Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-06-30


son a note, well-written, in which it
was stated that the bearer had been
accused of the crime against Miss
Knode, but had been taken before her
and exonerated. The note purported
to have been signed by a constable
from Harper's Ferry named A. Hun
ter. This was such palpable lie that
it increased the belief that he was
really the guilty man.
Tuesday morning Miss Knode was
taken to Martinsburg to see if she
could identify the scoundrel. Two
other colored men who had been ar
rested on suspicion were taken before
her, but she said they were not the
right persons. When the third negro
was brought before her she immediate
ly exclaimed, "That is the man. OH
those dreadful eyes, 1 can never for
get them" When the vicious-look-
ing negro saw that he was recognized
he made movement as if he would
spring at the distressed young woman,
and he Kissed at her, "What did I tell
you?" He was instantly seized, and
Will Knode, brother of Miss Laura,
made frantic effort to get at the
black fend, but was restrained by
those about him. There was large
crowd in and about the mayors office,
where the scene took place, and while
no attempt was made to get at the
prisoner, there was good deal of
suppressed excitement. In order that
there might be no mistake, the negro
was again brought out, and Miss Knode
most positively identified him. She
recognized him by his peculiar eyes,
his other features, his clothes and his
general appearance. At the request
of the officers she for the third time
looked at the negro in strong light,
and was more emphatic than ever in
her Identification, leaving absolutely
no doubt that he was the guilty rascal.
The negro, who is copper-colOred
man of medium size, apparently about
% years old, and vicious-looking, gave
the name of George Williams and
claimed to be from near Frederick,
Nd. He is said to have been seen
around the quarries at Bakerton the
past week or two, but little seems to
be known of him in this section.
Will Knode, a brother of the victim
of the outrage, is an employee Of the
B. & O. Railroad, and there was
belief that he would lead a number Of
his fellow-employees and citizens Of
Jefferson county in an attempt to
lynch the negro, about whose guilt
there was not the shadow of doubt.
For fear Of a lynching, it was deter
mined to take the prisoner elsewhere
for safe keeping. Accordingly Sheriff
Billmyer and Herbert Rogers, of this
place, took Williams from Martinsburg
to Hagerstown on the $50 train Of
the Cumberland Valley Railroad Tues
day afternoon. He was taken to the
county Jail and locked up, pending
removal to another place. When it
became known that the negro was in
jail in Hagerstown a considerable
crowd gathered about the place. The
usual wild rumors were circulated,
one being that party of 500 armed
men were on their way from Jefferson
county to lynch the negro.
Sheriff Downin, of Washington
county, declined to be responsible for
the prisoner, beinginformed by counsel
that he had no legal right to hold the
negro. He requested Sheriff Billmyer
to take the fellow away, and it was
decided to take him to the Keyser
Jail. At $50 Tuesday evening Will
liams was taken from the Hagerstown
Jail and put in a three-seated vehicle,
in company with Sheriff Billmyer,
Rogers, Constable Alexander, of Ha'
gerstown, Constable Rhodes, of Han
cock, and w. H. Socks and A. j.
Zinkand, of Hagerstown. They drove
to Williamsport, where they took the
Western Maryland train for Cherry
Run, Constable Alexander and Mr..
Socks returning with the team to Ha-
gerstown. The officers left the train
with their prisoner at Big Pool, where
team was awaiting to take them to
Hancock, where they expected to take
the B. & 0. train for Keyser.
At Big Pool crowd of forty or
fifty persons had assembled about the
station. There was an attempt to
take the prisoner from the officers,
who drew revolvers and forced back
the men who pressed around them.
Citizens of the village urged the crowd
not to harm the prisoner, and while the