Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-14
MARYLAND's ouAoRUpLe HANGING.
some Disgrscsfui Accessories - The
Hanaees Protest Their iupocence.
fBy telegraph % the Dispstch.I

CHrsrEErowE, MD. January 13.--Four OF
the convicted murderers Of DIR. j. II. Hill
maid the penalty for their crime in the Jail
ward here shortly after noon to-day. The
trap fell Of 1880 o'clock, and In less than
an hour the four negroes were dead and
buried. The men were: fletcner WIZ
hame. Charles w. Brooks. Moses Brown,
and Frisby Comegys.
The streets around the Jail were crowd
ed early in the forenoon By a mob OF men
bowling for admIttance within the enclo-
sure. By Ii:3O o'clock the citizens were
swarmine on top Of the high board fence
and the trees in the vicinity. disgrace
tul riot ensued. Some members OF the
posse conitaius were foremost IN violating
Sheriff Plummer's and Commander crews
orders. The latter made an earnest ap-
neal 10 his men 10 preserve order, aud 3
rush was made 10 protect the fence. which
had mean while been partially demolished.
swords and sabres were drawn, but the
weapops were quickly dragged from the
grasp of the posse by the intruders. Seve-
raj tugs of war were engaged IN for posses
SION OF muskets and rifles. but no serious
injury resulted to the contestants.
IL was very cold, and the guards and
spectators grew impatient as the hour OF
15.3O epnroached. bring them out"
thew yelled. eff YOU don't hurry up and
hang them we will" Here they come"
goes up with q joyous snout from. the
crowd as the poor wretches, falterlngly
shamble to their places on the scaholu.
An instant later the trap was sprung and an
intense yell of e1ultation went up from
hundreds of Threats. DR.. Hill, their
friend. had been avenged.
Then came murmurs of regret that four
of the eight traps were unoccupied. Gov
| ernor Brown was roundly abused for CON-
muting on Wednesday last the sentences
OF the other four men implicated IN the
murder. At half-past o'clock this morn
| ing Samuel L. Hill and Walter 5. Hill, the
| father and brother of DIR. J. IL. hun, tne
murdered man. were admitted TO the jail.
| The elder Mr.. Hill expressed wish to TAX
alone with the condemned prisoners with
| a view to forcing a confession from them.
| The colored ministers and other Visitors
were requested to leave the cell-room
and the two gentlemen entered the
room and were locked up with the
prisoners and watchmen. The two gentle
| men remained IN the cell-room for nifty
minutes. and then left the jail, after an
| nouncinp that their visit had been entirely
unsuccessfIll. While the two gentlemen
were in the Jail a number or the posse
came to the door Of the Jail and sought
| admission, under the impression that the
hanging was TO take place immediately
| Jbev we're turned away. and then every
thing guieted down. and all retired save
eight deputies and the reporters. lie.
peated efforts were made during the night
to secure confessions from the poor
negroes, but each mau stuck to his story
and absolutely denied all knowledge OF
| the crime.
A sensation was caused by deputy
warden. one Of the death-watch, who hac
been drinking heavily; lie insisted on o.,
| this had continued a while he suggested
that they dance little. Sheriff PlummeII
| then appeared on the scene and ordere1
| the deputy out of the building.