Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-11-11
THE MURDER TRIALS IN BALTIMORE

The trials at Baltimore OF several persons for
the murder of John Bigham, on the 9th of Julv
last, having ended, wo copy from the Clipper
the following summary of tho facts as they came
out upon the trial, and the ults of the trials
For the better understanding of those of our
readers at distance who may not be i'm the nos
session Of all the facts connected with the offence
with which the seven individuals arrested stood
charged, we will briefly review those facts.
Upon the 9th of July, (the 18th being Sunday,
and the 9Th being, in consequence, kept rs HOLY
day,) party OF young men, seven i'm number
passed down Howard street, i'm the neyhborhood
OF the Golden Horse Tavern. In front of this
tavern stood a wagon, under which was tied
dog. One of the party made an attack upon this
dog (who barkcd at him. with swinglc-tree,
which he picked up near the wagon. While thus
engaged, the owner of the dog came out and in
terfered, pushing him away. This one was Get
tier. The next moment the WAGNER was feled
to the grouad by blow from Jockey pole in the
hands Of Jefferson Griffith. As he rose, Ge,,icr
raised a swingle-tree as If to strike him again.
AT this instant of time Henry, an oster of the
mouse, seized the swingle-tree, wrested it from
Gettiers hand, and the latter in the struggle fell
upon the pavement. About the same moment a
man by the name of Hoke came out, with view
to make peace. One of the party made at him;
another oil the seven, presented pistol and snap
ped 1t at lioke's breast Hoke retreated; immc.
diateiy after, the pistol was fired i'm the direction
OF Henry, the ostler, and missing him, knocked
OIL the thumb Of another WAGNER. Henry was
seized upon, pulled into the street, and felled to
the ground by blow which deprived him of
sense. The party who knocked him down com.
menced beating him, and one got astride of him.
at this instant, John Bigham, the deceased.
and who was bar.keeper at the Golden Horse,
rushed out and pushed struck off the man who
was on Henry. As he did so, he received
dow from swlnge-tree, given by man who
was proved to be Hanna Immediately after, he
received another blow from jockey stick, at the
hands, as the proof went to show, of Jefferson
Griffith. lie fell to the earth. While struo-
CLING to rise, and having gained his elbow, he
received blow from swinge-tree, which, we
think, from the evidence, was struck by konig,
another one of the seven. This leveiled him a.
gain to the ground, face downwards. While in
this condition, an individual, proved to have been
Curran, the man who had been beating the ostler.
came up with large stone, weighing not less
'han Twelve or fourteen pounds, and threw it
down upon the head OF the PROSTATE man. Sub
| sequently, another stone was thrown by konig.
and also one by Griffith, both of which struck
| him.
The party then departed, leaving their victim
| lying apparently dead. He was carried in by
| some persons from the tavern; physicians were
sent for, but their aid was of no avail he expired
In few hours after, never having recovered his
senses. The deed was perpetrated in open day,
between one and two O'clock in the presence of
| numerous witnesses, who stood back aghast and
afrighted at the holiness and the horror of the
act.
In the course Of a short time after, all seven of
the Party-Jeferson Griffith, Alexander Curran,
VIM. Hanna, Frederick KONG, Patrick McDiv-
lit, Jacob Gettier, and Peter McCollum-were
arrested, charged with being the perpetrators of
this foul act and at the commencement of the
present term OF the court, the Grand Jury return
ed true bills against each of Them Four ofthem
Griffith, Curran, Hanna, and konig-were
found guilty OF murder in the second degree
McDivltt and Gettier were acquitted, and McCo OIL
| um declared not guilty by the State.
M f-", hist .oii'icted, I.u...L nuIninp In
! saying, are old offenders against the laws Two
OF them-Curran and Hanna-were convicted,
between two ana three years ago, of deadly riot
IN this city, and sentenced by Anne Arundel
County Court to which they had their cases re-
moved, to two years Imprisonment in the peni-
tentiary. This sentence commuted by the
Governor 10 confinement in the Jail for one wear.