Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-08-18
Five Persons Lynched.

They were accused of the murder Of
John T. Orr, a wealthy young mer-
chant, who was assassinated few
nights previous. Their names are;
William Sanders, Dennis Ricard
Manse Castle, Rilla Weaver, Susie
Jacobs.
While the FIVE bodies swung in the
early morning breeze the body of the
murdered mans widow lay in her cell
in the county jail with her three-year-
old child.
Somewhere young woman, once
prominent in Clarendon society, Is a
fugitive from justice, charged with
murder. Her name Is Miss Rachel
Morris, and she is the only survivor
of the seven named in the coroner
verdict as being responsible for the
tragic death of John T. Orr.
Mrs. Orr died by her own hand,
After completely breaking down and
making partial confession, in some
way she got a quantity Of poison and
took the dose. She never regained
consciousness.
Friday night, while Mr., Orr was
making lemonade at his home, an as
sassin crept up to his window and
fred shot into his body, from the
effect of which he died the following
day. 1t is supposed that he was
killed in order to reinsurance money.
Mr.. Orr had just returned from choir
practice at church Of whose choir
he was member, while his wife was
the organist. Bloodhounds were put
on the trail, but they were unable to
run down the assassin.
After an inquest extending over
two days a verdict was returned
charging Mrs. Orr with being the IN
stigator of the crime. Miss Rachel
Morris, Manse Castle, VIM. Sanders,
Dennis Ricard, Rilla Weaver and Su-
sic Jacobs were charged with compile
ity in the crime.
Castle was arrested Sunday and
barely escaped lynching Sunday night.
The mob had already gathered to
swing him up, and would undoubtedly
have carried out the plan but for an
earnest appeal in behalf of law and
order made by Judge Thomas, who ap-
peared on the scene Just in time to
prevent the lynching. lie addressed
the crowd, beseeching them to let the
law take its course, and promised that
the accused should have a speedy
trial.
Castle was accused of firing the shot
that killed Orr, but he denied his
guilt. According to his story, one Of
the colored women involved in the
case had told him that Mrs Orr wanted
her husband killed and would pay
5000 to have the deed done. Castle
agreed to the proposition, but later
weakened and turned the job over to
Ricard. Ricard likewise denied his
guilt and accused Castle
The colored women in the case had
been employed as servants in the Orr
household, and it was shown at the in
quest that they had acted as agents of
Mrs. Orr in securing a man to do the
murder. What connection Miss Nor
ris had with the case is not clear.
After the arrest of Mrs. Orr and
the five negroes Mrs. Orr made a con-
fession. She admitted that she had
said to her cook that she wished her
husband dead and that she would be
quite willing to give 5000 to any
body to kill him. But she said this
was uttered in a fit Of anger and that
she was innocent Of any criminal in
tention. Her husband abused her,
she said, and once struck her, and she,
being of high temper herself, some
times said things in anger that she
did not mean.
John Orr several years ago was a
theatrical man, and in 1890 was man
ager of theatre in a small Wisconsin
town. The marriage was clandestine,
and the brides parents were bitterly
opposed to it.
The Orrs lived happily but short
time. Both were hot tempered and
quarrels were frequent. A few years
ago they settled in Clarendon, where
the husband engaged in business. He
prospered and was consi dered wealthy
at the time of his death.