Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-05-13
DRAGGED TO DEATH.
A MARYLAND NEGRO LYNcHED
BY AN iNFuRlATED NOS.


Mrs. ToIson, is Jsrked From His Bed
in the osntrsviIle Jai', Dragged to a
Peach Tree, and Hung without wa-n-
inE-Excited Negroes.
STAFF Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
CBNTREvILLB. Md, day l3.-The
lynching of Asbury Green. colorec. at
o'clock yesterday morning, ard the
revengeful mutterings of the negroes
last night, have excited this
town beyond measure Green COM
mltted Nm assault on Mrs. Mary Am
Tolsen, on Kent Island, on February 2S
His trial began and ended last Satur
day The Jury declared him guilty
after twenty minutes elaboration
He was sentenced by Justice
stump, at noon yesterday, to be imprls-
oned twenty-one years. Just thirteen
hours afterwards he was taken from the
Jail by a mob Of 100 masked men, drag
ged q short distance from town and
strung to u peach tree. He was dead, II
is believed, before he had been dragged
100 yards. The mob dispersed immedi
ately, and no man is suspected Of com
plicity in the lynching
The Lynohed Negro.
Green was % years old and married
he had been working for the Tolson
family for eight years, and occupied the
tenant house on the Kent Island farm.
His victim, Mrs. Ann Tolson, is "a years
old At the trial last Saturday, her
evidence was conclusive. The case was
heard before the full bench. Judges
Robinson, Stump and Wicks P. B
.tntafo .tN a -.
ex Controller Thomas J Ketting in pros
ecuting the case I. L. Walton Harley
was assigned by the court to defend
Green The plea was an alibi. An ex
cited crowd SLED the Court House during
the short trisl and the verdict Of the jury
was approved. By the law of Maryland
the punishment for rape is hanging, or
imprisonment from eighteen months to
the court. Yesterday 1t was whispered
in the streets that the judges had decided
to impose the penalty Of imprisonment
An Angry Popuiaos
The people wanted the negro hanged,
and when the early rumor was verified
in Green being sentenced to twenty one
years Imprisonment they determined
that he should die. Judge Stump said,
IN passing sentence, there was
some doubt about the negro's
identity. Kent Island is seventeen
miles from here, but it did
not take long for the news to reach
there, and soon residents OF that place
were bound for Centreville Something
was ia the air and the inhabitants OF
this town expected the tragedy
which followed. Most persons
agree that the lynchers repre-
scented every district in Queen
Auues county, but assert that they do
not know any Centrevillians who partici.
pated.
To Preserve Peace.
The night was cloudy aud Il rained
several times, Sheriff 7. B. Turner and
his deputy, F Frank Seward anticipated
trouble and swore in Joseph b. Corsey,
Joseph NJ Simmons. James Seward,
George Rimner, Ehphus Yates aud John
Seward to assist in guarding { he prisoner,
who was confined in the centre cell of the
Jail, which Is Of brick, has twelve cells
aud is on the main street, near the Court
House. These men we're armed.
A silent Army.
The mob formed about 400 yards fro
town. It's members came in canoes up
the Corsica river and by carriage aud
horseback 10 the meeting place They
kept so quiet that their presence was not
known until they marched In double file
within fifty yards Of the jail. Two low
whistles was heard by neputy Seward
and that was his knowledge that the
mob was after Green.
All Hands Held Up.
Deputy T. Frank Seward tells the fol-
loving story
"The mob reached the jail gate at ave
minutes after l o'clock Sixty men
were masked and forty were not, the
masks covered their cheeks and eyes
and some of them blackened their fore
heads, while others had their coats
turned inside out. Every one was
armed. The leader WAS tall and well
built. BE asked for me l replied
Here am, what's the natter No
answer was given, but the mob made a
rush for the door | stopped the
foremost, and ordered them back Half
a dozen of them pointed their weapons
at mo and demanded the keys. Whtn
refused they rushed against me
and pushed me to ths wall and
one Of them choked me while
the keys were taken from my pocket
Then they found their way to the Jail,
which leads from the sheriif's office AT
this moment Sheriff Turner appeared az
the head Of the stairway. They saw him
and covered him with weapons, ordering
him to stay where he was. de stayed
there. My deputies were forced to sub
nit The rooms we're full of men, but
l did not know any of them.
Dragged From His Fed.
"They went into the jail corridor and
found As6ury Green asleep in his cell
/ he WAS jerked from his bed, aud a rope
tied 10 a hangman's knot about his neck.
/ His screams Of murder and for mercy hac
no effect They dragged him from the
| jail, and he was never on his feet. BE was
given no time to pray or speak. l think
tie fall from the porch broke his neck
| and believe he was dead before be wa
dragged 100 Yards He never made 8
sound after leaving the Jail"
Scene Of ths Hanging.
Green's attorney, Harley, left tn,
house unframed as the mob entered
The distance from the Jail TO the place o.
the hanging is over 600 yards. The,
took him 20 the Chesterfield farm, owner
by Mrs Rev. E. B. Newman and tenanteC
by ex- Sheriff z Hopper Smith, aud stood
him on his feet while they threw th,
three strand eigi t-foot long hemp rop,
over the limb Of peach tree 20 yard
from the road known as Wharf lane
The Negroes Body
His only clothing was an undershirt
drawers and stockings There they lef
him and quietly dispersed. leaving TO NJ