#Markly caeser trial#

Mark CaesarвЂ™s prison record showing he was a 35 year old, 5вЂ™8вЂі carpenter who could read and write at the time he wasВ sentenced. Despite a $100 reward offered for his apprehension, Wheeler was never re-captured. However, Wheeler escaped the county jail after four months of incarceration in the facility. Fearing that WheelerвЂ™s death sentence may be commuted, a law was passed by the Maryland General Assembly in March 1846 to insure he would remain in jail for the rest of his life:ДЄn Act to authorize and require the Warden and Keepers of the Penitentiary of Maryland, to receive and keep negro William Wheeler, now under sentence of death into Penitentiary, in the event of the commutationВ of his sentence by the Governor. Wheeler was found guilty by a jury of white men on September 2 nd and sentenced to hang until dead. The Times called Wheeler and Caesar the вЂњprime movers and instigators in the late Negro insurrection.вЂќ The Times reported that the two, вЂњIf proved to be guilty, will, in accordance to the law in relation to this crime, suffer the penalty of death.вЂќ

#Markly caeser trial#

Wheeler was eventually captured and brought to Port Tobacco in Charles County for a trial that began September 1, 1845. Wheeler was still at large on July 16 when the Maryland Journal asked readers to, вЂњKeep a look out for him, as lots of money will be forked over to any one who may nab him.вЂќ

Most of the recaptured were sold out of state to new slave masters.ДЄ group of four who escaped the Montgomery Volunteers were captured in Westminster, about 20 miles from the Pennsylvania border. The Port Tobacco Times reported, вЂњThey had to be fired upon before they would surrender.вЂќ All of those seized, including five who were badly injured, were taken to the jail at Rockville under the assumption that they had run away from their masters. One witness reported that the group was shot with powder and ball, and the survivors chained and driven off like beasts. Some of the captured, upon defending themselves, had been shot and wounded. Others, including Wheeler, initially escaped. Caesar and Wheeler reportedly ordered the group to fight back.ДЄ brief skirmish erupted and 35 members of the group were captured by the white slave catchers and several African Americans were killed. The group made good progress and the Journal reported the group was seen вЂњwithin two miles of RockvilleвЂќ on the Frederick Road (todayвЂ™s Route 355).ДЄ group of white men on horseback called the Montgomery Volunteers caught up with those marching toward freedom and surrounded them somewhere between Rockville and Gaithersburg. The plan was to make their way вЂњin great hasteвЂќ before slave owners had a chance to gather men to pursue them, according to the Montgomery Journal.

While marching north en route through Prince GeorgeвЂ™s County, still others swelled their ranks to nearly 75. The Charles County band wasВ joined by others seeking freedom from St. The group of several dozen African Americans armed themselves with a pistol, scythe blades, bludgeons, swords and clubs and began their trek to Pennsylvania,В about 110 miles away. The plot began in Charles County led by Mark Caesar and William Wheeler. Reportedly marching six abreast on open roads during daylight, dozens of enslaved African Americans made their way along Maryland roads toward freedom July 7-8, 1845.