Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-03-20
From the Baltimore Republican.
TRIAL OF HENRY McCURRY

Baltimore City Court. "Wednesday. March
l2th.-This morning as in preceding DAYS. an
imnese crowd had assembled in the Court
House yard and vicinity, to obtain sight cfthe
prisoner, charged with the revolving crime: and
on the opening of the court, the space allotted
to spectators was Immediately filled to suffoca-
ton. The prisoner arrived at about lOo,clocl
in the custody of the warden deputy warden 81
the Jail, and appeared much as usual. with
probably a little more uneasiness in his looks
and actions.
MIR. Richardson, arose and addressed the in
~ He thought The evidence proved all he ex-
pected to prove; he denominated 1t as foul and
bloody murder; the deceased came among as a
stranger, the shades of night surrounding him
and ere another morning had dawned, he was
in eternity! in the night, when the world was
asleep, one fell blow like thunderbolt from
heaven, had bereft him of life! he apprehended
there would be no difference between the pr;s-
oner's council. and himself, for if the prisoner
was guilty, he was guilty of the crime Of
murder in the first degree; Mr. Richardson
here explained 10 the Jury, the law in the case
ofmurder Of any kind, he then went on to re-
capitulate the facts of the case, which it is nm
necessary to repeat and said that the facts them
selves were sufficient argument: in speaking
of Nowlan's evidence, he said a fairer. more
composed and better witness he had never seen
upon the witness stand.
Mr. Richardson spoke for about haitian hour.
recaptulaiing the evidence in a clear, lucid and
comprehensive manrer.
j. NJ Harris, Esq, the counsel for the pris-
oaer, next addressed the jury; he said he felt
embarrassment in canning before the jury in
such case of magnitude; he stated it was his
first effort before jnry of his countrymen, but
he would do his duty fearlessly. aud with all
his energy, for he came before them pleader
for life;-hc sifted the testimony to the very
bottom, showing each and every contradiction
that had in any way crept into the evidence.
and displayed great talent and elcqueuce in his
appeal TO the jury. To attempt synopsis E.
ven of his argument. would be doing him in
justice. Dnring his argument, he brought ont
an impor ant fact, which was that Nowlan had
given to McCurry package containing watch
eS on the night he had left Baltimore. ard which
MFR. Gill was again called upon the stand to
testify to, which he did most emphaticaliy
The counsel ofthe prisoner endeavored to prove,
that it was possible that the watch which Nc
Curry had on when arrested by officer Ridgely
in New Ycrk, was one Of these given by Now
Ian to him on the evening of his departure
ffe also attempted to show the possibility of
the breast pin found upon McCurry, coming
into his possession by the same means.
Mr. Richardson brought officer Eidgely upon
the stand. who testified tina. he found two old
silver watches in the trunk of McCurry. and
McCurry told Ridgely that they belonged to
Now!an, and We're returned by Mr.. RigdeIy TO
Nowlan, who claimed them on his return to
Baltimore.
Mr.. Harris cited many cases of circumstan
tai evidence. and the law is laid down in cases
of murder where the truth is wholly circum-
siantial Ole Is is still speaking as We GO to
ITess.)