Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-20
The Colored Assailant of a Prince
Georges County Woman.
TAKEN FROM THE MARLBORO JAIL
Sentiment of the Community Said
to lndorse It.
JUSTICE HARRIS HEARING


Spccldl D1spAIcn 10 Inc Evening Staf.
MARLBORO'. Md, October 2O-Stephen
Williams. colored, who was brought to jail
on Thursday on the charge Of attempting a
feloi ious assault on Mrs. Albert Hardesty,
was taken from the jail here and 1ynched
about 3 O'Clock this morning The crowd
nj mbering fifty, vas a well-organized one.
and in quiet manner did their work eff
fectively. They climbed over the Jail fence
ard unlocked the gate from the inside,
where 1t had been locked by the guard to
the jail on retiring. They then went to the
rear OF the jail and broke open the back
door by cutting the iron bolts which held
the lock. with difficulty, forcing open the
door with crowbar. They then went up
stairs direct to the cell in which the negro
was confined, and with one blow broke the
lock and secured their negro, who yelled
murder, but was evidently gagged by the
rope around his neck, which was put on in
the cell.
They then took the prisoner out of the
back door, around the jail and down to the
iron bridge, where Joe Vermillion was
lynched by mob-the brother of Lloyd Ver-
million. who was murdered here recently.
About 100 yards from the Jail several
pistol shots were fired, two of which took
effect, one in the lower portion of the vic
tiih iuilS' dIlu the OtneT, StTlhlnR button,
was imbedded in his groin
The shock made him make an outcry
which was the cause for some merriment
among the fynchers who seemed to take a
delight in his death. He was then taken to
the bridge and strung up.
The crowd, after seeing that he was dead
quietly dispersed to their homes, seeming
well satisfied with their work
: he sentiment of the community is evil
IDENTIFY with the iynchers for the citizens
generally have expressed their feelings very
strongly In regard TO this crime, knowing
that he deserved such a fate, and. owing to
the facts connected with the case, he could
not meet his just fate of hanging, as 1t was
only an attempt
IItizens of the town in going to the depot
have to pass the spot where the body was
hung. so Justice James Harris summoned
jury, cut the body down and placed it
under the same sycamore tree where Yer
millions body was placed when lynched,
and the jury, after examining his body.
adjourned to the court house until 8
o'clock.
Justice Harris presided at the hearing at
the court house. and w. j. Spicer: the war
den of the jail was the first witness sworn
He testified that he suspected something
keys to the jail After he had retired three
or four men came to his house. which is
about a quarter of mile from the jail,
:nd awakened him, saying they had a pris-
oner, and wanted the keys of the jail
He said he did not have them, but they had
better go and see Mr.. Charles Dumbhardt.
the guard to the jail. They then left and
shortly after returned and demanded the
keys again. saying that Dumbhardt would
not let them in and they must have the
keys.
Mr.. Spicer told them again that he did
not have them.
The spokesman of the crowd pulled his
pistol and, pointing it at Spicer, demanded
the keys.
Spicer refused AMI pulled his gun
He CSpicer) then heard outcry, as If
at the Jail, and the men galloped off.
Mr.. Dumbhardt, the next Witness the
guard at the Jail, testified that he was first
awakened by steps near the back door of
the Jail, as if some one was attempting to
Unlock the door from the outside. They
then began to force the door and took about
an hour TO get 1t open, after which they
went upstairs and broke the lock off.
The prisoner made an outcry of .'mur-
der" when the door was being broken open.
iie N'uhlohaIuU ulu not come out or his
cell. He did not think 1t advisable. He
could not see the prisoner brought down
owing to the situation of his room, but he
saw them go through the gate on a run.
He thought the prisoner had escaped from
them, but was told afterward by a prisoner
that Williams had rope around his neck
and had each hand tied before he left the
cell.
The Jury then retired and brought in a
verdict that he came to his death by
violence at the hands of parties unknown.
James Williams, the father of the man
lynched, came this morning to bring his
boy some clothes and found him stretched
out In the corridor of the Jail dead. His
body will he buried in the jail yard at the
expense OF the county tomorrow. The
negro was twenty three.