Evening star., 1897-06-02
PLOT TO LYNCH GoRDY
Sheriff johnson Alarmed at Anonymous
Communications on the Subject.
He Has Asked the Governor for q
Guard of Militia to Prevent
Mob Violence.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
GEORGETOWN, Del, June 2.-Excite-
ment In Sussex county is at fever heat
over Sheriff Johnson's discovery of plot
to prevent the hanging of James M. Gordy
In order to lynch him instead. Sheriff John
son Is greatly alarmed and has called upon
Gov. Tunnel to send a regiment of the
state militia to this town June 10 to pre-
vert their interference with Gordy's execu-
ticn. Gov. Tunnel said today he would or
Ger out the militia to protect the sheriff If
the emergency arose, although he considers
that such action would be a reflection upon
the character of the people of Sussex
county.
Since Gordy's sentence TO death IN April
Sheriff johnson has received numerous
anonymous communications, in which the
writers urge him to take good care Of
Gordy. One communication received by
Dim three weeks ago cautioned him to feed
Ioroy well and not to allow him the slight
est means OF escape lest his own life be
sacrihced on the day of the execution. The
receipt OF this letter unnerved the sheriff
who Is an old man, so much that he was
stricken few days thereafter and Obliged
to go to bed. He has been seriously Ill
ever since. and his illness has been accentu-
ated by the pouring in of additional. COM
mun1catfons upon him.
Aroused by an attempt by Gordy to bribe
one of his guards to furnish him means
Of escape, persons living across the Mary
land line wrote Sheriff Johnson yesterday
telling him that they would not give Gordy
a chance to confess or tell story of any
kind on the scaffold. and that they wanted
him TO be ready to deliver the murderer
over to them when they arrive at the iaiI.
either the night before or on the morning
OF t0e execution day. 1t was this letter
that caused Sheriff Johnson to ask Gov
errcr Tunnel for protection. The sheriff
says he Is convinced that the parties who
thus threaten him mean business, and
ne has appealed to the governor to be on
the safe side.
He believes that those who threaten him
are citizens of Maryland and are men
who are known in their section as pro.
1essional lynchers. Gcrdy operated IN
Maryland for several months and is well
known to the people there. The feeling
against him there is much stronger than
1t Is among the people of Sussex county.
Sheriff JohnsOn's apprehensions are based
upon his knowledge of the fate of Marshall
H. Price. who two years ago was lynched
at Denton, Md, forty miles from this town,
on the night before the day set for his
execution. Price was convicted of the
murder Of Sallie Dean, thirtcen-year-
old girl.
The feeling against him was very strong,
but no real attempt was made to lynch him
until the eve of his execution. The sheriff
was notified that he would be lynched, but
he did not heed the warning. Sheriff John
son says he does not propose to be caught
in a similar trap, as he firmly believes a
gigantic plot Is being formed to steal
Gordy from the Jail and lynch him.
Condemned Nam IL Alarmed ~---
Information of the plot to take his life
has reached Gordy and has badly frighten-
ed him. He sent for Sheriff Johnson this
morning and pleaded with him to solicit
the governors aid. He told the sheriff that
he wanted to die and is willing to die on
the scaffold, but he does not want to be
lynched.
Sheriff johnson says he Is determined to
escort Gordy to the scaffold on June Ii,
even If he Is obliged to transform the Jail
into all arsenal to check attempts to take
his prisoner out --..