Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-07-04

DENTON, Nd, July 2,--Marshall E.
yrice, the murderer Of little Sallle L.
Dean, near Harmony, this county, was
taken from the county Jail here to-
night by crowd of masked men and
hanged 10 a tree near the Jail.
Price was 10 have been executed on
Friday. but this morning Sheriff Berry
received n telegram announcing that
Gov. Brown, acting on the advice OF
Attornoy-General Poe, had granted re-
priove until the court Of appeals could
pass upon the case. When this became
known this morning the general discon-
tent which had begun to manifest itself
as soon as the appeal proceedings were
commenced broke into q storm, and q
strong lynching party VIA quietly and
quickly organized. When Sheriff Berry
This morning received official notice OF
The reprleve he withdrew the death
watch, and the jail, which Is q poorly
constructed affair, was left practically
unguarded. II could not have been de-
Tended against determined mob, how
ever, except by a strong armed force.
LrNchEHs WARN FHE sHERiFF.
About 10 o'clock tonight crowd of
strangers began gathering in town. and
their presence created great deal OF
excitement among the citizens, who had
not retired to rest Sheriff Berry was
notified and he and his deputies gathered
al the jail, determined 10 defend the
4. prisoner until the last. An effort was
made 10 And some avenue Of escape by
. which Priol could be taken from the
reach OF the avengipg mob, but every
street leading from The Jail was found
10 be closely guarded by u strong forcs.
A delegation from the lynchers, all
masked, waited upon Sheriff Berry, and
notified him not 10 attempt to remove
the prisoner. Then II was known that
attempt at lynching, which had been
rumored for several days would be
made, was near ut hand.
WANTED TO GET OUT AND HIDE.
Price had been resting quietly in his
coll during the early part of the even.
ing; but the sudden and unexpected
appearance Of the sheriff aud bis depu.
tics warned him that something unusual
was transporting. The prisoner became
much excited, Fiutlly one of the guards
told him of the threatening mob about
the jail, and he cried out: "For Gods
sake, let me out. will hide; l will not
run away"
The lynchers completed their arrange
ments about IL o'clock, and in body
advanced upon the Jail, and surrounded
H. They demanded the keys from Sheriff
Barry, and when that officer declined to
give them up, they easily knocked open
tho door. Once inside, tho guards were
quickly overpowered, and soon Prices
cell was reached. The prisoner was la
pitiable state OF excitement and fright,
and his condition was such that IL was
an easy matter 10 get him out of the Jail.
s A rope was thrown over his head, he was
hurried 10 tree near the Jail and strung
up without delay. The mob stood
around for some time, watching the
dying man swinging in the moonlight,
and when it was known that lie was
dead, all quietly departed.
Price was informed this morning that
Gov. Brown had granted him reprleYe.
The prisoner was by no means elated,
however, and In the most unconeerned
voice possible answered: "Well, am
glad Of it," Not the least qualification
was observable in his face. The sheriff
explained that he should not cease his
preparations for death, and Price, who
iad just been reading religious book,
aid that he well knew that the respite
would not effect the final result. He
was not depressed in spirit, but more
thoughtful than usual after the reading
Of the respite. The Rev. James A. Arters,
pastor ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church
at Greensborough, who had been invited
TO call by Price, had long talk with the
condemned man. Denton is as quiet at
midnight us usual.
THE JAIL A POOR AFFAIR.
The Jail from which Price was taken
a.an insecure old structure in bad 70.
- Air. and gave but little trouble to the
setoo when they sought admittance. The
g pom in which the prisoner was con-
,eined was on the ground floor, with its
s htrance, which was guarded by
father stout wooden door, but a short
fs-alace from the front door. The front
door had no other protection than q
clarge lock and wooden bar. The in
terror Of Prices cell was lined with
wood, and its one window was guarded
by half dozen rusty iron bars which
strong man could pull out of place with
out much difficulty. After Price had
been taken to Baltimore, soon after he
was convicted of murder, he said that
he could have gotten out Of the jail in
an hour If he had tried, but that he pre-
ferred to stay where he was, because he
thought he was safer there than be
would have been outside. The building
stands back from the street about 100
feet and is in the town square, sur.