The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-01-06


m an who h d
served as sheriff
of Washington County. The story
was written by "OMOO," in The
Valley Register of Middletown, is
sue of February, 1905. We will give
it as told by the writer, abbreviated
to suit our space.
George Swearingen was elected
sheriff of Washington county in
1927 and was executed in 1929, be-
ing charged and found guilty of the
murder of his wife, near Cumber-
land.
Rachel Cunningham was looked
upon in Bedford, Pa, where she
lived until meeting George Swear
ingen, as a modest, quiet girl, very
religious. Swearingen's people lived
in Allegheny county at or near
Cresaptown, six or seven miles west
of Cumberland and about 80 miles
from Bedford. Swearingen met
Rachel at Bedford and fell desper-
ately in love with her. The girl
became hopeslessly respondent af
ter the death of her mother and
leaving her humble home on foot
she made her way to Hagerstown,
where Swearingen Che was then
sheriff. found her one evening on
Washington street, weeping bitterly
and penniless. Swearingen did not
know what to do. Then he thought
of his old mulatto laundress and
kept the girl secluded with her for
weeks; then moved her to a small
cottage on back street in Hagers-
town
Swearingen, later visiting his par
ents in Allegheny county, met a
Miss Scott and married her, after
rather short courtship. Rachel, on
hearing of the marriage, swallowed
laudinum. Swearingen tried to get
doctor, but failing, rushed to
drug store ''on the corner of the
Square," presumably that of M. L.
Byers. Being told what to do, he
rushed to the bedside of the stricken
girl and with the aid of the colored
woman had Rachel out of danger by
morning.
Swearingen told his wife about
the whole matter, The wife forgave
him but suggested that he remove
the girl some distance from Hagers-
town. Then Rachel and the child
Cher baby was born in Hagerstown),
with the colored woman, were taken
to Cumberland, the trip being made
in an old-time six-horse covered
wagon. From Cumberland they
walked to new log house, which,
it was said, was built by George
Swearingen, several miles from the
old Swearingen homestead or farm.
George Swearingen and his wife
went to Cumberland on visit to
her parents. One day it was de-
cided to visit the old Swearingen
home. September 8, 1928, the two
started for the place on horseback.
At the confluence of two roads
Swearingen wanted to take one of
the roads and his wife the other.
Swearingen knew that the road his
wife wanted to take led by the Cum
bingham home. The wrangle con-
tinued and the road grew rougher.
There were no modern, hard-sur-
face roads as today. Both became
very angry at each other. The wife
called him an utterer of falsehoods,
william, etc., and charged him with
still loving Rachel The horses
stumbled along on the stony road.
Swearingen, it was claimed, struck
at his wife-he said he struck at her
horse. The horse, receiving the
lash, made sudden spring forward
and Mrs. Swearingen was pitched
from the saddle and fell on the
rocky road She was not seriously
hurt and Swearingen finally got her
re-seated in the saddle. Then the
horse stumbled and she fell to the
ground again. Before her husband
reached her the horse had sprung
up and landed one foot upon her
abdomen. She was dead when he
picked her up. He thought at once
he would be accused of murder.
Now here's where the tragic part
of the story rests:
There were no marks on the
horses knees. So, the story goes,
he led the horse a little way into