Evening journal., 1892-10-22


Anair ON the witness stand-He Was
one Of the Four Negroes Threatened
with Lynching,
CHEsTERTowE, Nd. Oct 9i.-The
grand jury yesterday handed to the
court, Judge Wickes presiding, true bills
for murder against eight of the sixteen
negroes in Jail here charged with being
directly or indirectly connected with the
killing of DR.. James Heighe Hill. near
Millington, on the night of Saturday.
April 90 last. They are Charles Brooks,
Fletcher Williams, Moses Brown, Lewis
Benson Frisby Comegys, Charles Emory.
Henry Hurtt and Joshua Baynard The
jury have been four days examining wit
nesses, and IL is understood that the
evidence obtained was not sufficiently
strong at this time to include any more
of the men.
The presentments against the eight
II Is understood, was owing partly to the
testimony OF Perry Bradshaw. who has
turned states evidence, in consequence
of which he will not be included in the
indictments. Bradshaw was before the
jury all Of the afternoon, and when he
was taken back to the Jail he was placed I
in separate cell from any Of the others,
for fear they might get word of his turn
ing states evidence and do him harm.
Perry Bradshaw is lS years Of age and
weighs about 1870 pounds He was with
the crowd the night Of the murder and
. was one Of the four-including Comegys.
Williams and Brooks-against whom
anger was particularly directed at the
time and who, owing TO fear Of lynching
a were removed TO Baltimore city jail ON
, April 20. AT the jail Bradshaw said to
ntfft H..t
out. grabbed the horses bride and
called TO me and Comegys TO come and
hold her. Then Brooks ran back and
, struck the doctor with a stone he had in
bis hand. The doctor begged them not
10 hurt him, and as he spoke Brooks let
: fly the stone, knocking him senseless in
the cart. Fletch Williams then ran up. and
grabbing the doctor by the head. stabbed
him with a penknife Brooks, Nose
Brown and Comegys helped to fix him in
e the dog cart and then chirped to the
:. horse. 'Comegys made practically the same
statement to Warden Constantine as
2 Bradshaw, but added that Brooks gave
v him 20 cents TO hold the horse.
y Cannot Get Counsel.
Ie Prior to receiving the presentments
Judge Wickes decided to adjourn court
" until Saturday and discharged the petit
"a jury until next Tuesday. II will take
" the States attorney two days to draw
,e the indictments and prepare for the
re- prosecution, and unless counsel Is OBJ.
y tanned by the accused men the court will
have 20 assign them counsel No
Il Chestertown attorney win volunteer his
a services. Judge Wickes and States At.
In torney slay both said today that there is
little probability Of the trial beginning
mr. before Tuesday.
l Chief Judge Robinson, Of the circuit.
Nj will be on the bench with Judge Wickes
e. and possibly Judge Stump The latter
a. Is now in Chostertown, but is sufficiently
b indisposed TO need physician, and may
Y not be recovered by Tuesday,
O., All Are Powerful Negroes.
Charles Brooks, who is charged with
le having hit the doctor with a stone is %
I'd years of age and weighs now 1876 pounds
ne His normal weight is said to be 1884 He
TO is five feet four inches, copper-colored.
70 and wears little tuft Of hair on top of
20 his bead, the rest being shaved.
et Fletcher Williams, who is accused Of
or having cut the doctors throat, is 27
g years Of age and is Of powerful build.
s' weighing 1872 pounds. He is 8 feet
IS. inches tall Il is said a knife was found
IN in his pocket on which blood could plainly
a be seen.
ry Moses Brown is % years of age, is Very
IN dark and large, weighing 1876 pounds. He
r. lived with William H. Ford near Milling
tan. Lewis Benson is IS years Of age and
lB also lived with Mr. Ford Henry Hurtt
n is IA years Of age and lived with DR.. Il.
ey g. Clark, about three miles from Milling.
es ton. Frisby Comegys, Charles Emory
re and Joshua Baynard, the other indicted
negroes, are yonng in years also to be
arraigned for murder.
Confessions and Strong Evidence.
VI Howard Simpson, colored boy. who
-, lived with Mr. William NJ Cacy. near
~, Massey's, testified at the inquest that on
~ the Monday following while at the
Ne Ne creamery Henry Hurtt drove up and
~. seemed very much scared, 80 much so
~ that he asked him what he was scared
IA at. Hurtt replied: IF you had seen what
az | have you would be scared too Hurtt
~ also said he was with Charles Brooks.
-, Joshua Baynard Frisby Comegys,
" Fletcher Williams and Charles Emory
"A when he saw what he did.
at Henry Hurtt, another one of the
,e. wretched negroes who is IA years of
"a age, said he left Millington with the
a. crowd named by Baynard When the
.o dog cart came along with one man in il
some one in the crowd halloOed to him
TO hold up, but he kept on. Brooks ran
n, out and caught the horse, then called
m. Comegys aud Bradshaw TO come hold him
rar Brooks then ran back aud threw the
av stone. The Doctor fell senseless in the
~ cart. Fletcher Williams then ran up
he and grabbing the Doctor with his left
i, hand stabbed him in the throat with a
~ penknife. Brooks and Williams then
-o fixed him in the cart and started the
g horse. Me and Baynard and Emory stood
on one side the road and watched the
whole thing. We then went on TO our
homes, Williams, Brooks and others stop
gre ping a short while in Cooper's house.
he did not know the doctor was coming
on along the road, nor did l know Of any
raj plot TO kill him. We boys were told by
we Williams and Brooks not to say anything
about the killing, under penalty Of be-
ing hurt ourselves.
gh CITY NEWS m BRIEF.
led