Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-05

tuS SOiprcu fellows VINO were arrested Tor
the murder of DIR. j. II. Hill. near Mil
lington, Nd. were taken to Baltimore last
night and lodged in jail. Sheriff f. j.
Plummer of Kent county, Md. who had
charge of the prisoners, said the people in
and near Millington were so greatly ex-
cited that it was thought the prisoners
might be lynched. This induced the Kent
county authorities to send the prisoners
from the Chestertown jail.
Thursday night vigilance committee Of
2OO men, among whom were some of the
most prominent citizens of Kent county,
started for the jail with the ayowed pur-
pose of taking the prisoners out and
HANGING THEM TO THE NEAREST TREE.
They halted some distance from the
town to await a favorable hour. Meantime
a friend OF the sheriff learned of the inten-
ton Of the vigilance committee and
promptly informed the sheriff The sher-
IFS residence is attached to the jail. and
his wife is Just recovering from severe
illness. She was not in condition to endure
the shock of a mob of 200 men breaking
down doors and dragging prisoners to d
gallows. Sheriff Plummer sent messen-
ger to inform the leaders of the vigilance
committee Of his wife's condition and to
dissuade them from their purpose.
Prompted by sympathy for the sick
woman The avenging crowd dispersed.
THE LYNcIlERs DETERMINED.
Yesterday morning the sheriff was in
formed that the vigilance committee
would return that night. The warning
was given so that he could take his wife
away. The sheriff consulted with States
Attorney Stay and Mr.. W. III. Vickers,
who are managing the case for the state.
and it WIS determined to send the four
who are regarded as the principals in the
murder to Baltimore. A special train of
one locomotive and one car was sent from
Clayton to Chestertown, and Il few min
utes before . O'Clock III the afternoon the
four prisoners, securely handeutfed and
chained, were placed in covered convey
ances and driven To the railroad station
and placed aboard the train. So quietly
was everything arranged that the train
had lett the station before the people of
Chestertown knew what had been done
The sheriff had two assistants with him,
each armed with a revolver, and besides, a
Winchester rifle was convenient IL the
hand OF each. The special train made the
run to Clayton III an hour, where il had to
wait threo-quarters of an hour for train
TO Porter's.
AN ANGRY CROWD AT CLAYTON.
The news that the sheriff had the
prisoners IN charge quickly spread and ina
short time nearly 100 persons had gathered
around the railroad station. The sheriff
said that at one time it looked as il he
would never get his prisoners away from
Clayton. As they started across the plat.
form for the train. which was to take
them to Porter's, some person called out
that the prisoners ought to be dealt with
right there, but a bold front carried the
day for the sheriff and his party, and they
continued their Journey to Baltimore with
out further incident.
TWO PRISONERS CONFESS.
The train reached Union station nj :
O'Clock in the evening and the entire party
drove 70 the city Jail in carriages. Brooks
and Williams We're at once locked IN In
cells on the ground floor, but Bradshaw
and Comegys were taken into Warden
Constantne's office and questioned con.
l,cernlng the murder; Comegys, the younger
of the two, declared that he knew nothing
about the murder. Perry Bradshaw adj.
United that he was present at the time, He
| said the colored people had been incensed
by party of white men who drove along
| the road in Il peach wagon and swore al
them. When they began to pick up stones
| the white men drove away Some Of tie
colored fellows then said they would 20
| for the next person who came along. The
| first person was DR.. Hill. Brooks caught
| ms horse by the head and called TO some
| one to hold the animal while lie struck
l)r. Hill with a stone, Williams then ran
up and cut the doctor in the throat with d
Kflltc. After 1amming the body into the
| bottom OF the cart, the DOCTORS horse was
turned around and started toward home.
bradshaw and Comegys are mere boys
the former about l6 years old the latter
about IA. In appearance they do not
differ from the average colored farm
laborer. Brooks is Is years old, but looks
older. He is about five feet seven inches
tall and weighs $50 pounds. His skin Is
light brown and his face is full and round.
Williams, although but little taller than
Brooks, weighs 100 pounds and has the
appearance Of great physical strength. His
face u long, of light brown color, and his
hair is close cropped.
WHAT OTHER NEdRoEs SAY.
special dispatch TO the Baltimore .stit
from Clestertowli last night saws: Detcc-
tive Sevins of the Pinkerfou force Lnvver
Nickers and the sheriff held an examining
ton Of the parties i'll the Jail Thursday
night Philip Manda farm laborer, SAID
that FriZby Comegys made the following
statement 10 him last sunday
when lJr. Hill came out Of town Buck
BROOKS threw stone and knocked him
over and then while (Comegys) held fl,a
horse Fletcher Williams cut the doctor
with a knife.
The reason | did not tell this before lie
jury continued Manda, was because IA
crowd was too hig. Comegys said also that
when they killed the doctor they damned
liil lllO llle cart,
Manda is about 20 years Of age and bears
a good reputation.
frlzby Comcgys was asked in reference
70 Alaudas statement and denied telling
him anything or of being along the roaq
when the doctor was killed.
Suck Brooks when examined denied the
charges against him. Stains that looked
like blood were found OH lis coat sleeves
and on his shirt. He said it was mol;lsses.
flelcher Williams was shown Il knife
winch he had saturday night, and Ne
identified 1t ny a nick in the small blade.
Marks Ike blood were found in TIC Knife
handle. Williams attention was called a.
Ihis, but ne simtly sad, can't help It, |
know nothing OF the AFFAIR."
Alfred White, prisoner who was in the
same corridor with Brooks IN The Chester
town jail, and in the cell with Gotnetys.
SAID that Brooks called to Gomegvs not 10
tel anything, and that Comegys told
White thai lie and bradshaw held Tie
horse while Brooks and Williams did the
killing. Vt the eight men who were mr..
rested, Harry Hurt, Joshua Bavnard.
Charles Einory and fhilip Manda are now
III the Chestertown Jail These four ara
considered acGOmplices, the four IN Inc
i,altlmo city jail being considered prin-
! cipals,
THE rRlsosERs AT CLAYTON.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and journal
CLAYTON, April 30-!shcrilf Plummer Of
Kent county, Md, arrived here about
3.m r. m yesterday, on special
train from Chestcrtown en- route to 'l,alti-
more, having N custody Williams, brooks,
, bradshaw and Cpmcgy, four Of tile mur.
derers ot pr, Hill of Millngton.
lirookS, thick set negro HE one who
, battered the doctors head with the stone.
was the only man Il show any symptl,rn-
ot alarnl Ills face wore q worried and
starcd look and hc was very nervous as he