Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-05-29
A MURDEROUs ASSAULT,
One Of the Most Brutal Crimes Ever
Committed in this County.


Committed in this County.
A deadly assault was committed Monday
morning before daylight on Mr.. r. Lemuel
Buxton, miller residing in the northern
part OF Gaithersburg, this county, and upon
bis wife and two daughters while they were
in their beds.
The wholesale assault is supposed to have
been committed by negro with an axe. 1t
was first thought that the desperate had en-.
tered the house for the purpose OF robbery
and on being discovered undertook to kill the
whole family by brainlng them with an axe,
but later circumstances indicate that it was
planned affair for revenge, and that more
than one negro was engaged in the desperate
outrage.
1t was about $40 o'clock in the morning
when the neighbors of the family were
aroused by the cry Of murder in the Buxton
house Shortly afterward woman in her
night clothes and baby in her arms ran
from the house crying for help, with the
blood streaming from her head The neigh
bors responded to the appeal very promptly.
On entering the house they were shocked
by the bloody spectacle that met their view.
The bed in the room occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs Buxton was covered with blood and
the adjoining room occupied by the two
daughters was in the same condition.
The house is a small frame building of
five rooms. 1t had been entered by forcing
through the front window of the house, near
the front strairs, which lead to the bedrooms
above, where the murderous blows were
dealt upon the heads of the unfortunate
family.
MIR. Buxton was the first one attacked
with an axe. He was asleep and was aroused
by the axe striking him on the right side Of
the head. Before he could rise he was struck
again and again with the sharp point Of the
axe, crushing his skull He then struggled
up and grabbed his revolver, which he tried
to use, but being too weak it dropped from
his hands to the floor and exploded.
His wife was next attacked with the axe,
and some fearful blows were inflicted upon
her head. She had, previous to the assault
on herself, heard the report of pistol and
also heard her daughters screams in the ad-
joining ROOM She attempted to go to them,
but was seized by colored man and choked
almost into insensibility.
Mr., Buxton received four axe cuts, one on
each side of the head, one about the centre
of the head and one blow across the chin.
Mrs Buxton was struck twice on the
head The daughters received one blow
each. The little six year-old daughter,
Sadie, had her skull laid open and one eve
nearly forced from her head. The oldest
daughter, Maud, sixteen wears. received a
wide cash across her head. and is also sun.
posed to have been cboked badly, as she
lost all speech. although entirely conscious,
recognizing every one, but unable to utter
a word The mother ia almost paralvzed
from the shock and the wounds abe has re.
ceived
The mprderous ashanti onicklv aroused
the whole communitv and before q o'clock
searching narties had started ont IN borse.
hack and the whole cop,,v was arous.d nv
,o,a,rro,h and ,o,o,ho,a
Tvo o,o,oc,o xya-e ooon ove,har,ed A
rooro ,.mod SIDNEY Rando,nb who claims
,ha, h., 10 no,;,oo If coor,;o voo oo,,,-od
noor urn,,no uu Q ,,i,es weat If aai,h.
oroh,ro hv Moso-s G.rro,t and Word after
a, axci,ino cb,ae Apo,ber negro named
Caorno Nal Of coi,h.rob,ro Who hears q
bod ronr,.,;on woa o,so "a n,nred
Rsndo,nl wao co,t,red o,,v altar a, nv
citing chase. He was told to halt, and not
doing so was shot in the hand. the ball pass
ing through into his leg. When oyertaken
and asked wby he ran away he said he had
slept in a red barn near Gaithersburg that
night and thought the owner was after him.
He added "Tbey looked 80 mad that they
scared me, and tried to get away and they
shot me and rode their horses over me-"
When asked where his coat was he re.
pljed il was stolen from him last Wednes-
day. He declared his innocence.
Neale was captured in field near Gath.
ersburg and asked where he was going. He
said, 10 BOYd'S Station, to play baseball"
He was told he was wanted for murder. He
also declared his innocence. Both suspects
were given preliminary hearing and then
sent to the county Jail at this place, and
alterward conveyed to Baltimore for safe
keeping. People from all parts of the county
flocked into Gaithersburg during the day,
and crowds were standing at almost every
corner. There was only one sentiment and
that was if the crime is fastened on any one
man. lvncbipe will surely prevail.
About ten wears ago NeaIe was convicted
of ATTEMPTED rape, and Mr. Buxton was &C.
tive in proving his guilt. Neale was sent
tn serve ten wears in the penitentiary, and
while there made the acquaintance of Ran.