Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-11-22
Lynching at Frederick.

James Bowens, a young cOlored man, who
assaulted Miss Lille Long, aged about 81
years, at the home of Hamilton Geisbert,
about one mile south Of Frederick, Md, at
$50 o'clock an Saturday afternoon last, was
taken from the county Jail at 1870 O'Clock
Sunday morning by ii mob Of about four
hundred men, and was hanged TO tree in
field on the Jefferson turnpike, about one
half mile from Frederick. The tree upon
which he was hanged was nearly opposite
the spot where "Biguss" was Iynched in
1887
report reached Frederick at 11:30
O'Clock Saturday night that the young lady
had died from the effects OF the beating and
cuts the negro bad administered. While
this report was not true, it maddened the
men, who were already in u high state OF
excitement. Several moOs were quickly
organized, but they had no leader. After
some delay member Of the mob stepp cd
forward and assumed the leadership. I'm
masked, but armed with reVolvcrs and
knives, the mob marched upon the Jail, ar
irving there about l2:45 A. M.
II required about thirty minutes to effect
an entrance into the jail. When the door
was broken open the crowd rushed into the
corridor, quickly overcoming the resistance
which was offered by the deputies 10 pro-
tect their prisoner, and, passing through the
engine room, proceeded TO the first cell on
the ground floor, where Bowens was found
in corner, covering and crying and plead
ing for mercy. Several blows OF the sedge
soon severed the lock from its iastenings,
not, however, before one Of the mob fired
four shots at the prisoner, one Of which took
effect in his leg producing a flesh wound
only.
In an adjoining cell were Robinson, color
ed, who recently attempted an assault upon
a colored girl in Urbana, and young Crutch-
ley, white man Of Brunswick who is
charged with assault upon two white girls,
aged twelve and sixteen. Both men thought
the mob was alter them, and they screamed
and cried piteously for protection, but, for
tunately for them, the crimes for which they
were incarcerated were not known To the
mob, or they might have shared u fate SINH
lar 10 that OF Bowens, as the mob was
aroused 10 a high state OF excitement.
Arriving at the tree which had been Sc
lected as the scene of the execution, the
negro was asked to confess and not To die
with lie upon his lips, but he made no
reply.
Much TO the surprise of the ynchers, two
Salvation Army men appeared upon the
scene ard requested 10 be allowed to pray
with the doomed man. THIS was granted.
The Lords prayer was then reclted, and
the negro and the lynchers joined in repeat
ing it, Bowens' hands and feet were then
tied and the rope frightened around his neck.
The other end was then thrown over the
limb Of the large tree and the command CIV
en-, "Let him GO" In an instant he was
jerked off bis feet and was dangling about
i've feet in the air He uttered a lew grOans,
when one shot was fired 1t took effect in
his temple. Then he was mOtiOness.
- -.
made brief speech, in which he said at
is not with spirit Of malice toward this
unfortunate wretch or his race that we are
here 10 night, but it is to teach men Of his
class that they must let the white women Of
Frederick county alone or suffer the conse-
quences of which this is an example"
After greeting their leader, the mob, among
whom were number Of farmers, quietly
dispersed and repaired 10 their homes.