Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-12
ALL EIGHT LIKELY TO HANG
Gov. Brown Not Disposed to
Extend Clemency.
WHAT THE CONDEMNED MEN SAY
Moses Brown Processes Igno-
rance of the Murder.
Hurt Protests His Innocence - Benson
and Baynard Toll All About the
Tragedy = Emory Denies All Knowl-
edge OF the Affair.

Chestert3wn, Nd, Transcript.
Public feeling throughout Kent county
, Is daily intensifying regarding the move.
ment for and against commutation of
the sentence of death in the case of the
four boys, Henry HURT, Charles S.
Emory, Joshua Barnard and Louis Ben.
son, Frisby Comegys, the boy who held
the horse of Dr. Hill while the murder
was being committed, not being included
in the petition for executive clemency.
While strong feeling is most emphati-
cally expressed against a Communication of
the sentence, vigorous effort, headed by
many of the most respected citizens of the
county is being made to enlist executive
clemency in behalf of the condemned boys.
1t is urged as an extenuating feature of
the case that the boys are of such extreme
youth as to- to great extent, preclude any
probability OF there having been the same
degree of premeditation and criminal in
tent as in the case of older men: and, fur
ther, that the boys simply happened to be
on the road, and with the men at the time
DR.. Hill came along, and were not there
for the purpose of murder, and had no
knowledge of what was to be done until
informed by the men at Fords hill where
the murder was committed; that they sim
ply did what the average boy would have
done under similar circumstances. some,
however, go so far as to even doubt the
guilt of the parties.
Those who oppose the movement for
clemency, with equal sincerity, claim that
the case having been submitted to the
only tribunal before which such cases can
be tried-a tribunal which for eminent
legal ability and high moral character
stands unimpeached-the law should be
allowed TO take its course uninterfered
with by the people. They claim that the
best Interests OF the community at large
would thereby be best subseryed and how
ever horrible the affair may be, the ends
of justice and the safety of society demand
that doubtful eXpedientG should not be in
troduced. However much there may be
differences of opinion upon the subject,
there remains no doubt of the sincerity
and conscientious convictions of the re-
spective parties, Several petitions numer-
ously signed, opposing communication of
sentence, have already been forwarded to
the governor, and yesterday long petit
tion of representative gentlemen was car
ried to Annapolis by a number of gentle
men, praying mercy for the unfortunate
boys. Numerous petitions from widely
different sections of the state have been
sent to Annapolis. Among others, a petit
ton from the Baltimore Yearly Meeting
OF Friends; coored and white ministers of
Baltimore, besides number of individual
letters. Numerous persons have and will
visit the governor in behalf of a commu-
tati0n. It is now proposed that the col
ored people Of Chestertown and vicinity
shall send on petition.
The boys fully realize the fearful doom
which COnlrunt5 them and are apparently
preparing for the worst. Each of them
now stoutly insists that they are innocent
Of the crime, and go so far as to claim that
they were not present. Moses Brown the
negro man, declares that he is getting
ready fur death but will die an innocent
man. II has been suggested by some
interested III behalf of the boys that their
execution be postponed until a reasonable
Il - after the execution OF the men hoping
that some confession may be secured ut
the last moment, relieving the boys Of the
terrible implication of guilt which now
rests upon them, Governor Brown will
be put in possession OF every detail Oi the
case, and realizing the fearful responsibility
which rests upon him, will give the matter
his most careful consideration. Just when
the case will be taken up by the governor
is not at present known Whatever may
be the final result of the movements now
being made, it belloOyes the citizens of the
county 10 consider the matter calmly and
dispassiOnately. The county already
suffering from the biighting effects Of il
distressing crime should moi be further
subjected to the humiliation of lawlessness
or violence.
TO RE HANGED IN FAIRS.
CHEsTERrowS, Mp, Jan i.-All neccs-
sary arrangements for the Scalfold upon
which the Hill murderers will he hanged
January l3th have been made. anu the
erection of the machine OF death Will be-
gin tomorrow morning in the Jail yard
within few feet of The west door OF the
prison, The seotfOld will be 20 by 5 feet,
and there will be four traps, each feet
inches by > feet. Each trap will have
double doors. The traps will be constructed
80 that the eight men will he hanged in
pairs, one OF them will stand on each
door and will fall at the same instant. The
beam will be of 6 by & inch Georgia pine.
The scaffold will be made by Fred, Pole.
Baltimore sun special
CHEsTEnrowN, MD., Jan. CDR. Hills
father was in town to-day. He said: "rhis
strain is too much for me. have not had
q restful nights sleep for more than u
week, and will be glad when this fearful
trial is over. My friends and the friends
of my murdered boy are constantly COM
ing to me in regard to this movement for q
conlnutation Of the sentence of the boys
am severely criticised and called blood
thirsty because ask that the murderers
of my son receive the punishment which
the court and the law say is proper; but
would not have one of them hung for
the state of Maryland ii he is innocent
Int | believe them guilty. When the
murder was fresh in the minds of the peo-
pie and intimatiuns were made that vio-
lence might be done, and even when the
court spoke Of the possibility of such Il
tnlIB, L tOuHsGltN luDNcIhtlpll ullu hSkcu
that not man or boy be touched
but that the Law be allowed to take its
course. What Governor Brown will do. of
course, | do not know. but were every boy
turned loose in the streets ] will not raise
my hand against them. They are safe so
far as am concerned" The aged mans
eyes filled with tears as he continued. II
can't help having deep feeling in the mat
ter, but no man i'll the county would
shrink from the shedding of innocent
blood sooner than /. | have made liberal
offer to any one who will secure a confess
biOn from the boys giving convincing evil
dence OF their innocence and to my sorrow
have failed To receive it. Bradshaw, who
turned states evidence in the case, is in
Wilmington, Del, and says that The boys
are guilty and are lying about the matter.
No. am not bOOdthirsty or savage.
only ask justice"
Moses Brown, one of the men says he Il
pletaring to die, but is an innocent MAJ.
Fletcher Williams said several days ago;
will die game
Sheriff Edward J. Plummer of Kent
county has addressed the following letter
to Judge j. a. Wickes: "A sense of duty
impels me to inform You that have good
reasons to believe that may not be able to
carry into effect the execution of the eight
mnrderers of DR.. Hill on the 18th inst
agreeably to the spirit Of the law governing
executions in this state. The law requires
OF me that the execution shall be private
i am advised that great masses Of people
from different counties of the state and
from the State of Delaware arc coming to
the Jail for the avowed purpose to make Of
the executions public exhibition. The