The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-29
BLACK TO BIZ HANGED !
Judge Dennis Imposes Death
Sentence.
The Doomed Negro Never PalterS.
City JatI-The Execution VIII Take
Place in Bel Air.

| CITY Ja1l-Tn0 Execution VIII TAKE
Place in Bel Air.
| The negro, William Black, was tried In
Criminal Court No. 3, for feloniously assault
ing Miss bessie Bradford. near aberdeen, Oh
| Wednesday, February 81 MIR. Henry Duffy,
who had been appointed by Judge Dennis to
| defend Black, elected TO try the case before
the court instead of jury, aud Judge Dennis
selected Judges Dobler and ste ckbridgs to
| sit with him. The prosecution was conduct
ed by Messrs. Robe TT NJ. McLane, Dr., States
Attorney for Baltimore City, James W. Nc
Nabb States Attorney for Hartford county, J.
| Thomas c. Hopkins and Walter W. Preston.
The witnesses for the State were Miss Brad
| ford, (whose examination was conducted in
privately Joseph Z. Kelly conductor on q
Baltimore and Ohio freight train, who was q
| witness to th 9 assault, MIR. and Mrs. Edward
Bradford, DR.. j. H. Kennedy, William Tobin,
Jerry Tobin, George Bradford, o. b. Joyce,
the bridge tender at Bush River, Capt. League
Of the Baltimore Police force, Mr.. Nolan, the
operator at Aberdeen and Lizzie Smith,
colored. Those for the defense Were Black
and his wife.
The testimony covered the facts as hereto
fore stated In our columns and pointed con
clusiveIy TO tie guilt OF the accused. At Its
conclusion the judges retired aud after II con-
sultation which lasted six minutes, returned
with verdict of guilty"
On Wednesday Black was sentenced to be
hung. Judges Dennis, Dobler aud Stock.
bridge, before whom the negro was tried, en-.
tered the court room d few minutes after ten
O'Clock, and Jail Officer Meeks brought Black
in. He was made to stand before the Clerks
desk, and Judge Dennis Immediately began
the sentence He said
"Willism Black, you have been indicted in
this court for a crime the highest known to
the law, more terrible in its sequences to
the victim than murder itself You have had
fair trial. When you were arraigued you
had no counsel and we employed counsel for
ysu. We assigned for that task Mr.. Henry
Duffy, gentleman widely known for bic
learning In the criminal law. He conducted
your defense with zeal, courage and ability,
but he could do nothing for you. The case
against you was made out 80 perfectly that
there never was = shsdow Of doubt In the
minds Of the judges as to your guilt. l have
but few words to say to you and they are not
to delude yourself with the idea of hope OF
pardon or mercy. There is no hope of mercy
for such as you. In the few short hours left
you, prepare to meet your God.
"William Black, the sentence OF the court,
therefore, is that you be taken from hence to
the Baltimore City Jail and there held uRdef
the custody Of the Sheriff of Baltimore city,
subject to the of the Sheriff Of Hartford
county until the Governor OF this State shall !
name day when you shall, DO hanged by the
neck until dead. And may God have mercy
upon your eoul." ,-...
Judge DENNIS showed moro emotion in de-
ltvering this sentence than Black did in re-
eeiving 1t. The Judges voice at tines CULVER |
ed to such an extent that the words were
scarcely distinguishable. Particularly was
this so when he spoke OF the few short hours |
of life yet remaining to the prisoner. AS for |
Black, he exhibited the utmost stolidity. His |
eyes were steadily fixed Oh Judge Dennis aud I
his uprsised hand did not seem to faiter In the
slightest. lfthere was anything that betoken- |
ed a realization and fear OF HIS impending
doom, 1t was the color of his face, which |
seemed to slightly assume the asheu hue which |
is characteristic Of the negro race.