Sources: Journal of the Governor's Proceedings entry
dated 11-28-57 cites issuance of death warrant. Also
states that Gowings was a free negro and was convicted
at the October session of the Somerset County Court.
Confirmation of actual execution and details of crime
are provided by an article in the Baltimore Sun dated
12-16-1893 page 6 column 2 concerning another Somerset
County execution which refers back to the Gowings case.
Worksheet <- Maryland Not Written Up
SUN, Baltimorel-22-1858 (2-2) identifies victim
as "Mrwe. Stewart."
Maryland - Book and Magazine Bxcerpts,
Sources: Journal of the Governor's Proceedings entry
dated 11-28-57 cites issuance of death warrant. Also
states that Gowings was a free negro and was convicted
at the October session of the Somerset County Court.
Confirmation of actual execution and details of crime
are provided by an article in the Baltimore Sun dated
12-16-1893 page 6 column 2 concerning another Somerset
County execution which refers back to the Gowings case.
Worksheet - Maryland Not Written Up
SUN, Baltimorel-22-1858 (2-2) identifies victim
as "Mrs. Stewart."
Maryland - Book and Magazine Excerpts,
Sources: Journal of the Governor's Proceedings entry
dated 11-28-57 cites issuance of death warrant. Also
states that Gowings was a free negro a
at the October session of the Somerset County Court.
Confirmation of actual execution and details of crime
are provided by an article in the Baltimore Sun dated
12-16-1893 page 6 column 2 concerning another Somerset
County execution which refers back to the Gowings case.
rksheet - Maryland Not Written Up
SUN, Baltimorel-22-1658 (2-2) identifies victim
as "Mrs. Stewart."
Maryland - Book and Magazine kxcerpts,
Tuytang Yor. esceen Up
eTa865 tare) “Tienes whotin
John Gowings Jen. 15 1858
Negro executed at Princess Anne, Somerset Co. on
January 15th 1858 for murder of elderly white woman
named Mrs. Stewart. Gowings was a habitual thief and
superstitious. He sought a way to insure that he
would never be caught when stealing. To effect this
end he hit upon the idea that the severed hand of a
white woman made into a torch and borne along with
him whilst about his pilferings would render him in-
visible. So he accosted Mrs. Stewart on a lonely
stretch of highway, killed her and chopped off her
right hand which he then fashioned into a torch and
carried around with him while robbing houses.
John Gowings Jen. 15 1858
Negro executed at Princess Anne, Somerset Co. on
January 15th 1858 for murder of elderly white woman
named Mrs. Stewart. Gowings was a habitual thief and
superstitious. He sought a way to insure that he
would never be caught when stealing. To effect this
end he hit upon the idea that the severed hand of a
white woman made into a torch and borne along with
him whilst about his pilferings would render him in-
visible. So he accosted Mrs. Stewart on a lonely
stretch of highway, killed her and chopped off her
right hand which he then fashioned into a torch and
carried around with him while robbing houses.
John Gowings Jen. 15 1858
Negro executed at Princess Anne, Somerset Co. on
January 15th 1858 for murder of elderly white woman
named Mrs. Stewart. Gowings was a habitual thief and
superstitious. He sought a way to insure that he
would never be caught when stealing. To effect this
end he hit upon the idea that the severed hand oe ie
white woman made into a torch and borne along w:
him whilst about his pilferings would render eer in-
visible. So he accosted Mrs. Stewart on a lonel
stretch of highway, killed her and chopped off her
right hand which he then fashioned into a torch and
carried around with him while robbing houses.
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