The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1951-04-19
SURPRISE PARTY

present were: MISSES DOFOJny EILue,
Helen Letter, Ethel Hawbecker,
Louise Mathis, Helen Clark Vivian
Summers, Leroy Jones, Chester
Hawbecker, Robert Uhler, Chester
Gordon, Richard Senior, Roy Mum
son, Charles Kirk, William Shrader,
Mrs. Lewis Ernde, Miss Rose Foltz,
Mrs. Eugenia Crow and Mrs. Sum-
mers.
Back in February, 1905 the follow
ing story about a Washington Coun-
ty sheriff of the 1800's, written I'M
der the non de plume Of "OMOO,"
was published in the valley Reg
ister," Middletown, Md. (where by
the way the Globe-Independent is
printe6.
George Swearingen was elected
sheriff of Washington county in 1927
and was executed IN 1929, being
charged and found guilty of the muir
der of his wife, near Cumberland.
Rachel Cunningham was looked
upon in Bedford, Pa, where she liv-
ed until meeting George SWearingen,
as a modest, quiet girl, very re-
ligious, Swearingen's people lived
in Allegheny County, at or near
Cresaptown, six or seven miles west
of Cumberland and about 30 miles
from Bedford Swearingen met
Rachel at Bedford and fell desper-
ately in love with her. The girl
became hopelessly respondent after
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 Wash
ington 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 Hagerstown.
Swearingen, later visiting his par
ents in Allegheny county, met a
Miss Scott and married her, after a
rather short courtship. Rachel, on
hearing of the marriage, swallowed
laudinum. Swearingen tried to get
a doctor, but failing, rushed to a
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 strick-
en- girl and with the aid of the color
ed woman had Rachel out of danger
by morning
Swearingen told his wife about
the whole matter The wife for
gave him but suggested that he re-
move the girl some distance from
Hagerstown. Then Rachel and the
child Cher baby was born in Hag-
erstown), 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 a 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 a 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 Gun
ningham home. The wrangle con-
tinued and the road grew rougher
There were no modern, hard-sur.
face roads as of 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 STUN.
bled along on the stony road. Swear.
ingen, 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 anc
Swearingen finally got her re-seat
ed in the saddle. Then the horse
stumbled and she fell to the grounc
again. Before her husband reach
ed her the horse had sprung up anc
landed one foot upon her abdomen
She was dead when he picked he
up He thought at cnce he would b,
accused of murder.