American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-10-28


injury; did not think that fall of twenty feet
would have caused the hurt; but thought that q
blow must have caused the injury; on Friday,
when there, was informed that suspicion of his
murder was entertained; held post mortcm
examination; put g probe in the hole in his eye
lid, which passed IN a considerable distance;
there Was a fracture on his skull, which was
driven in three-iourths of an inch; and was
fully of opinion that he came to his death by
the blow Of the butt OF an axe; one of the coro-
| mel S jury picked up an axe, and laid it along
side OF the wound, which was precisely similar
IN the size TO the pole of the axe.
MIR. Wilson, sworn. Was at Mrs. Lyons
dwelling on the 18th of August, and was
awoke by Alexander between 2 and s O'Clock
in the morning; Alexander said that Sheppard
was nearly murdered; he was asked why he
thought so, he said that his head felt sort of
mushy; asked Alexander why he thought Shep-
pard was attempted to be murdered Alexander
said that yellow fellow in town had threaten
ed to kill him; went to the carriage house, and
found Sheppard in a kind of stupor, his head
bleeding, &c; went back to the house aud got
prescription which he applied TO the injury;
the only audible expression made by Shep-
pard, was "who's that going TO murder me?n
had been living at Mrs. Lyons but short
time previous to the affair; Alexander appear
ed to be good servant but rather over-ofii-
cious.
| James Williams, colored, sworn. On Mon
day morning was coming up towards the house,
when Alexander met him, and told him that
| Wash had liked to have died, and he supposed
that somebody had hit him on the head with a
club; the axe on Saturday morning could not
be found but had seen Alexander with it the
evening before; he was asked for the axe, when
Alexander said that it was behind the kitchen
| door IN the bushes; saw the axe on Friday eve
ming at the wood yard; told him that as Shep-
pard was most well, there was no use for his
sleeping there; told him that If any thing was
the matter with Sheppard that night, he might
take the wagon whip and give him as many
! hcks as ne choose; when he returned from town
that night he went to the kitchen door and
knocked, Alexander blew the light out; let him
! in and lit the candle, and promised to keep it
burning until he returned with his bed clothes;
/ when he returned he found him out of the
kitchen, but went in and found Sheppard with
his ear bleeding; found the axe sitting outside the
kitchen door, near the pantry door; when he
knocked at the kitchen door he heard some
thing let on the floor very hard; stayed in the
kitchen until near o'clock, when he left Shep-
pard asleep; Alexander was lying on the floor
OF the dining room apparently asleep; the can
die was found the next morning sitting by
Sheppard's head, burnt out; next morning was
told by Reuben that Sheppard was nearly dead;
went to the kitchen and saw him lying there;
heard Alexander say that he had taken the axe
) down to the wood-pile, but did not bring it up
! Alexander asked him when he was going into
town with carriage, if they were going 10
have jury over him; told him he did not
know; Sheppard and Alexander had two quar-
rols of a trifling nature previous to the murder;
when he went down to the wood-pie he found
the axe where Alexander sa id he placed it; the
side of the axe was stained with blood. (The
axe was shown in Court with the blood stains
still upon it,
Margaret -, a colored woman, cook of
Mrs. Lyon, was sworn. Left the axe at the
wood pile on "Wednesday evening; Alexander
got her some wood to make fire with it; OIL
the Saturday morning after the second attack
she found the axe after looking long while
for it, behind the door, where Alexander direct
ed her TO get 1t; the day after the boy was laid
out, Alexander refused to look at the corpse;
asked her twice that day if there was going to
be an inquest over Sheppards body.
Charles Schwatka, sworn. Was out at Mrs
Lyons at the time the inquest was held; went
out and arrested Alexander brought the axe in
town; it was full of blood on the side, and OIL
the poll; brought the axe in the same day the
inquest was held.
Miss Lyon, sworn. Whilst they were hold
ing an inquest over The body, saw the impress
of an axe near the cherry trees, where the col
ored woman Margaret had heard Alexander
drop something on the previous night.
VIM. Lyon, sworn. Saw the impression Of
the axe, in connection with his sister; the i'm
preston of the iron part was very distinct.
George Williams, coloreG, sworn. On We'd
nesday evening saw Alexander, and asked him
how Mrs. Lyons folks came on, he replied all
very well, except Sheppard, and he was so bad
a fellow he expected to have to kill him some
day
The State here closed its testimony, and the
counsel for the defence called.
Mr. Riggs, who testified to his having known
Alexander; that he worked for him and always
considered him gOod-natured, hali-simple
kind of fellow.
The defence offered no testimony, save the
previous good character of the prisoner.
Mr. Richardson arose, and briefly recapitu-
lated the evidence. He said the repeated at
temPts at Sheppard's life, and the testimony
left no doubt upon the mind of any person, but
that his death was the result of violence. He
summed up the circumstances connected with
the affair, which he denominated cold and
deliberate murder. Struck on the head with
an axe, blow sufficient to have caused the
death OF dozen men, and not content with
that, while the boy lay in his death throes,
punctured his eyes with some sharp instrument,
IN order to maka his death more sure. There
was no person in the neighborhood, when the
blow was inflicted, but thb prisoner at the har
and he alone could have committed the deed
The prisoner was in the room with SHEPPARD,
and was the first TO communicate the fact of his
having been injured. When Mr.. Richardson
concluded, Mr.. Pitts arose and addressed the
jury for the defence.
Mr. Pitts made most admirable defence,