The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-04-30

"----sincc brevity is the soul Of wit
And tcdIOnsneSs the limbs and outward tourlshcs
will be- brcf''
II was but few years after the establishment
OF the public buildings and short time after
the adjournment OF Court in the spring OF -
that an unusually large gathering OF men was
10 be seen on this point, each one OF whom ap-
peared to be laboring under intense excitement.
The lacls OF the case were these A certain
Mckay, Scotch gentleman OF reputed wealth,
who for some days had been guest OF the pro-
prigtOr Of the mansion, was found by one OF the
servants, laying below the bank near the edge
OF the water, on the south side of the Point
iIpnln. Broad Creek, most cruelty murdered;
his scn!l was cIeil in several places and deep
fracture appeared on ms lett temple.
An occurrence of this kind fails not even at
this day 10 arouse the public mind in IN extra
ordinary degree. in the vicinity in which il is
enacted, although the public prints almost daily
herald 10 Us murders committed under the most
alrocIuuS circumstances: bat at the time Of
which ! wrte, the settlers in Tins region had
moi had their feelings Srred and buuird By the
recital OF SO many horrible outrages, aud thence
W. may account for that extreme feeling which
lhI> assrmbIage 50 strongly Displayed The
body OF the deceased was laid out in the large
room OF the tavern aui II being an entirely new
business, on which authorities had 10 he con-
suited. 1t was near the middle OF the day when
Augustine Herman, the then Lord Proprietor
OF the Manor. arrived. Entering upon his
vested authority, jury was Immediately select
ed from among the spectators, and Dr. Pctrus
Sluytcr, from his well known reputation as q
physician, was selected 10 conduct the cxauina
ton.
The deceased appeared to be about fortv-dve
yeats o! aye; his vIS!l to the neghburhood was
iol the avowed purpose Of selecting and making
large purchase OF real estate. His pockets
were litlcl ol their contents, whatever they
might have been, his watch was gone aud two
large gashcS were cut IN his head penetrating
| the brain, and there was deep hole in his lett
temple. Tue gashes were, 10 all Appearances
made with some sharp instrument. Tins was
all the examination ELECTED. Every one living
On the Point was lisiliy examined, servants
and all, without finding the slightest ground
| Tor suspicion. This state of affairs had the
effect to increase the excitement and the great
est uneasiness prevailed. The jury were about
| to bring in verdict, which was already pcnned
BY their foreman: s'TAat the deceased came to
his death by wounds iuliict by some sharp
weapon in the hands o! some person or persons
| unknown" AT this Junclure it was minated
| by Cornelius Lat, nephew Of the proprietor
OF the mansion, whose guest the deceased had
been, that certain John Welsh, a carpenter,
who had been employed by his uncle in renair.
ing one Of the out buildings, had left the Point
for home a short time previous to the finding
vi the body. Upon this statement being made
by the young man, a sudden thought appeared
to pass through his mind, he staggered back
and as he was about TO fall he was caught By
one of The by-slanders he soon, however, par
! TALLY recovered and lett for The mansion.
\ warrant was ISSUED ior the arrest of John
| Welsh and population sent off. 4 shudder
ran through the cr"wl, followed BY a general
! feeling oi Incredulty, as TO his having any
! hand in the matter, as no one bore more un-
bemshed reputation. 1t appears that the dep
utalIon on arriving at the house of Welsh were
informed that he left home early that morning
with grist for the Great House mill. They
thea proceeded TO search his premises when
they found an overcoal Of his. much stained
with blood, and in an inner pocket watch and
other articles evidently belonging to the de-
ceased; Ratchet was also found, stained with
blood. part OF the deputation set oil for the
| null to arrest Welsh, whilst the other portion
reiu ned to the Point with the evidences Of his
guilt. On their arrival and the exhibition OF
the articles it was noticed that the Lord Pro-
prieior, who had hitherto been calm and col
lected, became extremely agltalcd, and when
! II was found that the wounds, without doubt,
had brcn inflicted with that idcntIcal Ratchet,
ii part o(the blade was broken, and it tilted
the wounds eyactly--ihe Doctor appeared to
parakc Of that feeling which had seized the
J.old Proprietor, and all eyes were upon him.
At this moment Jasper DanAaer's arose ev.
IDENTIFY Iaborn, undo! the same excitement, and