Evening journal., 1893-01-09

nor Brown appears and Hears Each
Prisoners Statement But no Reprieve
is Expected.
Staff Correspondence Evening Journal
CHEsTERTowN, Jan. 8. - Sheriff
Edward J. Plummer of Kent county,
ordinarily cool and firm, but now the
picture of trouble and care, has one of
the worst jobs before him this week
that any executive officer in the new
world ever had. Many men would
almost have sunk under the bur
den, but while Sheriff Plummer realizes
the responsibility resting upon him he
is not the man to shirk a duty when
whole community has been outraged.
Since the day that the eight men and
boys, who will on Friday hang for the
murder of DIR. J. A. Hill, were brought
into the Chestertown jail, he has had a
responsibility upon him which has been
indeed, great. Not only the narrowing
fact that he will swing eight human
beings into eternity worries this trusted
official, but the fact that next Friday he
will have to fight a mob of morbidly
curious people from all over the
country.
An Appeal for Advice.
The jail yard is only fifty feet square
and is now surrounded by board fence
about eight feet high. Just beyond it
are number of houses, the roofs and
upper windows of which will form a
valuable vantage point for the crowds of
spectators expected in the quaint old
town next Friday. Sheriff Plummer has
been much disturbed at the prospect of a
mob breaking down the fence, which is
only slight structure, and thus rend er-
ing the execution a public One He,
therefore, addressed to Judge Wickes
letter asking for information on the
subject which is appended.
"CHEsTERTOwN, Jan. 2, 1898.
Hon. JOSEPH A. WIcKEs, Judge, Etc.
'STR: A sense of duty impels me to
inform you that l have good reason to
believe that may not be able to carry
into effect the execution of the eight
murderers of DR.. Hill on the 18th inst,
agreeably to the spirit of the law gov
erning executions in this state
THE law requires of me that the execu-
tions shall be private. / am advised that
great masses of people from different
counties of the state and from the State
of Delaware are coming to the jail for
the avOwed purpose of making the execu-
tion public exhibition. The fence
about the Jail is only a slight board
structure and can offer but little resist.
ance to a mass of people bent upon de-
stroying it, and the destruction of the
fence would expose the executions to
public view.
ut is my purpose to discharge this
imperative duty in proper and orderly
manner, according to the commands of
the law; but, as my right and duty, as
the sheriff of the county, to summon in
advance of actual trouble posse to pre-
vent disorder about the jail premises, has
been questioned by citizens reluctant to
serve in that capacity, l am advised to
apply to your honor for directions, and
a statement Of the scope of my duty and
authority in such expected interruption
in the orderly and due discharge of the
duty impo ed by law on me in this mat
ter. Respectfully submitted.
edward j. PLUMMER, Sheriff"
Must Enforce the Law to the Letter.
Judge Wicke's reply was not long
coming. He Immediately wrote the
sheriff letter, the purport of which can
not be misconstrued He realized that
immediate action was imperative, and
that wild west tactics would have to be
resorted to. Accordingly the sheriff re.
ceived the following on Thursday morn
ing:
"CHEsTERTowE, January 4, 1898.
edward J. Plummer Esq.
DEAR SIR-I have received your let
ter of the I'd instant, in which you say
you have good reason to believe that you
will not be able to execute, on the 18th
of this month, in the manner directed by
the law, the judgment pronounced by
the court against the persons convicted
of the murder of DR.. Hill, in obedience
to the warrant Of the governor of this
state. The reason which you give for
this opinion is that you are advised that
great masses of people from the different
counties and from the state of Delaware
are coming to the jail for the avowed
purpose of making the execution pub
lie exhibition; that as the fence around
the jail yard, where the execution is to
take place, is made of plank, it could
offer but little resistance to a large num-
Der of men, bent upon Its destruction,
and that the destruction of the fence
would expose the execution to the public
view. You then ask that l will instruct
you as to your authority to summon the
posse comitatus to assist you in main
tanning order and keeping the public
peace at that time, and in resisting any
attempt which may be made by disor-
derly and lawless men TO interfere with
you in the proper discharge of your sol
emn duty.
"The law makes it the duty Of the
Sheriff to execute the sentence of death
in as private manner as possible, and
to execute from the view thereof all per-
sons except his deputies, the spiritual
adviser of the criminal, the counsel
who defended him, his relatives and such
other persons not exceeding 90 as he may
appoint, to witness the execution; and
the physician Of the jail. if there be
one, or if there be no such physician
then the Sheriff shall secure some other
physician of good standing to attend
and to furnish him certificate that the
execution was properly performed
"Itis. therefore, your imperative duty
to execute the judgment Of the Court in
obedience to the warrant of the Cover
nor, in a private manner, as directed by