The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-04-30
a DastardIy Attempt to Outrage n
Young Child.

John Blanchard, shoemaker, living near
Creswell, was arrested on Wednesday morn
ing, charged with committing a felonious as
sault upon Margaret, seven year old daugh-
ter of Mr.. T. Howard Hauway. Blanchard,
| who is a shoemaker had formerly lived in the
neighborhood of Aberdeen, and resided at
Creswell about year. On Wednesday morn
ing about six o'clock he went over to Mr..
Hanway's for the purpose of working in the
garden. Mrs. Hanway missed her little
daughter, and in looking for the child, went
out upon the front porch and found the man
aud Margaret in very compromising posi-
ton. She at once gave the alarm and the
miscreant left. He seemed to take his discov-
cry very calmly, going to the store and wrap
ping up his tools before taking his departure.
lie crossed the fields TO Calahan's woods and
from thence to a cluster of laurelS about one
hundred feet back of Patterson's mill, where
he was found. The news reached Bel Air by
telephone, and Sheriff Cooley, States Attor
ney Preston and several other citizens at once
started in pursuit of him. About ten O'Clock
Mr.. Cooley struck his trail, and following it,
came upon his man lying on the ground be-
meath huge laurel bush.
You are the man | am looking for" said
Sheriff Cooley. "Get up an come with me-
Blanchard inquired what for, and when i'm
formed, signiGed his willingness to accom-
pany his captors. He admitted having taking
undue liberties with the child, but claimed
that he had done her no injury. DR.. j.
Camp Butler who had accompanied the party
of pursuers, made an examination, but could
find no material injury except slight bruise.
Blanchard was brought to Bel Air at rapid
rate as the news of the assault was spreading
and excitement was beginning to be manifest
ed. They reached here shortly after eleven
o'clock, time when but few persons were
about, and had their prisoner safely in Jail
before it was generally known.
Little Margaret is a granddaughter of Mr..
b. Frank Hanway, one the most prominent
citizens of Abingdon district, and is bright,
handsome child, although somewhat delicate.
Blanchard is man of over forty years Of
age, slight in stature, and has hitherto borne
very good reputation in the neighborhood.
The excitement in the neighberhood of the
assault, as well as Bel Air, continued to in
crease throughout the day, and but little else
was talked of. Groups of people could be
found on every side discussing the affair, and
considerable talk was heard of summary Jus
tice. 1t was at first decided to keep Banch
ard in confinement in the Jail at Bel Air, as
trouble was not seriously anticipated. To-
wards night, however, the manifestations be
gan to increase, and the half muttered threats
reached States Attorney Preston and Sheriff
Cooley who concluded that it would be better
to remove the accused beyond the reach Of
mob violence, and it was decided the Sheriff
to take Blanchard to Baltimore. The last
Grain had gone, and Sheriff Cooley decided to
make the trip by carriage. y few minutes after
Soclock Blanchard was quietly taken from
the Jail by Deputy Sheriff W. j. Forsythe, by
the back door,across the garden and fields to
a point on the Churchville road, where Mr..
George w. Gelzenlhter was in waiting with
a conveyance, and the team was started in the
darkness for the city.
They drove rapidly for few miles, when
the conclusion reached that no pursuit
was being made, and the rest of the trip was
more leisurely made. The city was reached
shortly before midnight and the party pro-
ceeded ut once to the Central Police Station,
on North street, where Blanchard was locked
up From thence he was removed to the jail
on Thursday morning.
1t was nearly two hours after the removal
was made before the fact became known, and
for some time it was not generally believed, it
being almost midnight before the streets of
Bel Air assumed their usual quietness.
The May term of the Circuit Court will COM
mence on Monday, 10th instant, so that the
grand jury can make its investigation and the
trial be had without any long delays.
The authorities have been universally com
mended for the promptness with which they
acted in the case, although after the first re-
ports OF the affair and the subsistence of the
storm of Indignation which those reports
aroused, there was really no danger of any
organized mob violence.
The last cases in which lynch law was ap-
piled in Hartford county were in 1868. The
first being the negro Ike Moore, who was
hung near Bel Air in the spring of that year,
for outraging a young lady and the other,
the negro Jim Crow, who was hung near Jar
rettsville in the fall, for felonious assault
upon an old lady near Norrisville.