Box Lunch Talk: The Miller’s Apprentice: The Murder of Abraham Lynn and the Execution of Joseph Davis Presented by Dave Owings

Joseph Davis, 22 years old, murdered his friend and employer Abraham Lynn on April 5th, 1872. Lynn was a husband and father, a prosperous businessman, and just shy of his 28th birthday.

The murder resulted in two trials, several hearings by the Court of Appeals, the State Legislature, and ultimately ended with Governor Pinkney Whyte interviewing witnesses himself.

The final act in this story was the dramatic execution of Joe Davis before a crowd of thousands behind the old jail in Westminster.

This tragic episode is a precedent – setting legal case and a peek into the lives of average Carroll Countians in the 1870’s.

Dave Owings was born and raised in Carroll County. He was a public school teacher for 30 years in Baltimore and Carroll Counties, most recently at South Carroll High School. He is currently an adjunct English professor at Carroll Community College. He has two adult daughters and lives in Finksburg with his wife, Lucy, and his dog, Roscoe.

As always, there is no registration for Box Lunch Talks. You bring your lunch, and we provide the drinks and desserts (thanks to our volunteers and staff). The cost is $3 for HSCC members and $5 for nonmembers.

Questions? Please contact Laura Bankard, Outreach & Events Director at lbankard@hsccmd.org or 410.848.6494 ext. 200.