The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-06
MARYLAND LYNCHING.
Sydney Randolph, Negro Charged with
Having Made an Assault, Is Taken
from Jail and Hanged.

Galthersburg, Md, July 5.-Sydney
Randolph, the negro charged with a
brutal assault ON the Buxton family in
this place on May 2h. which resulted in
the death uf little Sadie Buxton, was
taken from Rockville Jail, where he was
confined awaiting the action of the No
vember grand jury, about go o'clock
yesterday morning by a mob of thirty
or forty masked men and hanged near
Rockville He went to his death with
out saying whether he was guilty or
not of the horrible crime, his only ut
terances being cries of "Murder!' as he
was carried by the resolute body OF
men from the Jail. The lynching seems
to have caused little excitement. Ev-
erybody believed him guilty of the hor-
rible crime of which he was accused.
About l o'clock the jailer, an aged
man, who has served in that capacity
for years, was awakened from his sleep
by knocks on the front door. He
opened the door and was confronted
by two masked men on the threshold,
who demanded the keys. The jailer,
taken completely by surprise, attempt
ed to close the door. but the men
many as could crowd into the small
structure. all being heavily masked.
At the points of revolvers the now
thoroughly frightened jailer was COM
PEELED to give up the keys. The mob at
once proceeded to the cell where Ran
dolph was confined and unlocked the
door. The negro, hearing the confusion
in the corridor, suspected at once what
was about to happen. and, selling a
stool, attempted to defend himself, but
with little effect. Strong arms soon
had the frightened wretch bound and
outside the jail, where a wagon was
waiting to take him away. The drive
to the previously selected place, about
two miles west of Rockville, on the
Frederick pike. was quickly made and
the rope was placed around his neck.
Then he was asked If he had anything
to say, but not word could be drawn
from him. Many efforts We're made to
make him confess. but to no avail.
The rope was thrown over a limb
and the man drawn fully twenty feet
from the ground The lynching party,
which, 1t is understood, was composed
of the best citizens of the community,
who were perfectly sober and orderly.
then quietly dispersed. The leaders are
not known and the affair was kept so Sc
cret that no one except the participants
knew of it until after 1t was all over.
The Buxton family, consisting of Mr..
and Mrs. Buxton and their two daugh-
ters, Sadie and Maude, were awakened
carly in the morning Of May 2S by an
intruder, who first struck the children,
sleeping in a room adjoining that OF
MI. and Mrs. Buxton. The groans of
the injured girls awoke Mr.. Buxton.
He started to get up, but was struck
down. Mrs. Buxton called to her hus-
band. and was herself felled by an AK.
Little Sadie, one OF the victims, died at
the Garfield hospital, in Washington,
never having recovered consciousness.
Mr.. and Mrs. Buxton and their elder
daughter recovered after remaining at
the hospital several weeks. The elder
daughter was taken TO her home only
yesterday Suspicion of the crime was
directed to Randolph, who was found
on the day of the crime near Gathers
bury unable to properly account for
himself. He had been the companion
If a negro named Neale, just released
from term in the penitentiary.
Neales conviction having been secured
chiefly through the testimony of Mr..
buxton. At the time of his conviction
Neale threatened to kill Buxton after
serving his term. Randolph was sup
posed to have served Neale in the ex-
ecuton of that threat.