Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-12-21
THE ASSAULT ON WOMAN AVENGED---D DAVIS
DRAGGED FROM JAIL AND LYNCHED---
MOB RIDDLED NEGRO RAVISHER

likely, thinking il was merely some
ones poor joke.
In about fifteen minutes, however,
about fifty persons appeared on Cal
vert street, which fronts the Jail, and
serious work began. Members of the
band uprooted strong wooden hitch
ing post in front of the Jail and began
an attack on the front door. How
ever little or no impression was made
with this instrument. In the mean
time. other members had been looking
for tools more suited to the opening
of doors. They had been unable to
get an axe at neighboring house
inhabited by colored person, so they
broke open the wheelwright and
blacksmith shop of William III. Field
meyer, which is on the corner in a
diagonal direction and short dis
tance away. There they secured a
sledge and pick and two stalwart
men. who were evidently no strangers
to their use, piled them with a Will.
BY this time the residents of the
houses across the street and some dis
tance up Clay street, which runs into
Calvert street at the Jail, were aroused
and began to look out of the window.
Some essayed TO come into the street,
but were firmly, though generally
without roughness, warned to go back.
The scene as wan impressive one. The
men who composed the band had their
features hidden in different ways.
Some wore regular masks and others
had strips of cloth about their heads.
Many had their faces blackened or
marked in different ways. The leader
was a tall man, apparently about 30
years of age and there was another
short, stout man who was also quite
active. The inufience of these men
was for order and regularity in
their methods. 1t is said that the
wielder of the pick was particularly
skillful with that tool, used in a
rather unusual manner. He made the
chips fly from the great door and soon
there was hole sufficiently large for
one of the number to crawl in. One
member took the risk of this, evident
ly believing that he was in no spec
ial danger.
Once in, the steel bar was removed,
the wooden beams taken down and
the mob had an open way to the in
terror of the Jail. 1t is not probable
that the number who entered the Jail
exceeded ten or dozen, though the
officials who were inside believe that
there was considerably larger num-
ber. At any rate, those who entered
covered the officials with their revolt
vers and demanded the keys. One
shot was fired by raider while with
in the Jail, but it was either an acci-
dent or done simply to intimidate
the jailers.
Warden George Taylor had the keys
which admitted to the cell where
Davis was and did not hesitate long
when the big revolvers were thrust in
his face. The other officials were COW
cred in the same way. They asked
those who entered to give up their pur-
pose and allow the law to take its
course, but those who had come were
not to be dissuaded from their pur-
pose. The keys were taken from War
den Taylor and the party, some of
whom evidently knew where Davis
was, mounted to the third floor, OF
which Davis was the only occupant.
Davis did not cover in the rear of
his cell but was standing at the door
of his cell waiting. He made no re-
sistence when the door was opened,
but walked out quietly, apparently y
not realizing the minute chance he
had for an hours continuation OF
human life. The crowd was in a
hurry after the loss of time at the jail
door and grabbed Davis, carrying him
bodily from the Jail. Reaching the
street he was put on his feet and went
with the crowd rapidly enough.
The party passed up Calvert street
to West street and apparently every
detail had not been arranged or the
delay at the jail had caused a change.
The crowd seems to have turned in
at Washington sreet, which crosses the
road of the Washington, Baltimore
and Annapolis Railroad and gone NJ
the track for about two hundred yards
1t then cut across an open field, known
as the "Circus Lot, and through q
settlement of about a dozen houses,
colloqually known as Brick Yard
HILL Just at the edge of the creek
where the bank is high and precipi.
tous, large chestnut tree,a Landmark
Of the neighborhood, was chosen as
an improvised gallows. The rope
which had been brought was rather
thin for the purpose and was of the
white cotton variety. 1t was doubled
and passed twice around the neck oi
Davis.
Residents Of the section say that al
this point the negro began to beg fol
his life, seeming just about realizing
what was going TO happen. don
kill me- - he said, and forgive me
forgive me- was an expression which
was heard time after time. 'YoI
forgave Mrs. Reid, you black - :
- - was the answer given hin
and this was one of the few profan'
expressions which was used by
Imember of the band during the who'll
affair.
Not much time was lost at thi
point, but in the few moments Dayi
was questioned and again admitted
| the dreadful crime with which b
was charged and which he had befor
confessed. lie was strung up, th
rope being passed over a convenien
/ limb, and Davis pushed from the higl
bank. The rope appears to hav
broken in a few moments but not be
| fore Davis had had a number of bul
/ lets put into him. After he fell a fus
| silIade was still directed at him an
| probably a hundred shots were fired.
However, the number of times Davi
was hit was entirely overestimated il
some accounts. But six bullet wound
appear. Two are in his face, one a
the back of the head. another in bi
neck and third penetrated his righ
breast. Any Of these would probabl
have caused death and hs was ais
shot through the hand. Before Ieay
ing. the members OF the mob cut til
rope into little pieces as momentoe
of the occasion.
Ur~-ua~r-r---- ~---~ - r-