The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-30
At 4HER0PB'S END
Harris Pays Full Penalty for Els
Crime.
WAS LYNCHED AT MIDNIGHT
He Is Taken From Bel AIR Jail and
Limits-DecIined TO Pray-But Said
That If ne Committed the Crime he
Was Drunk.


Limits-DecIined TO Pray-But Said
That If ne Committed the Crime he
Was Drunk.
The citizens OF this quiet town were aroused
to high pitch OF excitement on Sunday
morning by the news that Miss Annie Nell
vaine, lady who resides upon the outskirts
OF Bel Air, had been made the victim of a
brutal assault by a well-known negro at an
early hour Of the morning.
The scene of the occurrence was a small
house along the bank Of the Baltimore and
| Lehigh Railroad, not far from the station, and
a visit to the place In the afternoon showed
unmistakesble evidence that violent struggle
had taken place.
Miss McIlvaine, who is over fifty years of
| age, has been for some time connecting RENE
dies Of a simple nature for various ailments,
and she states that she was suddenly awaken
ed about four O'Clock by heavy knock upon
| the door. SEEING q man standing there, she
| inquired what was wanted, and he responded
that he had very severe toothache and de-
| sired some medicine. She handed the article
| through the window, but the intruder de-
manded entrance, threatening to break down
| the door. A few minutes afterward, every
| thing being quiet, she opened the door and
stepped out, with the intention of fleeing to a
| neighbours for protection, when the man, who
had told her his name WIS Harris, sprang upon
aud knocked her down, at the same time
| choking her. Miss McIvane, who is mus
| cular woman, struggled violently with Harris,
and during the struggle bit one of his fingers,
but being deficient Ii teeth was only able to
tear the skin. Beng partially free from his
grasp, she screamed loud enough to attract
the attention of colored man, AL. jackson,
who resided near by, and he sprang to his
door, pistol In hand, and fired two shots in
the direction OF the struggle. The assailant
sprang to his feet and rushing down the bank
and crossed the railroad to bis home In
'Street's Row." small colored settlement
north Of Bel Air.
Miss McIlyain ran down town to the sheriff's
house, about half mile distant, and notified
that official OF the occurrence. He kept her
until daybreak, and she returned home. AS
she was about to enter her house, she noticed
hat lying on the ground, and when the
Sheriff reached her house, 1t was handed to
him. To his surprise he recognized it at once
as belonging to Lewis Harris, negro hostler
employed by him. While they were talking
over the matter, Harris came down the street.
"There goes the man to whom this hat be-
longs" said he.
"Yes," replied the lady, "and II am not
greatly mistaken, 1t Is the man who assaulted
me-"
The excitement grew intense through Bel
Air, as the news became known, and crowds
began to assemble, the occurance being the
general theme Of converse. About eleven
o'clock, Sheriff Kinhart and Bailiff Jones
started on a hunt for Harris, who was found
in front of store kept by colored people, |
known as the Morgan store. Mr.. Kinhart
accOsted him.
"What is the matter with you Lewis Why |!
haven't you been around to do up your |
work s''
"Why" responded Harris, was drunk last
night, and have just woke up"
He was taken to the Jail, where he denied |
the charge. DIR. E. Hall Richardson was
called in, and upon examining him found |
small wound on his right thumb, which he |
explained by saying that he had skinned 1t |
during the week while at work. The hat |
which had fallen from his head was recogniz- |
ed by the Sheriff, his cook, and several other |
parties who had known the prisoner. He ad- |
mitted that he had lost it, but claimed to have |
found 1t again: After the news OF his arrest |
became known, the excitement abated con- |
siderabiy, the expressed intention Of the citi- |
zens being to let the law take its course. On |
Monday the rumor spread that a hearing |
would be held during the afternoon, and at
an early hour people began to assemble in |
front of the jail, In the parlor of which Sheriff
Kinhart had decided to hold the hearing, say
ing, "In the present state Of excitement, l
don't think it safe to take Harris out" There
were number Of strangers present, and for
various reasons the prisoner was simply com ,
United, and the hearing postponed. Nobody
seemed to fear any interference with the law,
aud Bel Air resumed its wonted quiet. The
feeling, which had been greatly aggravated
by the cases OF Black and the negro jackson,
who assaulted the young lady at Stemmer's
Kun, and was acquitted, apparently subsidized.
THE LYNCHING.
Later in the afternoon rumors began to
spread that something unusual was on hand,
but no one paid much attention to them,
feeling assured that the officers would be
able to properly resist any attempt. The
case was recalled of the night when a crowd
visited the Jail to lynch the negro Smith, who |
attempted to break into residence near
Black Horse, with a like intent, but met with |
such resistance from Sheriff Carman that the |
attempt was abandoned. About dusk rumors
were rife Of an intention upon the part Of
citizens of Aberdeen and other points outside |
of Bel Air, to visit the town aud mete out
that punishment which was felt to be deserv- |
ing in the case. The citizens, however, did
not place much credit in these, and the town
believed with Shefiffs Kinhart and Dever
that nothing would happen. There had not
been a case OF the kind in Hartford county
since Jim Crow was lynched near Jarretts-
vile in 1861 and the proverbial order and
good name OF Bel Air would be preserved.
Shortly after ten O'Clock, however, 1t was
apparent that speedy action would be taken.
The night was unusually dark and mist was
falling. hint was given that crowd was
assembling at the railroad, and a visit to the
place confirmed the fact.
THE ATTACK.
About 11.3O O'Clock the crowd, which prob
ably numbered fifty, many Of whom were
masked, reached the Jail and demanded the
keys. This request was promptly refused by
Sheriff Kinhart, and a pistol shot rang out
upon the night air. 1t was the signal, and
was responded to by perfect fusillade. There
was a prompt response by the beseiged party,
and for while pandemonium reigned. Sud
denly, clear and strong, came the sound Of
the ponderous blows Of blacksmith's sledge
| upon the back entrance to the jail, and shortly
afterward crash told the result. The outside
crowd, which was now greatly augmented,
began to scatter for fear of stray bullets,
when a shout was heard, and out Of the lane
came rushing crowd, and in their midst,
with the rope around his neck, was the victim.
| Hurrying down Main street to the Churchville
| road, they halted for a moment. A cry was
heard, "Don't stop Take him out Of town W
| Harris seemed to offer no resistance, and the
crowd, which seemed at that time to number
but few, started out the road. When they
reached the Archer place they halted and
posted guards, who kept back every one who
was not directly engaged in the work of hang
ing. A rope was thrown over a projecting
| lin, NJ q Iarua poDlar trea near gate and