The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-01-19
The -Four Maryland Negroes Shot Through
One Trap at 0hestertown,

summoned q few days ago by Sheriff
Plummor. These guards, in twos and
threes, armed with guns, rifles and pis-
tolls, dating from the fintlocks used in
the revolution TO the modern self-actng
revolver, patrolled the streets until the
execution took place.
The scene in the court house, how
ever, was quite different from that on
the streets. The rooms in which the
men were tried, condemned and sen.
fenced were crowded with young and
old men, AIMED with all kinds of
weapons. They had been summoned TO
defend the Jail should an attempt be
made tj lynch the four prisoners. But
no such attempt was made. and the
posse contented itself with enptying
sundry bottles and telling what it would
do if q mob should appear.
Busines was entirely suspended, and
hundreds Of farmers came in from the
surrounding country to be near when
the hanging occurred.
All Protest Their Innocence.
Samuel T. Hill and Walter Hill, father
and brother Of DR.. Hill, were admitted
to the Jail at the request Of the father,
who wished to question the condemned
men about the crime. All the prisoners
were asleep except Brooks, who was
praying fervently. Mr. Hill told Brooks
who he was and asked him why he had
killed his son. The negro still protested
his innocence and called upon God to
strike him dead if he was not telling tho
truth. The negro then told rambling
story about white man being the mur-
derer. The cells Of the other three were
visited in turn, but they all solemnly
protested their innocence.
About daylight one Of the death
watch, who was intoxicated, insisted
upon the doomed men singing oil the
time. He then made some of them
dance, but was caught in the act by
Sheriff Plumer and summarily removed.
Rev. A. A. Murray passed the night in
the Jail, and at o'clock began chanting
religious hymns of q character calcu-
lated to excite the condemned so a re-
ligious frenzy. Finally all Joined in
singing and praying, the preacher walk
ing up and down in front of the cells,
throwing his arms about in an excitable
manner and singing. Comegys prayer
was most affecting, being an agonized
appeal for help. The burden Of his song
was cO, Jesus, save my soul. A hearty
breakfast was served the prisoners and
apparently they relished it,
AT 40 two deputies, at d sign from
the sheriff, entered the cells and hand
cuffed and pinioned the doomed prisoners,
Brooks, Brown, Williams and Comegys.
The march to the scaifold was then be-
gun. The sheriff was on the scaffold
and motioned each man, as he appeared,
to his place. The four took their places
without fear, the negro preacher passing
behind them chanting and praying
The nooses were quickly adjusted and
the black caps drawn. After glancing
along the line to see that all was right,
the sheriff gave the word, aud exactly at
noon the trap doors fell and the four
victims shot through the holes. There
was considerable struggling and with.
ing, and the four men died hard
Tho Story of the Crime.
On Christmas eve, 1891, a negro named
Thomas Campbell was killed in saloon
at Millington, in that county. Two
white men were charged with the MUIR
der, 1t was shown that Campbell had
been struck by bottle and that there
had been fight. Il post mortem exam.
nation was held and the principal ply
sician was DR.. James II. Hill. He signed
q tifcate that the neck was not broken
as held by Campbells friends, but that
death had resulted from heart disease.
This certificate, which acquitted the
white men, greatly incenscd the negroes
against DR.. Hill.
On the evening Of April 90 last, a meet
ing was held in Millington for the organ
ization of a Cleveland club. DIR. Hill
went TO the meeting and was unani-
mously chosen president 1t was 10
o'clock before the meeting adjourned
He then went back home and ordered
his dog cart. When it was ready he
bade his wife goodby and started TO make
professional visit a short distance
away. Mrs. Hill waited anxiously for
his return. At o'clock she heard the
sound of wheels, and going out found
the horse standing at the gate and in the
cart the insensible body of DR.. Hill
bruised and bleeding, with his head
wedged under the shaft. Neighbors
carried the doctor into the house. He
never regained consciousness and that
afternoon died.
The crime was quickly traced TO q
party of negroes and four were arrested
At once plans were made to lynch them.
but the officers smuggled them off to
Baltimore, Finally Perry Bradshaw
saved his neck by turning states evi
dence. According to his story nine
negroes were concerned in the crime
Fletcher Williams, aged "a; Charles
Brooks, 81; Moses Brown. %; Brad
shaw, the infoImer, about 90, and five
boys, Joshua Brainard, Frisby Comegys,
Louis Benson, Charles S. Emery and
Louis S. Hurtt. Bradshaw's testimony
was that when DR. Hill came along
Brooks stopped the horse and hit the
doctor with a stone. While Bradshaw
and another held the horse, Williams,
answering the doctors cry, "dont kill
me, T" cut him, the knife penetrating the
throat an inch and half, and reaching
the tongue. Then Brooks Williams
and Moses Brown jamned the body
into the cart. with the head under the
shaft, and started the horse on trot up
the road.
Practically the whole country turned
out at the trial. The evidence was con-
elusive as to the guilt of the accused.
The verdict Of the court was unani-
nous and the sentence of death was
passed ON all eight in due form. An
other negro, named Potts who, it is be-
lieved melted the negroes to the COM
mission of the crime, was also arrested,
but was acquitted. The day of execu-
ton was first fixed at Dec. 80, but later
all the men We're reprieved TO Jan. 13.
On Wednesday Governor Brown COM
muted the sentences OF the four boys,
Brainard, Benson, Emory and HURT,
greatly 10 the dissatisfaction of the
people of Chestertown, so that almost
up 10 the time of the hanging thera
tx5a,.a foorc fl,af Rba ,,aot,la xntuhf lunch