Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-26

neighbor. The prisoner Is heavily
ironed in Contreville Jail. A number
of cartridges were found on his person
MIR. Leager, the victim, was so year:
old. lie was small man and cripple
Jackson says he acted entirely ON the
defensive.
BALTIMORE, MD., April 21.-William
jackson, the colored man who is accused
of the murder OF George j. Lcager and
the attempted murder of Mr. Leagcr's
step-son, Nathan b. Crossley, near Cen.
treville, Wednesday, was brought to
Baltimore yesterday and lodged in the
city Jail. The prompt action of States
Attorney Hopper and the sheriff OF
| Queen Anue's county in removing Jack.
son from the Ccntrcyille Jail probably
aycrted bloodshed and loss Of additional
| lives.
Deputy Sheriff r. S. Roberts, who
brought Jackson to Baltimore, said
Intense excitement prevails throughout
the northern pnrt of Queen Anne
county, and it was expected that a
lynching party would 90 to Centrevlle
Thursday night and take jackson from
the Jail and hang him to the nearest
tree. The colorcd people in and around
Centreville shared in the feeling that
jackson would be lynched, and they
assembled about the Jail in large num-
bers, armed with clubs and other weap-
ons with which to defend jackson from
lynchers. Shortly after nightfall fully
800 colored men were near the Jail.
About 200 white men were also there.
Reports of the intention of farmers liv-
ing in the neighborhood of the murder
to lynch jackson added 10 the excite
inent, and 1t was decided to bring the
prisoner to Baltimore.
preparations for departure were
quietly made, and about II O'Clock
Thursday night drove out of the iail-
yard i'll buggy, with jackson heavily
ironed. For fear of meeting party of
lynchers circutous route was taken
for Queenstown. On the outskirts of
CentreVille q party of colored men
formed in line across the road and dc.
manded of me where | was going with
my prisoner. | told them would take
him to Baltimore, and after Jackson had
begged them for Gods sake to allow
him to be taken TO place of safety they
permitted us to drive away. A few
miles from Centreville we met second
crowd of colored men hurrying to the
Jail, and they had to be appeased with
the same statement before we could con-
tinue our journey. We reached Queens
town at o'clock in the morning. | at
once summoned posse to guard the
prisoner, and kept him locked up in q
room at the Chester Hotel until 10
O'Clock, when we took the steamer
Emma Ford for Baltimore"
The deputy sheriff, accompanied by
.. W. Morris, arrived in Baltimore with
Jackson at 2 p. m. The prisoner was
placed in a closed carriage and driven
to the criminal court building, where
an order for his commitment was made
out and he was taken to the Jail, where,
after taking bath, he was locked up
in cell in murderers' row, on the first
tier
When he arrived at the Jail jackson
was bareheaded and had neither coat
nor shoes. A ragged pair of trousers
covered his legs and an old Jail blanket
was thrown over his shoulders. He
seemed greatly frightened, and it was
with feeling of satisfaction that he
heard the heavy iron gates to the Jail
clank behind him. He said that he is
62 years old and was born in Virginia.
He is of a dark copper color and his
face is encircled by thick beard of
short growth.
NEGROES STAND BY JACKSON.
CENTREvILLE, Nd, April 21.-When
the deputy sheriff drove out of the jail
yard with jackson Oh the way to
Queenstown, yesterday, his buggy was
surrounded by crowd of 70 colored
men, who, thinking Jackson was to be
lynched, announced their intention to
protect him, Sheriff Bryan ordered the
crowd away. The buggy was followed
by o crowd of men, women and bows,
who kept close to it until it had passed
the limits of the town. Sheriff Bryan,
who followed the deputy and his
prisoner on foot, was stopped by the
mob and threatened with violence. but
he succeeded in quieting the excited
negroes and kept on to Queenstown.
The deputy sheriff had disposed of his
prisoner so quietly at Queenstown that
Sheriff Bryan could for u time learn
nothing of them and drove to Denton,
thinking he would find them there, as
the Jail at that place had been suggested
as secure. He returned to Centreville
later. In the meantime much apprehen-
sion as to his safety was felt. 1t is
believed that the excitement will die out
in a few days and that Jackson can be
brought back to Centreville for trial.
Jackson's counsel is T. l.. w. Harley.
who defended Asbury Green. Green,
was lynched on the night of the compile.
tion Of his trial, which resulted in a sen.
tenee of Is years in the penitentiary.