Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-02-25

benighted horssman traversing his
way through the then unbroken
country from st. Mary's tn St. Gle
ments. a. or near what In now Blaki.
stone Island. was intercepted by
Indians and dogs about midnight at
q place near what Ia now known a.
Great Mills. His mission can not
recall. but he was permitted to pur-
sue his journey without further
molestation. That his business was
OF urgency and Importance was evil
dent. and perhaps Kennedy may
throw some light upon the subject
further on.
Returning 10 the subject proposed
In the beginning, I have seen the
dangman's tree or the tree called
such many times; know we'll its
location; have heard weird and fan
tastic tales concerning il, none OF
which can be authenticated by me,
but that there have been repetitions
oil horrible crimes coincident 10 It's
immediate neigh borhood al intervals
during the past century il notori-
Gus anc calculated. in the absence,
OF proof. 70 cause the Hangmans
tree 70 pale into insiRnificance, aud
oil being compared either with other
In horribleness OF accomplishment.
renders that particular neighbor-
hood without o parallel. Should
one be srperstitious and travel those
roads at midnight. imagine, did he
know the facts, sensation of awful
fear and horripilation, or hair stand
Ing on end, would possess him.
About seventy Eve years ago a
William. alias Bill. MiTburn deeoy-
ed his uncle. Stephen Milburn. who
was always supposed to have much
money upon his person intoa lonely
swamp. murdered and robbed him
and after wards fed to the then new
State OF Kentucky. Resisting cap
ture he was shot by officers in a
barn. Many years ago I had point
cd out to me lonely road leading
through dense woods in distant
part OF the county the beginning OF
the route of his escape from justice.
The woods have long since been
cleared away, and the road ob.itera-
ted by continued cultivation.
Some years later. about the year
1853. colored man. Robert Som
merville. was murdered at Beans
vile. in the same neigh borhood, by
two other colored men. Nelson Bryan
and Joseph Lawrence. Both were
committed to long terms of imprison-
ment in the Penitentisry. Bryan
died in prison. but Lawrence surviv-
ed his captivity many years and for
aught l know maybe yet living.
The next tragedy was enacted
ct only remove OF few miles on
the three notched road. About the
year 1857. Henry Mason, o worthy
and respected colored man, was
found murdered, the crime suppos-
eddy committed at almost noon In
open day. The body was found with
an axe by its side by VIM. B. Bean
afterwards Lieutenant in the Balti-
more Light Artillery. C. S. A., on
returning to his home in early even
ing from q visit TO his best girl.
This case was always shrcuded In
mystery. yet certain circumstances
as they afterward developed. pointed
strongly 70 an objective. but upon
whom the curse OF Cain fell for that
atrocious crime has never been re-
vealed. Coming down TO about the
year 1872, we find James Schofield,
q merchant. conducting business in
the immediate vicinity of the Hang
mans tree, indicted for the homicide
of Wesley Thomas. q negro. Mr..
Schofield was acquitted but not many
months after wards was himself the
victim OF an incarnation of horror,
o negro. Thomas Jackson, who was
afterwards hanged in expiration of
that crime without parallel In the
criminal annals OF st. Mary's County.
And now, Mr.. Editor. while all
these facts may not be pertinent to
the interest attached to the Hang
mans tree. yet in my judgment,
they bear q striking affinity. II this
will in any wise contribute to the
edigcation or pleasure of many
friends interested in the perusal of
Rob OF the Bowl" I shall be
amply repaid. cannot write with
the elegance Of Dean Swift, or the
plain nervous style Of Southey. yet I
have done the best / can. Recent
Affections render me totally unfit for
literary tasks, and herein must beg
the charity and kind consideration
OF the Editor and my many friends,
with whom / have held pleasant con-
verse in the past, assuring them of
my earnest interest In all that per.
tains 70 their welfare.