New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-14
FOUR OF DIR. HILLS MURDERERS HANGLD.
DIsORDERLY SCENES AT THE GALLows-TIIE

DISORDERLY SCENES AT THE GALLOwS-TIIE
CRIME FOR WHICH THE MEN DIED
Chestertown, Md, Jan. l3-Four OF the eight CON
vic'ed murderers OF DR.. J. iciehe iIili paid the
penalty for ticir crime in the jan yard here shortly
after noon today. The trap fell at 10 80 O'Clock
and In less than an hour the four negroes dead
| and buried The men were Fletcher Williams. Charles
W. Brooks. Moses Brown and Frsby Comegys. As
soon as the drop fell shout Of exultaton arose
from the men who surrounded the scaiod. Fletcher
Williams and Moses Brown died almost without
strus Gle. their necks broken. Brooks and
Comeeys went through the most appalling contor.
lions The latter died from strangulaton, and the
formers death due to the dislOCation OF his neck
Comegys. the Youngest Of the quartet. conscious
for at least FIVE minutes while dangling from the
rope. The Old farmers who gathered about the
dying men laughed and some cursed the negroes
AT IL 80 the bodies cut down. placed in pine
collins at once. and two express wagons conveyed
them to the cemetery. After the hanging the people
quietly dispersed.
Contrary TO what was generally expected by every
one, Chcstcrown outside OF the Jail precincts. passed
n quiet night. The streets Of the little place were
almost entirely deserted except by the posse summoned
a couple OF days ago by sheriff Plummer. These
guards in and hrces, armed with guns rifles and
pistols dating from the hntlocks used In the Revou
ton 10 the modern slfactins revolver parol'd the
streets nearly all night long and until the hanging
took place The streets around the Jail crowded
carly In the forenoon by mob OF men bowling fer
admlttance within the Enclosure. BY IL so O'Clock
the people swarming top Of the high board
fence and in the vicinity a disgraceful riot
cnsucd. members of the posse foremost
| In violating Sheriff Plummers and Commander Crews
orders. The latter made earnest appeal TO his
men 10 preserve order. and rush was made 10 pro-
,ect the fences which had meanwhile been partially
demolished. swords and sabres drawn. but the
weapons were quickly dragged from the grasp OF the
~
engaged In for the possession of muskets and
rifles but serious injury resulted TO the contestants.
II very cold and the guards and spectators grew
impatient the hour of IL 80 approached. Bring
Them out :" they yelled. If You don't hurry up and
hang them. we will" Here they comet" went up
with a shout from the crowd the wrciche1 >hamhlcd
to their places the scaffold. An instant later the
trap ,prung. Then came murmurs OF regret that
four OF the eight traps unoccuPicd. Governor
Grown was rounGly abused for committing on Wcdnc>
day last the sentences Of the other four implicated
IN the murder.
Repeated Efforts made during the night by
the father OF the murdered and others to secure
confessions from the negroes, but each man stuck to
his story and absolutely denied all knowledge Of tho
crime The condemned men passed the time singing
and praying with colored preacher.
Or. Hill was graduated from the medical depart
ment OF the University OF Pennsylvania In 1850. lilo
settled in ,Mlngton. Kent County. near which place
he was born and whore his father still lives. lie
became n popular and successful practitioner. on
the night of saturday, April 80 1o02, DR.. Hill started
in his road cart few minute, past 10 O'Clock 10
visit sick child a few mites from Millincton. When
the bridge crossing small stream al the foot
Of what Is known Fo.d's lilI his cart vas stopped
hy 2 band Of negro men and boys Two II the boys.
FliSby Comcgys and Perry bradshaw, held the horse;
Charlie, Brooks struck the doctor on the side Of the
head with large stone, and Fletcher Williams stabbed
him I'm the neck. The unconscious body If the doctor
wa then placed, face downward, in the road cart by
Moses Brown. Williams and Brooks, the head showed
under the iron brace and the horse turned loose In
the road and struck several blows TO make him
away. in oder to give the impression that death was
the result Of the runaway. The animal drew the
vehicle 4 the door OF Or. Hills stable where the body
Of her husband found by Mrs. Hill.