American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-05-29
Reported for the Baltimore Clipper.
TRIAL FOR MURDER,
BALTIMORE CITY COURTNEY

BALTIMORE CITY COURTNEY 2S.
P' eSent-JtdgeS Brice, Nisbet and Worthington
Charles II. Pitts, Esq, for the State; David
Stewart, and Samuel G. Williams, Esqrs., for
| the defence.
On the opening of the Court this morning,
Thomas Burns, indicted for the murder OF
Shadrack Wooding, negro, was placed at the
| bar.
The following gentlemen were selected on
the jury, seven of whom are from the regular
| pannel, the others are talesmen:-Michael
Turney, William Ball, Thomas G.. Owen,
George Dutrow, John Clark, Walter Perdue,
Francis King. William Harker, Thomas Car
loll, James Usher, Thomas Humes, and John
w. Williams.
The Clerk read the indictment to, and charg-
ed the jury. The indictment charges Burns
with killing Wedding by striking him with a
wood-horse on the left side of the head, making
a wound OF the length of two inches, and Of
the depth of one inch.
Mr.. Pitts recapitulated to the jury what he
expected to prove on the part of the State;
when he concluded, the following witnesses
were examined for the prosecutions:
Samuel r. NlcLain, sworn. Was sitting at
his work, when he heard great tumult in the
street; went to the window on Camden street,
where he saw fight between number OF
whites and blacks; saw Bdrns pick up a wood
horse, and throw it at Woodling; the blow
knocked him down and killed him; believed
the prisoner at the bar to be the man who
struck the blow; Woodng was standing in the
centre OF the street when he was attacked.
! BY Mr.. Stewart Did not know Woodling
when he first saw the crowd it was composed
OF about two dozen persons, but before the af-
E,l, 4 A
dred; Burns had on new suit of clothes at the
time; was in the. third story of a warehouse on
the corner of Camden and Light streets, and
looked down on the crowd; Woodng was
standing with his hands in his pockets; Burns
threw the wood-horse some twelve or fifteen
feet at the negro; the crowd was composed of
about an equal number of whites and blacks.
d}y MIR. Williams. The man who struck the
blow with the wood-horse, had on a new suit
of clothes; and new hat.
By MIR. Pitts. Selected Burns from the
crowd at Justice Showacre's office; he had on
the same new suit.
John II. Barnes, sworn. His attention was
first attracted by the rapid retreat of crowd
Of colored PERSONS ran to the corner and saw
general fight between number of persons;
kettle containing vctuals was thrown at Wood
ling; saw the person who threw the wood
horse very distinctly; the blow was such as to
turn the NEGRO entirely around, and killing
him instantly; the prisoner at the bar threw
| the wood-horse; had not the least doubt of his
being the person.
BY MIR. Stewart. The number of persons
engaged in the ARRAY was about thirty; in ligh
street the crowd increased; the negro was
standing near the wood-ples on Light street
wharf, and Burns on the pavement; there was
no person standing near the negro when he
was struck with the wood-horse; he was sepa-
rated from the crowd; there was no intervening
object between the witness and Burns, when he
threw the wood-horse.
George Evans, sworn. Was standing on the
corner of Camden and Light streets, when he
saw the prisoner at the bar throw the wood
horse which struck Woodling; the prisoner was
then dressed in new suit of clothes; had known
| Woodlng some twelve years; Burns was on the
pavement, and Woodling standing in the street
quietly, when the blow was struck.
| By Mr.. Stewart. Saw Burns pick up the
wood-horse and throw it in an off-hand manner
with both hands; there were about hundred
persons collected at the time; did not see Wood
| ling when he was struck with the tin-kette;
saw kettle thrown at him when he was knock
ed down.
George Beetson, sworn Did not recognize
the prisoner in the ARRAY until he saw him
throw the wood-horse; saw the spree first in
Camden street between white and black man;
the white man was attacking the blacks indis-
crlmlnately; he was at length knocked down,
upsettng an old woman's stand; in Light street
saw the prisoner throw the wood-horse at the
negro; assisted in arresting the prisoner; was
| positive that Burns was the man who threw
the wood-hors
| BY MIR. Stewart. The crowd was small at
first, but rapidly increased; did not notice the
! prisoner in Camden street; did not know wheth-
er the wood-horse was broken or not; Burns
ran into house kept by Mr.. Brady in Camden
street, ran out the back way and was caught il,
Mr.. Johnson's. store.
By Mr.. Pitts. Was dressed in the apparent
ly new suit when arrested, and new hat.
Daniel Nichols, sworn. Saw the crowd and
ran to see "what was OUT" saw fight, and saw
Burns throw the wood-horse. Woodllng was
killed by the blow.
By Mr.. Stewart. Saw Burns first on Light
street wharf; there was "good congregation
in the street, there was large "troop" in Cam
den street; saw Flaherty and "nigger" have
it; Burns sung out when he knocked the "nig-
ger" down-"Hurrah for Democracy" Burn;
was in the street when he threw the wood.
horse; Woodling was carter by profession.
John Showacre, Esq, sworn. Is Justice
of the Peace, and being sent for, went down and
assisted in arresting Burns, Bangs and Flaher'
ty; Burns was dressed in new suit OF clothes
was the committing magistrate.
The State here closed their testimony, re-
serving the right to call rebutting evidence il
necessary. The defence then called
Mrs. Norton. Saw large assemblage Of
persons on the day the affair took place, in
Camden street; Burns was in the house when
the spree began; came in town the day before
resides l6 or Is miles from town on the Anna.
polls Railroad; believed him to be quiet, or
derby man.