The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-06-14
THE COSDEN MASSACRE.
CONVICTION OF ONE OF THE
MURDFRERS

The trial of William Shelton on the
charge Of assisting to murder the Cosden
family was concluded at Chestertown
on last Saturday night. A correspon-
dent Of The Baltimore Clipper, refers
to the concluding scenes, as follows:
The evidence in the case of the State
VS.. VIM. Shelton, was closed at 10
o'clock on Saturday last, and the coun-
sci Immediately proceeded with their ar
gument before the jury, which was clo-
sed at IL O'Clock on Saturday night.
The jury Immediately retired, and re-
manned out for one hour, when they
returned with a verdict of ''Guilty of
.Hurder m the First Degree" The
prisoner seemed much detected. though
he made great eXcrtions to conceal any
emotion. The Courtroom was dense
ly crowded-people were even mounted
upon, others shoulders.
Amid even the concourse Of people,
when the clerk proceeded to ask the iu-
ny for their verdict, the dropping of a
pin might readily have been heard.
ne moment of suspense was truly aw-
fui, both to the prisoner and the specta-
tors. The prisoner was satisfied on Sat-
urday evening that his case was desper-
ate, if not hopeless! He expresses HIM
self satisfied with the verdict of the Jury,
according to the evidence adduced, but
says "that many lies have been told up
on the stand" He is much pleased
with the able defence instituted in his
behalf by his attentive and jealous coun-
sci. Sentence will not be passed for
several days upon the criminal.
The following is the testimony of
Drummond and Shaw given at the trial.
Thomas Drummond.-Lived with Mrs.
Lore in February; had been cutting
wood. VIM. Shelton lived at Vochcll's
Mill; Shelton wanted me to go to Mary
land to rob ond plumber, and trade with
the darkles; prisoner said there was a
good job Of ship timber in Maryland;
he went on Tuesday; on Wednesday
went to Jackson's and staid all night,
and Thursday went to Bohemia Ferry;
| went to John Ford's after dinner, |
walked down 10 the ferry and asked for
Shelton; was told he had gone after
wood. Shelton and Murphy soon got
back in the boat, and Shelton came
ashore and walked up the hill with me;
prisoner then asked me again if would
go with him robbing and plundering
| told him would not; he gave me his
dirk; handed il back to him; he then
s0ld if you wont go others will; said he
was going cunning with Murphy; re-
manned with him about an hour and a
half on the fence; prisoner said there
was good deal Of money to be made
trading with negroes; when he took his
dirk he said 1t was necessary to have
weapons, and they could make more
money by robbing and plunderng than
they could by working. | left Mrs.
Lore's without notice; when got to
Jackson's left my clothes out on the
corner of the fence; | was stranger in
that country; at the mill, saw Shelton
making two bullets; also saw him have
seven slugs; prisoner said he expected
jonathan Webster would attempt to
whip him. In conversation with the
prisoner at the jail, | asked him how Il
man could get from Bohemia ferry to
Cosden's? He told me that he could 90
through the big woods, about one mile
and half above the ferry, then across
the fields to Wards hills, from there
across another field to two branches,
then up to Housetown, from there down
to the Sassafras branch; prisoner then
said that was the way they went; pris-
oner said they met Abraham Taylor at
the mill, near the house; then approach
ed Cosden's; Taylor shot Cosden through
the window; prisoner then brokea panel
out of the door and rushed in the house
and shot the women; said he went with
the expectation of getting money; ex-
pectedto get from five to eight hundred
dollars; prisoner said they were fright
ened off from the house. On Friday
morning went down to the ferry to see
Shelton, but he had gone cunning;
did not see him until he was brought to
Jail.
Stephen Show sworn.--Lives in the
Forest; knows the prisoner; has had
general acquaintance for two or three
months prior to February. On We'd
nesday night Abraham Taylor came to
where | was living-Taylor asked me
what | was following (objected,) on
Thursday night met Taylor with Shell
ton-the association being thus shown,
he was permitted to proceed-Taylor
asked him to go along with him;to come
to Coldwell tomorrow evening and
will give you some money and that is
better than working for it. went;
Abraham Taylor had quart of wills
key; we went on down the road till we
got to Taylor's; he went in the woods
for his gun which he said he had placed