Evening journal., 1892-05-04
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
Four Negroes Held for Or Hills Mur-
der and Six as Accessories.

Mysterious Actions Of Brown aud Ben
son, Two New CoIored Prisonsrs-rhe
Body OF DIR. HnI to BE Exhumed and
Again Examlned-spociaI Session OF
Court to BE Held.
The jury OF inquest empanelled by
Coroner Pippin OF Kent county, Mary
land, to investigateithe death of DR. James
Hsighe Hill OF Millington, who was found
dying in his rode cart on Sunday morn
ing, April "a, met in Chestertown yes
tetday. The jury declared, after hearing
testimony until after o'clock this after
neon, that DR.. Hill was killed by a
knife thrust delivered by Fletcher
Williams and a blow with a stone ad
ministered by Charles Brooks. Frisby
Comegys and Perry Bradshaw. who held
the horse, were charged with murder.
Emery, Hurtt Baynard and Others were
held as accessories or witnesses.
THE WHOLE PLOT REVEALED.
When the inq lest opened there was a
little tit as to authority between the
states attorney. w. NJ. Slay, and the
coroner. IL was over Moses Brown and
Lewis Benson. The latter wss arrested
yesterday. Last sunday evening Moses
Brown confessed that he was with the
boys when DR. Hill was killed. LAWYER
Vickers fret explai ed to him that what
ever he said was said without promises
Of Immunity. All that Brown said and
the questions asked him were rsduced to
writing. The facts were learned from
him after Emory and Hurtt had told Mr.
Vickers what they knew Sunday after
noon.
Yesterday morning Lewis Bensoa was
arrested and last evening he made state.
ment to Sheriff Plummer, which cor
roborafed Brown in every particular. he
told all the details Of Williams promo
sitions to kill DR.. Hill, how the lob was
done; how he and Brown, as Brown re.
lated, struck at him with their pocket
knives when Williams threatheDed them
how they threw their knives into the
branch or brook below Mr.. Ford's. anc
how the story they had arranged to tel
was agreed upon on the bridge. Bott
Brown and Benson Gle lrly stated that
the job was done out Of revenge fol
Tom Campbell's death.
On Monday afternoon several promi-
nent citizens were In the jail. The,
talked with Nose Browd. He told then
the story, saying that there we're min,
In the job. States Attorney Slay and Mr.
| Vickers were most anxious that the state
ments made by Brown and Benson shoulC
not be made public for two reasons. The,
feared the sensational character of theil
admissions would infame the publi,
mind and they wished to invessigat,
what they had said.
THEY VOTE AGAINST THE Alto 2NEYs
When the coroner's court ;opened yes
terday morning Mr. Stay and Mr.. Vlckeri
both objected to these two men being ex
amined Steve Cooper had been exam
ined without results aud Lewis Benson
was In the room when the states attorne,
objected to his testimony being .aken
The coroner put the question to vot,
and the jury decided to examine every
one.
Negroes onange Their Minds.
Benson admitted that he had made /
statement. He said that what he hat
said, however, was not true. he CAV.
no explanation as to why he had made
an untrue statement. He admitted that
he was with the crowd up to Ford's gate
and these went In, leaving Moses Brown
talking with Williams at the gate
Moses Brown said that his own state
ment was untrue. Brown admit
ted that he made the state
ments. The stories told by Brown
and Benson are very circumstantial and
IL Is believed there Is considerable evil
deDce in connection thel ewith which will
be developed. There are several facts
mentioned In their statements which
would appear to be corroborated by cir
cumstantlal evidence. Should theii
knives, which they carried and whlcl
they say they threw into the branch, bs
found. this fact will have an important
bearing on the statements made by them
GREAT CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
The first that was known Of the mel
throwing their knives into the hrancl
was when Brown was asked what he di,
with the knife he had the night Ir. Hi
was XII led. he said he threw It into th
branch. Benson last evening. whel
asked what he did with his knife ais
said he had thrown IL into the branch
He, when arrested, WAS locked up In
different part OF the Jail from Brow
and It Is singular that both shouii
tell the same story. Both, when ques
toned related an act which would seer
TO have created one Of the most import
ant pieces OF circumstantial evidence 4
the case There are also several othe
points in the statements made by them
which appear to be well established Tw
OF the boys IN the case have said ths
Brown was there when the crime wa
com nitted, all the others deny It. Non
state that Benson WAS present
TO ExHUMR THE BODY
Philip Mands, Henry Hurtt, Charlie
Emery and John Bsynard testified {
what they had previously confessed. Di
j. Harton Kelly described the wound
sustained by Or. Hill The body Of Di
Hill Is to be exbumed and q post
mortem examination made. speciI
grand jury snda special term Of court !
to be convened TO try these prisoners
The regular term Of court does not 81
until October.
NAV Party and Hop.