The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-02-02
JUST 3S YEARS Ago.
JOSEPH W. DAVIS HANGED FOR The
MURDER OF ABRAHAM LYNN.

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Paid penalty Of crime ON February
6, 1874.
Just 38 years ago, next Tuesday,
\ Jos. wv Davis was hanged for the
murder OF Abraham +. Lynn, in the
Iatter's mill, near Llnwood. The
4 crime was committed On April 5, 1872,
and Davis was hanged Oh February O.,
4 1874.
History OF Case 1n Part.
4 Near Linwood Station, On April d
1872, Abraham Z. Lynn, a miller, was
found dead in his grain bin with his
skull fractured in several places. At
o'clock that day he had in hlS coat
pocket pocket book containing $500,
which was missing, and neither pOCk-
ct book nor money was ever heard
from. Lynn had in his employ @
young man, about q years OF age,
named Jos. wv. Davis, and small
room OF bynn's, near the mill, was
tenanted as shoemaker's shop by
Hamilton Shue. An investigation Of
\ the circumstances of hynn's death re
suited in the indictment OF Joseph
Davis for the murder OF Lynn, and
Hamilton Shue as accessory.
On June 8, 1872, the trial OF Davis
was commenced in the Circuit Court
for Carroll county, which occupied
l12 days. and resulted in no verdict
Attorney General hyeser,, States At
torney Norment and Hon. John e.
Smith, conducted the prosecution, and
Messrs.-Maulsby and Bond were for
removed to Washington county In
September, 1872, and Davis was con-
victed before a jury Of murder in the
first degree, and was sentenced to b.
hanged on September II, 1873.
Davis counsel next filed with the
Governor an affidavit made by Hamil-
ton Shue that Lynn, came into his
shop sometime after Davis had left
for Union Bridge, and consequently
could not have killed Lynn. The
Governor consented that the witness
should be examined before him. In
the meantime Shue had gone West,
and was not found until December g.,
when he appeared before the Cover
nor for the hearing The result was
III
on December II for Davis execution
argued at the Court OF Appeals, but
was lost to- Davis.
| Rev. Cremer, assisted by Rev. JUL
4 ian =. Engle, were Davis spiritual
advisers.
Davis was "a years old at the time
! OF his execution His request was
NJ tc fnC he hTIr
Reformed cemetery at Taneytown.
| Sheriff Devilbiss had the following
gentlemen as deputies: chief deputies
Reuben W. Stem,R. Chas. Matthew'S;
assistant deputies, George w. Miller.
Lewis Trumbo, Edward T. Smith, Jno
=. Reese, Frank a. Sharrer, T. a.
Norris, George @. Grass, Granville
Wilson, John Tracey. DR.. F. Butler
ance.
Davis confessed on Thursday eve-
ming, February 5, to committing the
murder of Lynn.
! Friday morning was cloudy and a
raw wind made it disagreeable- Peo-
pie eager to see the execution arriv-
cd early and in large numbers. Tick
cts were issued to people to prevent
the Jail yard from becoming crowded.
The Last Day.
At 11.3O a. m., Revs. Cremer, Ingle
Earnest, Richardson and Van Meter
were in the cell with Davis, where
the Litany OF the Reformed Church
was read by Rev. Cremer, and re-
sponses made by those present Davis
was in tears, but responded with q
Arm vnino HAnnnniu
AT 11.50 a. m., Sheriff Devilbiss, ac-
companied by Ira 2. Grouse, entered
the cell, and proceeded to bind the
hands of the condemned man, after
which the shroud was placed on him,
and at T. o'cock the mournful pro-
cession started for the scafrold, the
prisoner being supported by ReYs..
Cremer and Richardson. Davis mount
cd the scaffold with flrm step and
walked to the front, bowed to the
crowd, and stated that he committed
the murder in anger. He then said
good bye to the crowd. The prayer
for a departing soul was then re
peated by Rev. Cremer, after which
alI Cd the scaffold shook hands with
him and bade him good-bye,to which
he replied, II hope to meet you all
i'm heaven
All then left except the sheriff,
and at 1905 the spring was pulled
and Davis was launched into eternity.
His neck was broken by the fall.
He was lowered to ground 20 minutes
after the drop, and taken down, plac-
ed ID the coffin and sent to Taneytowp
for burial.
There had only been one execution
i'm this county prior to this. Re
becca Mccormick, colored, was con-
victed of numbering colOred boy H.
years Of age, in April, 1859, and was
executed i'm June.
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