Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-29
Conviction OF Jesse cro,L,4


The trial of free negro named lac.
Crockett, for the murder of VIM. Grin, y,
Aqua, in Stafford county, on last Cari,,m,.
Eve, came of before the Circuit COur, Of H..
county on Monday last.
The extreme heartlessness Of the -
caused deep feeling Of exci,emept,b,sa-'y'
out Stafford, and the trial was a,tep5sS =
very large concourse of people. ::
The investigation occupied several a.
and was ally conducted Tor the C.n.a!l''
wealth by j. c. Moucure. esq. Far -.
prisoner, John l.. Marye, Jr, ESQ. T5N- VIC
who were present inform US that VI. "
conducted the trial with great ability =.
sentIng the case with 50 much iugenui,v a.
tact, that doubts ware expressed sS :, -
finding Of the jury, notsithstandin, 49,
chain of circumstances which seemed >.
fasten the crime upon the rr ]nar 4, the r..
Thejury after being absent segeral ham,,
returned with verdict Of Guilty. IT..
Court delivered an impressive CHARGE 49,
sentenced Jesse Crockett to be hang On ,ss
30th of April next.
On the day after his conviction .;s,,,
sent for his Counsel, who, after ,lIem,i.
admonisbing him Of the certainty Of ii,
approaching death, and the aggraya,i]p n
bis guilt, caused by dying with a lie in hi.
mouth, received from Jesse the iollovin,
confession:
Jesse said that he was travelling On f.,
from Washington to Petersburg, his tous
That he passed through Damiries abon,
midday on Thursday the 2iGa Decemb.,
and few miles this side OF Dumtries IA
stopped at the house of some negroes, o.,
something to eat and drink. an4 etns il,
tigued and somewhat In liquor, fell asleer
and slept some hours. That he reachej
Aqua the same night about 10 or II o..
clock, and found eight or ten person. in the
Store of Griffin. among whom were ,El
white me-, who we're strangers, trasella,
on foot, that when Griffin cos4d BIS .;5,s
be got permission of the two travellers q
lodge with them in q room 10 an unte1autsi
house across the road from GrIthn's store.
that they, after good deal OF talk 10 which
they abused Griffin for some alleged us..
treatment, proposed to kill him. and as.
his money. The he (Jesse) agreed to their
plot, when they went across the road aai
upon approaching the store, he picket up
an axe lying in the yard, aud that the three
gained admission by calling for Gritkn.--
That soon after getting in, while GrIhO was
behind his counter, be jesse struck him ID.
first blow with the axe, when ell three s.
tackled him, and various blows were dealt
That they took the coin from the mJDeI
drawer, the carpet-bag, and suDdry goods,
and carried them to said room, where thE
agreed on division OF the pluDder. IHE
the white men directed him TO take all q.
plunder. and carry it in the carpet-bag, az.
90 along with them as far as Falm d.
where be should tarry with It, while ,5H
moved on to Richmond, where he should mg
them at the Petersburg Depot on The ren
Sunday, aud deliver them their share. T5b
accordingly he did remain with tie puo.g
in Falmouth, until Sunday, when be Wei;
on the cars to Richmond met them 90.
banded them their share wrapped 10 buaGi
shape at the Petersburg Delor, ani B.
passed On to Petersburg; since which, be hA
seen, and heard nothing Of them.
The above is the substance Of the negro:
statement. 1t is quite certain that ia
strangers. white, apparently without moDel
were at Aqua on the night mentioned 81!
it is also true that they took the cars !;
Fredericksburg 90 the next day, going South,
They paid for their passage, which, to tbs
extent, would criminate them Of tciDge,
gagged 10 the murder, as they had no moGl
when they arrived at Aqua the dag pTe'i0s.
but it sounds rather marveIously that To
strangers should propose murder, aud leo"
the profits thereof, in strange negro's P''
session !-FrederickSbmg HraH.