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

and he fell to the ground, spraining
his ankle. The negro took advantage
of this opportunity and ran off, disap-
pearing in wheat field. When asked
why he had not shot at him, the con-
stable said he hadn't thought OF 1t.
Search of the wheatfeld and the ad-
iacent county failed to reveal any
clue to the negro's whereabouts.
Sheriff Billmyer and his fellow-ot-
fcers fired a number Of shots to at
tract the attention Of the crowd that
was in the neighborhood, and when
number of persons had gathered the
search was resumed, but without re-
suit. Wednesday morning the blood
hounds at Charles Town were sent for,
and Deputy Sheriff Burns took them
to Cherry Run, arriving there abOnt
one o'clock. The dogs were taken
over the scene, but they failed to take
up the trail. A heavy rain had fallen
in the night, and there was little hope
that the man could be tracked. Dep
uty Burns took them back to Charles
Town on the evening train, but re-
turned again to Cherry Run this morn
ing with the dogs. A large crowd
searched through that part of the
country yesterday, but we learn no
clue whatever was discovered. The
negro had completely disappeared.
The suggestion was made that he had
possibly fallen into the canal and
being unable to swim on account OF
his handouts, might have drowned.
1t was further suggested that be might
have been secreted by some of the
negroes who are working on the Wa
bash railroad in that section.
Another story was that the officers,
finding the mob coming after them,
hid in the wheat field, and that while
lying there the negro slipped away
from them. There was still another
report that to avoid the capture Of
the prisoner by the crowd, he was
placed in the wheat field and told to
remain there until the officers had
gotten rid of the mob. When they
went back for him he had gone.
Sheriff Billmyer and Herbert Rog-
ers came to Shepherdstown last night
and confirmed the story Of the pris-
Oner's escape. A considerable crowd
gathered, and there was intense in
terest in the details. Some persons
still had the idea that the story Of
the escape was fake, and that the
officers had used it as a ruse simply
to conceal the whereabouts of the
negro. In order to satisfy the people
on this point Sheriff Billmyer went
with the crowd before Magistrate D.
S. Rentch, and there made sworn
statement that the prisoner had es-
capped as related on Tuesday night
that he did not know where he was
at the present time; and that up to
si1 o'clock Wednesday evening, when
the sheriff left the Cherry Run neigh
borhood, nothing was known as to
what had become Of Williams. There
was a good deal of excitement on the
streets until late hour. Sheriff Bill
myer and Rogers left this morning
for Cherry Run to renew the search.
Up to noon today nothing had been
heard here Of any clue as the negro
There is very severe criticism, nat
urally, of the officers who have per-
mitted the escape Of the perpetrator
of so terrible crime. The negro was
in Martinsburg until 3 80 o'clock Tues
day afternoon, when he was taken to
Hagerstown. Why was he not kept
in Martinsburg until he could have
been safely transported to some place
in our own State? A fast train leaves
Martinsburg at GA P. m. for the
west. Would not the combined forces
of the Jefferson county officers, the
Martinsburg police and the Berkeley
officials been sufficient to protect the
prisoner from $50 to GA, land him
on train No. l and guard him until
he was out Of danger from prospective
lynchers2 1t is likely that there
would have been little difficulty in
pursuing such course. Most persons
would rather have had him fall into
the hands of lynchers than that he
should escape punishment for his helm
GUS crime. The possibility that he
may get clear away is not pleasing
one. Reported threats against Sheriff
Billmyer, published in the Baltimore
Sun this morning as coming from Mar
tinsburg, are idle. Whatever may
have been the errors Of judgment on
the part of that officer, no sensible
person would say that he willingly