The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-09-28
SAM JOHNSON GUILTY.
The COlOred Rapist of Washington County
Found Guilty and Sentenced to be
Hanged.

L lie CItSC VI lllt hOtdIc VI
VS.. Sam johnson, colored, of Wash
ington county, charged with commit
ting a rape upon Annie Kerfoot
white, aged twelve years, and whose
trial was removed to this county for
hearing, terminated on Saturday
afternoon at 1.19 when the jury in
the case brought in a verdict of guilty.
The case was taken on Thursday
morning last, as stated in THE RE
PUBLICAN of that date. The entire
day was consumed in hearing the
evidence of the prosecuting witness
and the physicians attending her
after the outrage had been commit
ted. Friday the entire day was con-
sumed in hearing testimony and on
Saturday morning, the argument of
counsel was begun. The time allowed
each side for its argument was two
hours. At 1.15 p. m. Saturday the
State closed its pleading and one
minute later the jury retired to make
up its verdict. In exactly four min
utes the jury returned and rendered
it's decision as above recorded. Judge
Stake being absent from the bench
on Saturday the sentence of Johnson
was deferred until Wednesday after
noon when the full bench which sat in
the case could be present. At that time
Chief Judge A. Hunter Boyd in
sentencing Johnson asked him if
he had anything to say why the
Court should not proceed to pass
sentence upon him. The question
had to be repeated when Johnson
said, 81 don't think l am guilty"
Judge Boyd then reviewed the case
in a few words, saying in part:
"You exercised your constitutional
right by removing your case from
Washington county to this county
for trial where it was not supposed
the prejudice against you existed
as it did in the county where
YOU were indicted and where the
crime was committed. You were
ably defended by able counsel who
did everything in their power for
you. Under the terms of the law
covering your case great powers of
discretion are given the Court, and in
exercising these powers the Court
must be sure not to make mistake
The sentence of this court is that you
be taken hence by the Sheriff of Gar
rett county to Washington county
and there be given in charge of the
Sheriff who will keep you until such
time as the Governor of this State
shall elect for your execution whence
you shall be taken and hanged by the
neck until you are dead, and may
God have mercy upon you"
During the delivery of the sentence
Judge Boyd was visibly affected. Not
so, however, with the prisoner, who
sat upright in his chair, cycling the
Court and spectators coolly and seem
ingly taking but little interest in the
proceedings. Immediately after the
sentence had been pronounced the
Sheriff re-handcuffed Johnson and
led him back to the Jail. The Sheriff
left Oakland this morning with the
prisoner for Hagerstown.
On Saturday Judge Boyd sentenced
the Italian, John Panatti, charged
and convicted of attempted rape upon
Mrs. Samuel Wolf, to ten years in the
Maryland Penitentiary. The Court,
in passing this sentence, said that
this character of crime was becoming
too common within the State and to
make an example he would give the
prisoner the maximum punishment
provided by law in such cases.
James Erwin, convicted of stealing
a satchel at Crellin, was also SEN
fenced to thirty days in jail.