Crime News from Sussex County, Delaware
Kidnapper
The Delaware Gazette states that the notorious Jos. Johnston, who was so long concerned in kidnapping negroes, and conveying them out of the state,
was tried and convicted at the last session of the court of common pleas for the county of Sussex, and sentenced
to receive thirty-nine lashes on the bare back at the public whipping post, to stand in the pillory for an hour,
to have his ears nailed thereto, and the soft part cut off. [Republican
Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) February 18, 1824 Page 2 - Submitted
by Nancy Piper]
The trial of Elisha Sharpe, (who
was some months ago committed to jail in Georgetown, Delaware, for the murder of his wife and child,) terminated
on the 11th inst. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty. – Ib.
[Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) November 2, 1825
- Submitted by Nancy Piper]
Kidnapping
On the 1st day of December 1825, near the line that divides the state of Maryland from the state of Delaware, in
the North West Fork Hundred in Sussex county, a colored boy, free born and the son of Lurano Brown, named Martin
Hardcastle, about 8 years old and slender made was taken from his house or near his house in her absence and carried
away and has not been heard of since, although diligent search has been made. Also on the 25th day of January,
1829, not far from the same place in North West Fork Hundred in Sussex county, a colored boy, free born and about
twelve years old, slender made and the third finger on his left hand a little crooked, occasioned by being cut
with a knife, named Patrick Williams, son of Joseph Williams was taken from the employment of John Hignut while
cutting wood in the woods and carried away by some person or persons not known and has not been heard of since.
– Easton M’d Star.
[Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) March 1, 1826 - Submitted by Nancy Piper]
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