The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-03-08

Ahey ehSh, oooCisAhB tHdt WI. SOSuSI
was still alive, shot him again and stab
bed him, whilst one of them trlmplet
and jumped on his body. He, however
lived three hours after the tragedy wa.
discovered, and stated that the man who
shot him was unknown to him, but thai
he was a thick-set man with black wills.
kers. He, also, heard two other men
talking outside at the time the one in.
side was ef'ecting his murderous object
on Miss Cosden, but did not see them.
Miss Rebecca c. Webster, who was
lying sick up stairs, on hearing the alarm
and reports of the gun, had fastened the
door of her room, and one Of tn, men
came up and broke the door open. She
states that she implored him for her life
and told him that all the money sh, had
was in her trunk. He then examine ed
the trunk, and being unable to find the
money, as it was tied up, he returned 10
her bed and shot her in the breast, and
several slags were found in the bed,
which was also set on fire, either by the
wadding or Intentionally by the assassin.
She survived until Saturday evening
about O'Clock, when she died.
The black woman belonged to Depu.
ty Sheriff Edwin Crouch, who resided
on the adjoining farm, about mile dis
tant, but was hired to Mr.. Cosden. She
was engaged at the time at the ironing
table in the kitchen, and on turning
around observed the kitchen door slight
ly opened, when two guns, or double
barreled gun, was fired at her-both
shots taking efftct--one in her side, and
the other passing through and SCATTERING
her wrist. She Immediately succeeded
in making her escape out of another
door and ran TO the residence of her mas
ter, on the adjoining farm, and loudly
called for him. On reaching the house
she fell, from exhau stion, and at the last
accounts was still alive, though but little
hopes were entertained of her recovery.
She states that she did not see the per-
sons who fired any of the guns.
There have been three persons arrest
ed on the charge of being concerned in
the murder. William w. Webster, an
uncle to Mrs. Cosden and also of Miss
Rebecca G. Webster, her sister, who re-
sides in Delaware, was arrested on FRI
day, and underwent an examination be-
fore magistrate in that State, and prov
ed an alibi by several most respectable
witnesses. He was arrested on the testi-
mony of brother of Mrs. Cosden, about
ten years Of age, who had said he heard
his uncle make some threats against Co.'S
den and his family; besides which, there
had been difficulty between him and
Mr.. Cosdcn about some land. This was
the boy that escaped from the house at
the time of the massacre, and fled to
Georgetown Cross Roads and gave the
alarm. Mr. Webster having come over
to Mr.. Cosden's place on Sunday to at
tend the funeral of the four victims, was
arrested on suspicion of having some
connexion with or knowledge of the af-
fair, and committed for further eXami-
nation.
The second one arrested is Jas. Rob-
erts, travelling clock mender, who bore
the exact description of the assassin
given by Miss Webster, even to the size,
build and shape, and also to patches on
the knees of his pantaloons, as the one
who had entered her room. He was
brought before her before she died, and
she three times declared he was the gull
tv party. He, however, succeeded in
proving that he was at Fredericktown,
in Cecil county, between two and three
miles off, at the time the murder is SUI
posed to have been committed-proving
the alibi by most responsible witnesses.
This man had been in Mr.. Cosden's
house on the same day or day previous,
to mend the clock, and was invited to
remain to dinner. During the dinner
hour Mr.. Cosden had sent up stairs to
borrow dollar from Miss Webster. He
was discharged on proving the alibi, but
was Immediately arrested on the charge
of having entered the house of Mr.. Ste
vens, at Georgetown Cross Roads, at -
O'Clock on the previous night, so as to
have him at hand if further testimony
should connect him with the transaction.
He belongs to Delaware, in Appoquino-
mink hundred.
The third party arrested is William
Shelton, who is mill hand, in the mill
of Mr.. Voshell, in nearly the same neigh
borhood where Roberts came from. The
suspicion against him arises from the
fact OF his having recently bought
double-barrelled gun, revolver or dou-
hle.ba ed pistol and some dirk knives
at Smyrna. He had also been set n by a
boy in the mill casting bullets from some
particular kind of metal used IN the mill,
whom he cautioned not to say anything
about it, or the possession of the gun and
arms, all of which he kept concealed to
Mr.. Voshell. His personal appearance
correspondent with that described by Mr..
Cosden as the man who had shot and
stabbed him, the bullets exactly fitted