The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-30
MURDER AND OUTRAGE
PROSPECT OF ANOTHER NEGRO
LYNCHING. IN MARYLAND SOON.
James Smith. a Trusted Servant, As
saults Miss Drown in Her Room.
Then Cuts Her Throat.

WASHINGTON, July "a coroner's
jury to-day found James Smith, the negro
waiter, guilty of the murder last night of
Marguerite Drown at Seat Pleasant
large country boarding house about eight
miles from Washington in Prince Georges
county, and later developments in the
case have added much horror to the
crime that there are numerous threats of
another Maryland lynching as soon as a
convenient opportunity occurs. Smith was
arrested by the Washington police to-day
in the northwestern part of the city, and
In view of the excited condition of the peo-
pie of Prince Georges county probably
will be held until formal requistion Is
made in order to permit the excitement to
be partly allayed.
The negro made two confessions. partly
contradictory. but each admitting the MUIR
der. In his first confession he said that
he had been intimate with the murdered
girl for whose foster mother he had
worked several years; that Mrs. Drown
had discovered the fact and had discharged
him. but had re-employed him on his and
the girls promise TO cease such relations
and that he cut Miss browns throat with
a knife yesterday because she rejected ad-
vances he had made TO her again
In his second confession he declared that
he had not told the truth when he asserted
that he had relations with the girl and de-
MED that he had outraged as well as muir
dered her yesterday, but stated that he
had gone TO her room for the purpose CT
making advances to her. and being re-
pulsed had choked her into unconscious
ness and then had procured a knife from
the kitchen and killed her.
dcNlODmPntS
tended to discredit the more revolving part
OF the negro's first confession. Mrs. Drown.
the foster mother of the dead grill, testified
that Marguerite had complained TO her last
Thursday that Smith had attempted to
kiss her. Several of the servants also
swore that the grill had called to them. and
had made complaint that Smith was at
tempting 10 kiss her. Mrs. Drown. in ex.
planation of Smiths continued employment
after this occurrence. said that Smith i'm
mediately after II left the house. but came
back the next day professed to be ex-
ceedingly penitent and begged to be re-em-
ployed. He had been good servant for
years and she had finally agreed to let him
come back on the day of the murder she
and DIR. Miller. boarder. had driven into
town, leaving the girl at home with the
| servants The latter testified that they
! heard noise up stairs in the girls room
| loud enough TO attract attention, but said
| they could not tell whether IL was a laugh
| or cry. A little later Smith came down, and
In answer TO questions said the noise they
heard was Miss Marguerite laughing at a
| story he had told her He had a small
| basket on his arm and at once left the
house. saying he was going to a neighbor :
for some eggs.
The doctor who performed the autopsy
| said that his examination of the body
| showed that the girl first had been
| knocked down and rendered unconscious
| by blow on the forehead: that she had
| then been outraged and later killed by the
severing of the windpipe and jugular vein
| The jury promptly returned its verdict
| in accordance with this evidence. The ne
| gro servants about the place were held in
fndr fbas
of the affair than disclosed in their testi
mony.