Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-01
SWEARINGEN.

We copy the following outline OF the tes,i-
mony on the trial Of This man, and the sentence
Of the Court, from the last Hagers,own Torch
Light.
For The following brief sketch of the tes'i-
inony we are indeb, ed TO genlemap, who was
in Cumberland during the trial, and in whose
statement, we have the utmost confidence
Theteslimony commenced with the marriage
of the accused, which, il was attempted to be
proved, was, on his part, from merceRary mo-
lives His conversations in relation to This fac'
were proved, and from hem il appeared that he
was previously attached to anoi her lady who re-
turned his affections, bur that this connection
had been broken off by the interference OF his
relations. Evidence was then adduced 10 show
his coldness and indifference towards his wife,
and in June or July 1927, that he upset herfn
gig on Martins mountain, on which occasion
she was dreadfully injured, and her recovery was
q long time doubled. His CONNECTION with
lewd woman, named Rachel Cunningham, was
next given in e,idence-his acquaintance with
her commenced in August or September, 1897,
Immediately previous 20 his election. On thai
oct aston he took this woman to a camp meet
ing, in Washington county, in barouche. The
nature OF his intercourse with this woman, was
then proved-lhe testimony consisting chiefly
Of his own con, ersatious WITH different iHdivi.
du lis al diff rent Times. From those ii appear
ed. that ne built house in Hagerstown, into
which she was put--that he visited her here, o.
penly and daily,-lhat the indignation OF 'he
public arose one occasion To such helgh!
AS 10 threaten a mob for the purpose of pulling
down his house tina he armed himself on he
occasion aud threatened 10 kill the first man who
approach ed, THAT he hen sent her off 10 Vir.
einia, where he occasionally paid her visits, and
ultimately removed her In the Farm which he
held in right ofhis wife, in hliegany county.
II was proved, also, that his wife left him in
consequence of his connection with Rachel
Cunningham, and in short time after-
wards, consented to come back aud live With
him, il being understood that his Intercourse
with his paramonr was entirely broken off,
He then made promises 10 his iriencs OF a re-
formation in his life aud habits, and for time
was seen walking out with Ms wife, and con-
ducrinr himself towards her as became hus-
band.
The facts Immediately connected with the
death were then proved as follows-Tha, he lef,
Cumberland on Sunday, in company with his
wife, an6 proceeded as far as NJ S. Peggy Gre
sap's, where they rem aimed all night In The
morning they set out 10 go 10 another Mrs
Crcsap's and left the road when they arrived
opposite his farm. At this poin, he was met
by drove ofcatle, al the head Of which was
Young HILLARY, who swore that he saw the &C
cuscd and his wife, leave the road he riding be-
fore ard carrying the child and she following at
4 short distance AT The distance OF about two
hundred yards from the path where they turn.
ed of, they reached the foot of steep hill, when
he got down, hilch-d his own horse, and put
down his child. That he then took his wife's
horse by the bride, and led him up the hill, at
which point Young Hillary lost sigh, Of them.
When the drove had proceeded about three
fourth. Of mile, SweafiDgen overlook it, rid
ing al a moderate gait, With his child IN his
arms. He asked the drover his name and where
he vas f,om. After which he told him hat his
wife had been thrown from her morse, that he
was afraid she was dead, and wished him, to
take his horse and ride to Cresap Town and send
Robert Klie to him Immediately. Which the
drover did.
When Kile came 10 the ground he was about
passing the road leading 10 Swearingen's farm,
wAen he card 4 wills lie, and looking in that di-
1ection. saw the accused sitting by he dead bo-
DIV. She was lying on the side Of this by road
about hundred yards from the main road and
about a quarter Of mile from the place where
according 10 the statement Of the accused The
horse fell with her.
A Coroner's Inquest was held the next day.
which terminated that she came to her death by
an act Of Providence The death happened on
Monday. The grounds were explored Oh We'd
nesday, by several persons who commenced
their examina ions al the point where young
HILLARY lost sight Of the accused.
A, this place it was supposed he left the road,
and the track of horse was traced by some
persons through laurel lhickeI, over The hill,
coming gu, into the road where the corpse lay,
about fifty yards above the place, They dis
covered also a place by the side Of a log wher re
the leaves had been pressed down, forming a
hollow IN the leaves. On the log was a stone.
Al little distance they discovered where a
horse had b,en hi,ched, it'll. further a club
appar, atty cut in hurry. The leaves Of the
bushes in The direction Of the track were spott-
ed, as some Of the Witnesses thought, with
blood. On this subject there was some contra
rie,y in the evidence. Some OF the witnesses
did nos think they were The tracks of a horse,