Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-11-29
HsStchester, { Penn. Nov. 81.

UsStchester, Penn NOV. u.
The trial Of John Read, for the murder
Of Peter Shipley, came on at the late sss-
sions of the court of Oyer and Termner,
in this County -Ths case, from the par
tieular circumstances attending it, had
excited an unusual degree ofinterest. The
prisoner had been tried in May last for
the murder OF samuel G.. Griffith, and
acquitted.
On Monday, the fifth instant, the trial
commenced bsfore his Honor Judge OAR
lington, President and Judges Ralston &
Davis, Associates. Council for the Com
| monwealth. Dick, lin the place of Dillng-
ham, prosecuting Attorney. who, having
been Reads Counsel in the former trial,
was, of course, excluded from taking part
against him in this assisted by Barnard
and Duer. For the prisoner Bell and
Tilghman.
The following is a brief, and we be-
lieve, fair statement of the case.
Read the Prisoner, Black man, two
or three years ago. came into Pennsylva-
MIA, from Maryland, said he was free,
although an attempt was made to hold
him in siavsry-freeuently declared him
self afraid of MISREPRESENTATION went
armed. lie married in Pennsylvania and
had one child-hired house in Kennel
township, and worked about the neigh
borhood.
On the night Of the l4th, of December,
1890, 1--WE now take his own story, as
given Immediately after the transaction
to several his wife was from home-he
was alone--lay down but felt uneasy s,
could not sleep-got up and made fire.
About midnight, thought he heard per-
sons walking about the house-one at
length raped smartly at the door--he
asked what they wanted, the person an
swerGd they had authority to search, and
had come for stolen goods. Read told
them to 90 away--he believed they were
kidnappsrs; if they were not; ne had no
stolen goocs, and if they would wait till
morning they might search. Soon after
they began 10 force the door; He rolled
barrel of cider against 1t; told them if
they attempted to come In, he would kill
them They priced the door Of the hing
ges, and it fell over the cider barrel: at
the instant he heard the click of pistol
cooking, then said Read. it is life for
life; one Of the persons said crush on
Shipley; damn the negro, he won't shoot"
A person attempted TO enter; he shot
him; another attempted to come in; be
struck him with club, the man fell on
HE knees, as he rose Read struck him
once or twice: then seizing his gun he
ran to the neighbors and told them that
the kidnappers attacked his house; that
he had killed two; asked for more pow
der, as he was afraid they would pursue
him. lie made no attempt to escape
After being arrested and in custody; one
witness testified that he heard Read say,
that after he got out Of the house and to
the fence, Oh looking round, he saw one
of the men trembling; that he went back
and beat him until he thought he was
quite dead.
When the neighbors came upon the
ground in the morning, they found MIR.
Griffith lying on the bed, in the black
mans house, dead. Mr.. Shipley, the
ovsrseer, for whose murder the prisoner
was now on trial, had get up; carried him
there, taken his pocket book and watch
cut of his pocket, and put them in his
own, and then went to Deighbouring
house about 100 yards off; and prevailed
upon Mrs. Harvey, to let him in. There
he languished eight days, and died.
The club was found in the house, close
by the cider barrel two pistols loaded,
one of them cooked, a whip and pair of
gloves were found at tha door. pair of
handouts and rope were found in the
pockets of MIR. Sbipley. "A third pistol in
the pocket of Mr. Griffith. There were
bat two wounds upon Mr.. Shiplsy,
1t appeared sufficiently clear that Read
was the child of Muris, formerly an Afri-
can Queen, recently slave, and no proof
of his manumission was shown. He was
claimed by MIR. Griffith, from whose
service he had ab,, onded. Having learnt
where he was, Mr.. Griffith, his overscer,
Mr.. shipley, and two assistants, Minner
and Pearson, came to the house occupied
by Read, about midnighl, and made the
attempt which resulted in the death of
both Mr.. Griffith and Mr.. Shipley, as
related.
The principal points disputed were
Whether Mr.. Griffith intended to take
Read out Of the State without taking him