all the way
from murder to rioting. was an event never
before witnessed in Maryland court room,
and seldom seen in any tribunal Of justice.
The prisoners were placed in their customary
seats, and soon after Judges Bond and Nor.
ris took their places upon the bench. A mo-
ton in arrest of Judgment was overruled.
The prisoners were in fine spirits, and indeed
some Of them appeared in high glee while
while they waited for sentence. Not even
those who were to receive the death sentence
appeared the least concerned.
George Singleton Key, who murdered
James Mahon, was first ordered to stand up.
He was closely guarded by Deputy Marshals
and squad Of police officers from the Mid
die District surrounded the whole party.
Judge Bond, addressing the prisoner, asked
him if he had anything to say. to which Key,
with bowed head, repliedt "If hadn't shot
that man he would have shot me. That is
all I have to say" Judge Bond then sent
enced Key to be hanged on the 2Sth OF
March. The prisoner listened attentively,
and then coolly walked back to his seat ap-
parently as composed as if his days had not
been numbered by feilow-being. Henry
Jones, the murderer of Foster, and Edward
Smith, the murderer Of March, were next
sentenced to death. Judge Bond then ad-
vised the condemned men to seek pardon for
their sins.
Judge Bond left the BEECH and Judge Nor
ris proceeded to pass sentence upon the four
teen who were convicted Of manslaughter.
The men were ordered to stand up and all Of
them said that they had nothing to say, e1-
cept Alfred Jones, alias ''Texas Shorty who
made short speech. Each prisoner was SEN
fenced to hard labor in the Albany Peniten-
tiary, and in cases where any of them had
been convicted twice Of manslaughter, the
sentences were concurrent. Alfred Jones,
alias Texas Shorty" was sentenced to ten
wears; Chas. q. Smith, five years; Jas. Rob-
inson, ten years: James Philips, ten years;
Edmund Francis, ten years; James johnson,
five years; Alfred Brown, two years; Ed
ward Woodfork five years; Charles b. Davis,
ten wears; Stephen Peters, ten years; James
Tasker. ten years; Norman Wooster, five
years: Caesar Fisher, ten years; Amos Lee,
two years. In addition to the term Of i'm
prisonment, a fine of 800 was imposed in each
case The twenty three men convicted OF
rioting on the island were then sentenced to
terms in the Maryland House Of Correction.
Eighteen got one year each, two got Two
years, and three got six months.
The prisoners received their sentence with
apparent unconcern and laughed and talked
in merry tones. When they were being
taken back to Jail they had scarcely reached
the street when one Of them struck up:
"Good-By, Ny Lover, Good-By," in which
the gang Joined. When they got into the
Jail wagon Key and Jones stood up, swung
their hats and led the following chorus:
We spent one day on the leland,
Good-by, my lover, good-by.
Charles w. Roby, the superintendent OF
the mines at Navassa at the time Of the riot
and for some years before, will return there:
There are now about one hundred colored
laborers at the island and fifteen white OIL
GERS. The men sentenced above were labor
ers at work on the phosphate beds on the
island ISL ID when they revofted. Three other white
officers will 20 with Mr.. Roby, which
will make force of nineteen officers. The
officers are now well armed with repeating
rifles in case of an outbreak similar to that Of
September "A last. Mr.. Roby says he will
never carry arms unless he is certain that the
men mean trouble. He believes in moral
suasion but will rule firmly.