The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-11
SEAT PLEASANT HOTEL BURNED
Scene of an AtrOcious Murder De-
strOyed by Fire.


The frame building at Seat Pleasant.
| Prince George County, Md, in which
Margaret Drown was murdered several
years ago, and which since then has been
known as the Seat Pleasant Hotel, was
destroyed by fire Tuesday night When
the flames were discovered they had
gained such Roadway that the neighbors
could 90 nothing TO prevent the total de-
structioD of the, building. and stood
! around III groups watching the fire.
The fire illuminated the sky for many
miles around. and attracted number of
persons in this city. who started for it,
only to find that IL was too far distant
to be easily reached.
The building had been unoccupied since
last fall, when it was given up by Frank
Mace, who had conducted it as a road
house. The building contained twenty-one
rooms. and its cost of erection was 81, 900
1t was owned by James II. Fry, a re-
tired butter merchant of this city, who
now lives at Gunston, Va, and who car
ried, it is said, about 5000 insurance on
the building
Seat Pleasant is about mile from
Chesapeake Junction. The nearest place
OF habitation to the one destroyed is a
grocery store kept by w. A Lusley
Shortly before o'clock Tuesday night
Mr.. Lusley was attracted by a glow upon
the window OF his store, and looking out
he saw flames bursting from the kitchen
windows Of the old mansion. He hurried
to the scene Of the fire, where the peo-
pie from the neighboring farms were a.
ready assembling. The heat of the fire
was too great for any successful effort
to be made to combat the flames. and all
was to watch the destruction of the house
Although the building was unoccupied
the barroom fixtures and pool table. as
well as several other pieces OF furniture
were said to be still in the building at
the time of its destruction. Within an
hour from the time the flames were first
discovered there remained but a mass of
smodering ruins. with here and there the
brick walls of the foundation rising above
the burning embers.
Ever since the house has been vacant it
has been a resort for tramps and II is
believed that the fire was probably due
To stray spark dropped by one of the
wanderers. A young man who recently
visited the building stated that he saw
evidences OF fires having been made in
the cellar as well as In the stoves in
other parts of the house
The building was erected about fifteen
years ago by Pinkney Rollins. a promi-
nent citizen Of the county who personally
occupied it until 1t was bought by ALI
son Wemper. AIR. Wemper in turn, sold
IL &c Mrs. Sarah Drown, who moved into
it with her family. which included Mar
garet DrcWn. a niece.
MISS Drown was a remarkably pretty
girl, and was greatly admired During
the summer Mrs. Drown converted the old
place into boarding house Among the
help about the place she employed James
Smith. negro Smith became much in
fatuated with the beautiful niece. and one
evening, about four years ago. went TO
her room. He was ordered from the room
but shortly afterward returned with
knife. and before the girl could turn frcm
the mirror. at which she was combing
her hair. he sprang upon her and drew
the blade across her throat Miss Drown
died shortly afterward.
Smith made his escape. but was arrested
In this city and was sent TO Baltimore for
safe keeping. He was convicted OF the
murder and hanged at Marlboro.