Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-18
LYNCHING NEAR FREDERICK.
James BOwens Hanged by a Maryland
Mob.

James BOwens Hanged by a Maryland
Mob.
James Bowens, a young colored man. who
assaulted Miss Lille Long, aged about
twenty-one years, at the home of Hamilton
Geisbert, about one mile south of Freder-
lex, Nd, at $50 o'clock Saturday after
noon, was taken from the county jail at
1:3O o'clock yesterday morning by mob Of
about four hundred men, and was hanged
to a tree in a field on the Jefferson turn
pike about one-half mile from Frederick.
The tree upon which he was hanged was
nearly opposite the spot where "Bigus"
was lynched in 1887.
A report reached Frederick at 11:3O
o'clock Saturday night that the young lady
had died from the effects of the beating
and cuts the negro had administered. While
this report was not true, 1t maddened The
men, who were already in a high state Of
excitement. Several mobs were quickly Or
ganized, but they had no leader. After
some delay a member of the mob stepped
forward and assumed the leadership. I'm
masked, but armed with revolvers and
knives, the mob marched upon the Jail,
arriving there about 12:4o am.
Wounded the Prisoner.
It 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 to 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
pleading for mercy. Several blows of the
sledge soon severed the lock from its fast
enings. not, however, before one of the
mob fired four shots at the prisoner, one
of which took effect in his leg, producing
flesh wound only.
In an adjoining cell were Robinson, COL
ored, who recently attempted an assault
upon a colored girl in Urbana, and young
Crutchley, a white man of Brunswick, who
is charged with assault upon two white
girls, aged twelve and sixteen. Both men
thought the mob was after them, and they
screamed and cried piteously for protec-
ton, but, fortunately for them, the crimes
for which they were incarcerated were not
known to the mob. or they might have
shared a fate similar to that of Bowens, as
the mob was aroused to high state of ex-
citement.
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 a lie upon his lips, but he made no re-
ply. + 70
Salvation Army mem appeared upon the
scene and requested to be allowed to pray
with the doomed mani This was granted.
Prisoner and Ly hchers Prayed.
The Lords prayer was then recited, and
lhe hesio anu tiie ShcherS joined IN re-
peating 1t. Bowens' bands 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 COM
mand given, Let )hinr 60" In an instant
he was jerked off his feet and was dang
ling about five feet in the air. He uttered
few groans. when one shot was fired. 1t
took effect In his temple. Then he was
motonless. sr p
After the lynchiAg a member of the mob
l1N1I ,toI ~.
is not with spirit of malice toward this
unfortunate wretch or his race that we are
here tonight, but 1t is to teach men of his
class that they must let the white women
of Frederick county alone OF suffer the con-
sequences, of which this Is an example,"
After greeting their leader. the mob,
among whom were a number of farmers
quietly dispersed and repaired to their
homes.