Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-12-21
BRUTE CONFESSED BEFORE
THE CROWD SAID HE
INTENDED TO MURDER
HER AS WELL.
PUNISHMENT SWIFT-PLANS
OF LYNCHlNG CAREFULLY,
CONCEALED.
MOB BoMBARDS The JAIL.

lDOn the biODinE VI AVitNSN
Creek and within actual limit of the
City of Annapolis, the body of Davis
or Chambers, the negro who had proved
himself TO be as near the brute level
as n being having the marks of hu.
manity could>reach by the commits
sion of two dastardly crimes against
women, and had confessed to the most
vicious assault upon Mrs. John
Reid, respected white woman of adj
vanced wears on Friday last, lay this
morning until an advanced hour.
He had met death by sentence of
Judge Lynch s.court couple of hours
after midnight. A thin rope had been
doubled and passed twice around his
neck and tied in such a manner that
il would have choked him to death
had he been lying on the ground. The
rope had evidently broken or been cut
and bullets had been poured into him
either before he fell or while he was
lying on the ground. Three of these
had taken effect in his head, two in
the face and one in the rear of the
head. Another bullet had penetrated
his lneck, another his right breast
and still another his right hand, still
united with the other by handouts.
The body lay with its life blood
soaking into the ground, the sport of
unthinking men and women and even
children. Many of the men and chill
dren were of the white race, but there
were also large number of eolored
women, many of the colored people
seemingly making the occasion one
of great enjoyment. There was little
feeling of pitysor Indignation express
ed, Many of the better element of
both white and colored, while lynch
ing is regretted, feel that the crime
met its deserved fate and there is n
feeling of relief on many accounts,
but particularly that his victim has
been spared the ordeal of an appear
ance in Court.
The definite details of the affair are
now wellknown, though all of the
first repors contained more or less SER
ious inaccuracies. There is still some
difference of opinion as 10 the size of
the crowd and its personnel, but the
truth of the matter is pretty well as
certained by witnesses who saw every
part of the occurrence and who are
thoroughly trustworthy.
Sheriff Joshua Linthicum and his
deputies had no more reason to eXpt ct
lynching last night than they did on
any other night since this assault took
place. There were rumors of body
of men who would come from the
section where the crime was commit
ted and wreak summary vengeance
upon Davis, but there had been such
reports on every night since he has
been in jail.
All reasonable precautions were
taken. The regular force at the Jail,
which consisted of Warden George
Taylor and Night Watchman II. Mar
cellus, was augmented by Deputies
Reuben Il. Smallwood and James H..
Grouse, two tried and discreet officers.
The door, which is a strong one, was
barred with steel and reinforced with
great beams of wood. 1t was not be-
lieved that the lynchers would come,
though it has been known by every
one that il has been possibility all
along.
The lynchers undoubtedly were
mainly reputable citizens of the sec
tion where the crime was committed
and where Mrs. Reid lived. There can
be no doubt that they were in the
main actuated by righteous indig-
nation against the perpetrator CT such
a crime and by a desire to make a
warning which would be a protection
to their womenfolk in the future.
The testimony is abundant that the
members of the party were not in
toxicated in the slightest degree; that
they committed their act without
unnecessary brutality, and that they
considered the position of the men
who were charged with the duty OF
protecting the wretched prisoner.
Still, they had come for a purpose that
required no half measures and they
carried their purpose to an end.
1t has been learned that there was
a rendezvous of the proposed lynchers
on the rear campus of st. Johns Col
| lege shortly before the visit TO the jail
was made. This is not convenient
point to those coming from the sec.
| tion from which the lynchers were
supposed to come and there can bt
| little doubt that a eircuitous route
was chosen in order TO avoid those
W no might be watching along th.
| line which they might naturally bs
expected to use $50 -
The attack on the Jail began. viii
a stratagem, the well known ruse o.
the bogus deputy and fake prisoner
| At about ten minutes to two the bel
of the front door of the Jail was runs
and the electric lamp which throws
food Of light over the front pavemen
| was turned on in response. Deputies
| Smallw God and Grouse looked out o
the window and decided that the cir
/ I......~.&.~nor wyowa lamentations TIa-