Stephen Williams
MSA SC 3520-13742
Lynched in Upper Marlboro, October 20, 1894
Biography:
Stephen Williams did his research while planning his attack on Mrs.
Katie Hardesty on Wednesday, October 17, 1894. Williams made sure
that her husband, Albert Hardesty, was down at the local store, he knew
that Mrs. Hardesty was sick in bed, and he knew how to enter the house
the way Mr. Hardesty would to buy himself more time for the act.
What Stephen Williams did not plan for was the family dog intervening during
the attack. On the night of his assail, Williams went down to the
county store in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland, and confirmed
that Mr. Hardesty was indeed conducting business. Afterwards, he
approached the home and entered loudly just as Mr. Hardesty would.
Stephen Williams was not recognized until Katie Hardesty raised herself
from her bed and saw Williams. Before she could ask what Williams
wanted, she was fighting for her life, as weak as she was, and was being
dragged out of the house and through their lawn, getting caught up in a
wire fence in the process.
During the assault, the family dog lunged at Williams
and proceeded to bite the foot of Williams, protecting his owner as best
it could. It was during this distraction that Mrs. Hardesty's young
daughter ran out of the house and down the street screaming for help.
It was only until Williams heard the crying child that he stopped the assault,
and fled. Mrs. Hardesty then, in her battered state and in nothing
but her nightgown, ran to her husband and told him what just happened.
Stephen Williams was found, arrested, and during
the preliminary hearing, confessed to the crime he committed on the helpless
woman. This act came at such a shock to the community, especially
since it happened so soon after a similar crime was committed by Jason
Allen, and this stirred up the emotions of the town. At 11:30pm on
Friday, October 19, a few men on horseback approached the home of Warden
W.J. Spicer, saying they had a prisoner that needed to be jailed, and wished
to have the keys. Warden Spicer explained that his key was in a deposit
box located at Dr. Latmer's drug store in town, and that a second key was
needed to get into the jail, held by Officer Dumbhard who was at the jail,
would receive the prisoner. A short time later, the men returned
to Warden Spicer's home, this time with their revolvers drawn, and demanded
the keys a second time. Spicer responded by pulling his gun and saying
"You can get the keys out of this (his gun)." At that moment, a gunshot
was heard at the jailhouse 2 blocks away, and they ran off. Knowing
that the mob had gotten into the jail, Warden Spicer got dressed and ran
to the jail.
Apparently a mob had gathered at the back door of
the jail. Seeing that it was a double iron door with iron locks,
it took one hour with a sledgehammer to break the bricks around the foundation
of the door in order to get in. Deputy Warden Dumbhard thought that
prisoners were attempting to get out, not a group of angry white men trying
to get in. During this time, a crowd had gathered to witness the
mob breaking into the jail, and wished to prevent them from getting to
Stephen Williams, but armed men guarding advise them not to. Williams
was unaware of what the intentions of the mob were until fellow inmate
Benjamin Lawson explained that the mob intended to get him. Screaming,
Stephen Williams pleaded with the deputy to protect him, all to no avail.
Williams then looked out of his cell window to see what the commotion was,
only to be staring down the barrel of a shotgun with orders to get dressed.
The men who entered the jail found Williams hiding under his mattress.
Placing the rope around his neck, they dragged Williams down the jailhouse
stairs, and out onto the lawn. Being pushed along, Williams was advised
to say his prayers, but the only words that could come out were "Oh Lord!
Oh Lord!"
The crowd led Williams to the iron bridge in between
the town and the railroad station. With the other end of the noose
being tied to bridge, the mob then threw Stephen Williams over, breaking
his neck instantly. A few minutes later, Warden Spicer approached
the bridge, and with one gunshot in the air, the crowd dispersed, leaving
nothing but the corpse hanging in the autumn night. By daybreak,
the body of Williams was still hanging until he was removed from the bridge,
and placed under the sycamore tree where fellow lynching victim Joe Vermillion's
body was buried 5 years prior.
This was the third lynching in Prince George's County,
and just like the previous two, the jury came back with the verdict that
"Williams came to his death by hanging and being shot by parties unknown."
Once Mr. Williams, Stephen's father arrived, he said that it was
indeed a brutal crime his son committed, and that he understood why he
was lynched. Stephen Williams was then given to Undertaker Hough,
and buried in the jail lawn.
Link
to Lynching Profile Questionnaire
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