Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-21
after the boat on which the murder wa
committed.

THE CRIME
The fiendish deed for which these
men paid the penalty with their lives
was perpetrated Sunday, juno 18th,
1893. Courtney and Taylor were the
crew of the little coasting schooner
James u. Danger, Of which j. Frank
Cooper was captain. The schooner had
just discharged cargo at Oxford for
which the captain had been paid in
cash, in the presence of the negroes, and
the possession of this money was the
chief object of their crime. The cap
tain tied up his boat at Deals Island on
his return trip to spend Sunday and
attend church, and it was at church lie
was last seen alive.
Subsequent events are taken from the
confession of Courtney and corroborated
by Taylor.
The captain returned to his boat about
o'clock p. m. and as soon as he was
asleep the negroes assaulted him with
the sounding lead" Although badly
| hurt, the captain arose and said "Boys,
II you won't hurt me, I'll give you 500"
to which Taylor replied: eve are in
for hanging job now, anyway, so
| We'll finish, and struck him again. The
captain ran on deck, pursued by the
negroes, who literally beat his head to
| pieces with handspikes and pushed him
overheard. They then ritled his cabin,
securing sos, watch and some jewelry
and, leaving the boat, embarked for the
west shore of the Chesapeake. The
captains body was found Monday and,
the negroes being missing, the crime
naturally attached to them and they
| nrtagftI tnr mn
Friday.
The sheriff Of Somerset county had
some trouble to prevent the citizens of
Lancaster county from lynching the
negroes after they were placed in his
custody, and ii was the terror inspired
by their danger from the mob that first
caused Courtney TO say to the sheriff
that "if he would keep the mob from
getting him he would tell all about it. p
After tho sheriff and his prisoners had
embarked from Weems, Courtney made
u full confession.
THE TRIAL.
They were lodged in JUL at Princess
Anne and tried at the fall term of court
At the trial Courtney again related the
horrible crime IN all its details and both
were sentenced to death by Judge
Lloyd.
ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE.
On November 25th, about midnight
an alarm of lire was sounded in the jail
and the cell occupied by the murderers
was found full of fire and smoke, thu
jailer called in help and opened the cell
Fhe prisoners were found TO have filed
off their irons and had kindled fire Of
their mattress, thinking the jailer woulc
come alone to open their cell and they
could oyerpower him and escape. They
were manacled with new irons and pu
in a fire proof cell.
EVIDENTLY HARDENED SINNERS
PRINCESS ANNE, Nd, Dec. 15.--Dur
ing the incarceration of Courtney ano
Taylor the clergy of Princess Ann,
gave them the benefit Of their counsel
and prayers, without respect to race o
creed. DIR. Martin and the Rev. Mr.
Logan, of the Episcopal and Presby
terrain Churches have each visited AM
counselled them, while the Rev. Mr.
Moore of the colored, and the Rev. Nh
Todd of the white Methodist Churcl
have given great deal of attention /,
their spiritual welfare.
The murderers have Gtoutly adhered
to the story Courtney told at the trial
viz: That while they were the cause o
Captain Cooper's death, they did no
murder him-that it was true they la,
conspired to kill him, but changed thei
minds when they saw him come o.
board, that afterward the quarrel owe
the captains wearing their clothes ARCS
in the cabin, where Captain Coope
: drew his revolver and threatened 10 xii
them, when Henry struck him, the pis
{ toll falling to the floor; that the fight wa
then transferred to the deck, and tina
Captain Cooper was chasing Henry
when he tripped over something an
fell overheard.
! The Rev. Mr.. Todd sought earnestl
1 to impress them with the absolute impoi
9 lance of being honest and truthful in OF
der to gain genuine repentance, but the
have thus far not materially varied til
!. above statement. Abiding to their a
! tempted escape on the occasion of
e recent visit, said this gentleman:
Arthur, you boys claims to be read
to meet your God, to be Christians, 70
lowers of the holy and harmless Chris
And yet you have made an attempt |
e secure your freedom by firing the jai
and were awaiting the appearance {
your keeper, armed with an iron ha
4 presumably to knock him down, and
: make your escape even if it cost anotht
! life. How do you reconcile this col
9 duct and your Christian profession
h Arthur replied: II didn't tend to hu
nobody wild dat iron, and then turnil
y to his fellow prisoner, said: "Hen,
y what done told you was gwine to d
wild dat irons"
Oh if | know" was the quiC
e and not very Christian response Of h
partner.
"a "Why,n continued Arthur, II to-
= you dat was gwine to carry dat pie,
, Of iron home to show the people dow
!. Dur"
1t 80, yes, OATS So" responded h
e accommodating friend.
a Both apparently expected their que
i toner to be satisfied with this expl
: nation. The conviction has forced Use
on the minds of their spiritual advise
thaIit would be difficult to ilnd,in civ
t. LIKED country, more ignorant and d
PRAYED specimens Of humanity than u
;, these men.
d THE PENN CLUE.