The sun., 1902-03-04
LYNCHING GCROWD MARYLAND
THREE TOWNS EXCITED OVER
DEPUTY SHERIFF'S MURDER.
The Murderer Believed to he One OF the
Six Prisoners Who Escaped From
Easton jail and whom the Deputy Was
Trying to Capture Crowd waiting.

Trying to Capture Crowd waiting.
EAsroN. Md. March s.-The escape from
fall here Of the six prisoners on Saturday
night and the murder Of well-known and
popular Deputy Sheriff, Thomas John
Thompson, who was trying to recapture one
OF them, have thrown the towns Of Easton,
Oxford and bellevue into fever heat OF
excitement. IL is thought that crowd
Of men from the three towns Is only waiting
the Identification Of the murderer before
lynching occurs. IL is beloved that the
murderer Is Lewis Green, one OF the pris-
oners who made his escape on Saturday
night. but there is some doubt thrown on
this by men who believe that one OF Green s
brothers. In an effort TO protect him, was
really guilty OF the murder.
Green, his two brothers and four other
persons, who are believed to have had
knowledge Of the murder, are now con-
fined in the Easton jail. and restless crowd
awaits the preliminary examination before
taking any action. The jail Is one OF the
strongest and best built of the county jalls
in the State, and the Sheriff, IL is said, has
made up his mind 10 resist mob violence.
The prisoners escaped at 7;So O'Clock
on Saturday night. 1t is said that the
escape was effected through the assistance
Of a watchma ker, Michael Dramoski. who
was confined there and who did not join in
the break for liberty. as he only had three
more DAYS 20 serve. Ono Of the prisoners
who did not escape says that Dramoski
whitfield KEY out of wood, which was
30 perfect that II opened the door 10 the
main corridor,
After opening this door the prisoners,
II Is believed, dropped through coal hole
and thence went to the open air. or those
who made their escape only one, Lewis
Green, was considered very desperate
man. He was held on a charge OF muir
dering Clara Price (colored), with whom
he had lived In Oxford after having de-
serted his wife In Bellevue Immediately
across from oxford. He killed the Price
woman few months ago and then at,
tempted 60 commit suicide. He was nursed
in jail, however, and had practically re-
covered. and was awaiting trial at the May
term Of court,
When the escape was discovered the
Sheriff summoned what assistance he could
get and set about the rearrestlng OF the
prisoners. Thompson has reputation Tor
exceptional bravery and ability In this line
IN Easton. He was sworn in as deputy
sheriff and, with Richard Moulton Soulsby,
went In the early morning hours 10 the
home Of Green's brothers In Bellevue.
where they hoped to find him.
Thompson met his death soon after
arriving at the Green house He stationed
Soulsby at the back door and went TO the
front door himself, calling out that he
wanted Green. Green himself Is said TO
have responded that he would not come
out, but the front door opened and three
shots were heard. two of which took effect
in Thompson's body. Soulsbv ran around,
only TO receive Thompson in his arms, who
with the exclamation, "Oh, Dick, i'm
mediately expired. Soulsby carried Ihomp-
son TO the home of William II. Valiant,
nearby, but II was found that the deputy
was dead. Later the body was brought
to Easton.
IL the meantime a number OF white men
from the towns of Easton, Bellevue and
Oxford had turned out with guns and re-
vovers to seek the murderer. About
fifty of these men were in Bellevue and
when they found that the two deputies
had caught Green, they made up their
minds To accompany him to Laslon ana
see that he was landed safely in jail.
They got on boat and sailed behind the
little steamer all the way to its destina-
ton, and when they arrived at EastCn
Point. marched with the prisoner 10 the
Jail, where he was incarcerated. Their
forbearance from taking summary ven
geance ou the prisoner is said 10 be due
10 the fact that the old colored woman
living in the next house, and who Is said
10 have actually seen the murder, has inti-
mated that it was not Lewis Green, but
one Of his brothers, who actually shot
down Deputy Thompson.