Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-12
EXECUTION OF THE COsDEN MURDER
ERS.
Declaration of innocence By the Criminals, Taylor
Murphy and Shelton.

From the Baltimore Clipper

ADDRESSES OF TAYLOR AND MURPHY. |
The dread sentence of the law fully executed
yesterday at Chestertown, Kent County on the above
three prisoners convicted of the murder of the Cosden
family residing near Georgetown y Roads. The muir
der, OF which we have published full Details took place
in February the murdered parties consisted of William
Cosden his wife Mary Ann Cosden his sister Amanda
Cosden and Mrs. Cosdens sister Catharine Webster
colored woman residing in the family also des-
peratey wounded but recovered-an infant child and
young lad only escaping without injury.
The murder was committed for money, and besides
the three men executed, four men named Webster,
Drummon, Roberts, and Shaw were arrested as parti.
cipants. Shaw it will be recoleced, turned States evil
denee, and the other three discharged in the alb
sence Of proof of their guilt. The convection OF Muir
dence, and circumstantia proof, which left room to
doubt that they were justly convicted and merited
their DOOM They have all three however, always de-
MED their guilt, and died, it will be perceived with
the observation OF innocence their lips.
Our Reporter who went 10 Chestertown on Thursday
had an interview with the Prisoners that evening"
Abraham Taylor is man 81 years OF age in February
and was born and raised in New Castle county, Del
He has wife and five children living-two sons and
two daughters by his first wife who are married-hs pre-
sent wife having child ten months old He appear
ed in good spirits when saw him, but denied any
knowledge oCosden or his family asserted that he new
er saw, or was on his place and never saw Shelton in
his life or Murphy within hive years past. He asserted
that what Shaw to, false and that he beiiev-
ed he had been hired to do so. If Shelton Murphy
knew anything about the murder, he prayed God
that they would not die till they had made il known
Nicholas Murphy is man as years of age, and was
born in the upper part of Cecil county, and has wife
and six children 1.-The Youngest Of whom is only Ell h or
nine weeks od-bon since MS arrest He stoutly de-
MED his guilt. William Shelton is young man, 25
years ofage, born In Delaware, within three and half
miles OF Smyrna. His father died when he was only
| FIVE years old He has mother and one brother lv
| ing Smyrna--also s.verai half sisters His
brother married one of Murphy's daughters. He like
wise continued 10 assert his innocence. All of the
three prisoners resided at the time of the murder il
section OF country known as"The Forest" in Kent
county, Del, and Kent county, Nd.
During Thursday evening and gut a number of the
friends and relatives of The prisoners visited the jail
and took their final leave OF them nisters of the
Gospel aud other gentlemen visited them also, and
gave them good advice but all with the same result It.
Mr. VIcker's, at Sheton's request, was with him
large part OF the night Murphy PRAYED with much ap-
parent tervency hll mid night, and all three OBJ
tanned several hours good repose having slept very
| well.
guard was kept around the Jail all night. and also
IN the rooms, each prisoner being chained by the
| kes, in separate apartments.
Early in the evening of Thursday, persons from dis
lance began to into Chestetown 10 witness the
execution, and before midnight every Hotel and other
place where accommodations could be had, crowd
| ed to repleon, many being unable to obtain lodgings
| at all Parties continued to arrive throughout the
night and next morning, by every kind of land and wa.
| At o'clock on Friday morning we again visited
| the ia' Taylor was calm but much detected, and
represented his willingness to die his great distress be-
| ing about the necessitous condition OF his wife and
child He said that he believed that Bill Webster
at the bottom OF the prosecution against him. Muir
pny stlll pore up ana seemed more composed than
the preceding evening. Shelton exhibited no change
| from his usual soical demeanor.
| Various Clergymen were with them Thursday
night, and on Friday morning. praying and counsel
ing them.
Sheltons brother visited him on Friday morning at
7oclock, and took leave of him. did also the brother
| OF Murphy at later hour take leave of him. These
were scenes to harrow the feelings of any one, and
caused many fearful eye. The wives of Taylor and
Murphy had previously been to Chestertown. to see
| them-the mother OF Shelton did not see him from
| some reaSOn--ho himself did wish int
Several of the Reverend Clergy had prayers with
each OF the convicts-Shelton listened to OF the
| any emotion Murphy and Taylor prayed both fer
vently and loudly and seemed deeply affected Each
was urged as some atonement for their crime to make
tree confession but they still plead their innocence
AT 81 o'clock their chains knocked of, and
clean clothing turnished-to each. They subse-
quently shrouded in white, and the caps placed
! AT quarter past A. M. they ready, and moved
out OF the Jail with firm steps. Around the building
was an immense throng of people. Previous to Leaving
the Jail, Taylor turned to Murphy ana sau him, IF
you know any thing about the murder, tell it now
| He replied, Il know nothing. or I would do So"
An armed posse of three hundred men, carrying
muskets and fowng pieces, under charge of Col. Jas
b. Rcaud, surrounded the prison; added to this
the whole consabulary force of the county, and three
companies o! light dragons, fully mounted and
equipped.
| The prisoners walked out to two horse open wa
gon, IN which they were seated on chairs Deputy Sne
riff VIM. Parker and MIR John Greenwood the Jail
| or, acting Deputy beside them.
| High Sheriff. Francis Cam, ESQ.,, horseback
in advance and in the rear of the vehicle were minis
tiers, surgeons, members of the press and lew other
privileged persons The armed citizens were formed
In hollow square around the prisoners and those in
company with them, one company of Dragons in adj
vance, and the other bringing up the In this
order the sad corege proceeded of the town. the
houses and side roads being filled with persons of all
sexes, colors and conditions many ena les shedding
tears but all anxious to get view of the miserable
wretches about to be executed Shelton held his
head up from the time he left the pson-the other
gazed around them.
They arrived the scaold at quarter OF 10 O'clock
which was erected in the usual mode, emlnence
in a field of DR.. Whaen, about mile northwest of
Chestertown. Here were from 600 to 900 persons
| assembled, among whom we were gratied to notice
very few white females the only present at all be-
ing in vehicles at distance off: More than onehird
OF the concourse were colored persons The armed
posse and troops formed hollow square around the
scaold and none but the few privileged persons
| admitted within it.
AT 10 minutes of II, the three prisoners walked up
on the scaftold very firmly and seated chairs.
MIR. William Cosden an elderly gentleman father of
the murdered man, who went ou with the cortege,
walking up the scafold, burst into food OF tears
and was scarcely able to 60 down again, he was go
deeply affected.
| The prisoners knelt down, and the Rev. Dr. Jones
offered up iervent prayer in which they joined The
Rev. Mr.. Valiant then addressed them feeling
| manner and urged hem if they knew any hing of the
murder to make the rsparaton LETT, by confession
Each protested his nnocen The Clergy then bid them
an aftectlonate farewell and came down from The seal
| fold.
Being told if they had anything say say now,
Taylor advanced the scatoId, and in loud and dis
unct lone OF voice, amid oreaheas silence, said on
all look upon as a murderer. have been tr d ior
| my life, and about GO out Of this world. Cen
| temen, know nothing more OF this msrder than the
most innocent child among you. Shaw has sworn tase-
| ly-sworu my innocent lite away Ihave not seen Muir.
ply for about five years, and Shelton in my
life before his arrest. shall out OF this world
Gently have no more to say
Murphy then advanced Taylor resuminq his seat and
addressed the crowd. He sal i-"I not within nine
miles of Cosden's house the night of the murder
l did not know that there such man. or family as
| Cosden's in the world. was In bed at s o'clock
| that night with my wife am innocent of the murder,
and turning the Sheriff. you can proceed to murder
| me quick you please All of you bear this in
| mind that am not murderer"
Murphy took his seat, and Shelton was asked if he