Evening star., 1897-05-17
as could have been expected in child of

as could have been expected in a child of
its age.
Mr.. Thompson also ascertained, as stated
by him, that in the evening" after dark,
Bessie left the child for a few minutes
alone with parties in her home. and went
out of doors, returning a little later to find
the baby In spasms In an hour or so
thereafter it died. No notice whatever
was sent to the proper authorities, or. If
it was sent, was not received by them, and
early the next morning Lum Warfield dug
the grave in the Stevens lot, from which
the coffin was subsequently exhumed
Following the arrest Of Bessie Sellman
ard her incarceration in the Rockville
Jail, the remains of the baby We're taken
up by direction of Deputy Sheriff Thomp-
son and convened to Gaithersburg, with
the idea that an autopsy was to be made
by a competent physician. Justice Baugh-
man set the time for the inquest to begin
on the day the autopsy was to be made,
and in compliance with the request Of
States Attorney Kilgore, previously made,
notified him.
The Attorney InterpOses.
The latter, Mr.. Thompson said, reached
Gaittersburg about the hour appointed for
the Inquest to begin, and almost at once,
supposedly by appointment, met DR.. Nc
Cormick, who saw the baby soon after its
birth. A conversation between the doctor
and the states attorney followed, and, at
its termination, Mr.. kilgore informed Dep
uty Sheriff Thomson and Justice Baugh-
man that If an autopsy were held ne would
refuse to recommend the payment of the
bill fer the expenses, with the result
stated. The states attorney went back to
Rockville, soon afterward, and ordered the
immediate release of Bessie Sellman from
jail, which order was Obeyed. The body
was taken back to Emory Grove and re-
inferred.
This action of States Attorney Kilgore
1t is said, produced mingled feelings of In
1{un ion nd tLn@ -
both white and colored residents of that
section Of Montgomery county, and many
threats of laying violent hands on Mason
by the latter have been made. unless. af-
ter thorough and impartial investigation,
it shall be shown that he Is innocent of
crime in connection with the death of the
baby.
While the corpse was at Gaithersburg
1t was seen by L number of persons. Dep
uty Sheriff Thompson said he noticed it
particularly, and that it bore the appear
ance of having been strangled. There was,
he said, mark about its throat as though
made with human hand. and there was
also blood In the ears and mouth.
After States Attorney Kilgore an
nourced that he would not recommend the
payn ent of any bill for an autopsy" said
Mr. Thompson, Il denounced the transac-
tion as an outrage on Kilgore's part. Had
IT been white man. who was charged
with the commission of the crime and
there were similar evidence against him. he
Woulo IN all proDaDlnty nave been strung
up to one of the trees in Gaithersburg, and
l assert that this affair ought to be probed
to the bottom, if it costs thousand dol
lars to do 1t.
Il am hoping some way will be found to
make a full and impartial investigation
OF what seems to me to be heinous crime,
and Until this is done blot will rest upon
the fair name of Montgomery county
For my own part 1 intend to leave no
stone unturned to sift the whole affair."
Justice Baughman expressed similar
views as to the need of further investi-
CATION of the alleged crime, and stated
that he believed there would be at least one
important arrest made in connection there
with In q very shnlt tina