Evening journal., 1893-01-09

summon before the day OF execution, the
posse comitatus, or power of the county
that is, such a number of citizens as are
necessary to assist you in preserving the
public peace on that day, and In quell-
ing any riot or disorder which may occur.
before or at the time of the execution.
Every one who is summoned is bound
to obey the summons and to assist you in
preserving the public peace, and if any
one should refuse to attend or assist he
may be punished by fine or imprison-
ment. But, l cannot suppose that any
law-abiding citizens when called upon,
will hesitate to perform that high duty.
The occasion will be one of great solemn
ity, and good order should prevail. The
reputation and character of the com
munity is at stake. aud any disorderly
conduct or riotous proceeding would not
only be gross violation of the law, but
would bring discrediJ, if not disgrace,
upon the people of the county.
Should, however, there be any at
tempt to interfere with you or to break
down the barriers which have been or
may be erected. to exclude the public,
let the person or persons so offending be
at once arrested and committed to the
county Jail. Such attempt or such in
terference would be grave Offense upon
which the party could be indicted and
severely punished. Any member Of the
posse has the right to make the arrest.
Yours very respectfully.
-. A. WIcKEs."
Two Hundred Citizens with shotgnns.
Acting upon these instructions the
sheriff has gotten up list of 2O0 of the
leading citizens of Kent county, whom
will 10 10
conitatus He will start upon his rounds
to summon these gentlemen Monday
morning, and each man will be ordered
to report at the Jail next Thursday after
noon, armed with either a rifle or shot
gun. The sheriff will place the marshal
ship of this force in the hands of Harri-
son w. Vickers, one Of the leading citi-
zens of the county, the lawyer who was
employed by the County Commissioners
to assist States Attorney Slay in the
prosecution of the case.
Must BE Exposed All Night.
The first man summoned, and has al
ready signifed his willingness to serve,
will be James Alfred Pearce, who de-
Tended the men at the trial. The posse
will be on guard all night, and will be
stretched in a Gordon around the court
house and jail and in the Jail itself. 1t
will be a cold watch for these gentlemen,
but it seems to be the general impression
that the Kent county people will see this
thing through even if it is at the great
est inconvenience to themselves. Some
of the sheriff's counsellors advised him
to call on the governor for a company of
militia to keep guard, but the patriotic
citizens repudiate the idea that they are
] To lor frrTffl
side assistance.
Last Sunday on Earth.
Inside the jail yesterday the ignorant
octette passed the day in their little cells,
every foot shackled and two death
watches staring at them, and yet the
negroes, unlike human beings, laughed
and joked with each other, smoked and
chewed tobacco, and passed the day
pleasantly. At night they became of a
devotional turn and weird negro hymns
echoed and re-echoed through the quaint
jail until the doomed men were ex-
hausted. The high tenor of Frisby
Comegys and the deep bass Of Fletcher
Williams, with the concordant but coarse
voices of the others made up every note
of the gamut. Occasionally the voices
of Moses Brown and John Barnard would
break in upon the drooHing in unintelli-
gible prayer and this would continue for
a-half hour. Outside the prison knots of
people stood and listened to this crude
worship with great interest.
Seven of Them are Unmarried.
Moses Brown is the only one Of the
| prisoners who is married. He has had
eight children, but all are dead except
the youngest. Brown is very anxious to
see this baby, but his wife does not bring
it TO the jail, nor does she come herself
Sheriff Plummer has ordered eight pine
coffins from Baltimore for the reception
of the bodies of thee dead men. They
will be buried in the county's Potter
field as none of their relatives, except
Comegy's old father, have ever visited
them.
The G overnor's Visit.
Governor Brown came to Chester
tOwnon Saturday to make thorough
| personal investigation into the
case of the boys under sentence
of death. The governor, arrived about
II. 80 o'clock and was Immediately driven
to the Jail and commenced searching
examination of each prisoner.
The Governor stated that the petit
tions had represented the boys to be
! thirteen years OF age, or possibly tribe
older, and as the entire responsibility has
been thrown upon him, though his COM
ing to Chestertown or to any other place
on such a mission was entirely out of the
regular order of things, he was unwill
to act until every means of placing him
self in full possession of all the merits
and demerits Of the case had been ex-
! hausted.
After the interview Governor Brown
said he was not favorably impressed with
the prisoners nor with the statement
they made.
Hurtt Declares His Innocence.
Henry Hurtt was the first prisoner
brought into the parlor. The governor
told him and the other prisoners when
they came in who he was and his mission,
emphasizing the fact that he had come
to hear their truthful statements in re-
gard to a crime which had brought them
within five days Of the gallows and 8
murderer's grave. The boy was nervous
and in a rambling story protested his in
nocence of any knowledge of the crime