The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-07

visit. Call at the Maryland Institute any night.
-----a==--a=4-=~
TRIAL OF MARION CROPS
AT TOWSONTOWN,
FOR THE MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER
RIGD0N.
DAY
Tows0NTowN, Jan. 5, 1859
CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY-Hon. Johl
II. Price, Judge.
Richard j. Cuttings, Esq, States Attorney prosecu
ting. assisted by Arthur w. Machen Esq.
William P. Whyte, Esq, counsel for the defence
State rs Marion Crops, indicted for the murder o
Robert NJ Rigdon by shooting him with pistol, on thu
night of the 5th of November last.
On the opening If the Court esterday the order direct
ing all the witnesses in the case except those who hat
been examined to withdraw was at the request of thu
States Attorney reiterated by the Court.
The examination Of witnesses was then resumed
Joseph NJ Rothrock AFTER Crops and Corrt
left Cudneys, Mr. Strong and witness left it was q
minutes after; Strorg and witness ran down towards
Pine after heard the report saw Crops stand
ing the northeast of Pine Baltimore streets
saw crowd going down south Pine street; there is q
shoe store that corner; it has bow windows on Bat
more street and it is usually lighted that time in the
evening.
Gross, examined by Mr., Whvte-Witness was mt ex
amined before the Mayor; at the watch house when
Corie brought in; outside on the pavement
when officers Stinchcomb and others there; in
Cudney's when Crops came in it about O'Clock
little before or little AFTER could not positively
drank and sang part of song when in Cudneys; off
Ger Hough showed the pistol to witness after the affair
think it was the Monday after the murder the day wit
ness was summoned Crops dressed in drai
coat ghtsh coat witness don't exactly remember when
Crops up to witness, he said in joking manner
what doing here9 the barkeeper room
besides the party Strong and Witness barkeepers name
John T. Sangston there several in the
| Crops and Corre in they all Off leaving
Strong, barkeeper and witness alone in the knew
Crops intimately before that time; came about the
| saloon in that neighborhood pretty often.
Mr. Whyte here requested the Clerk issue subpoena
| for John I Sangston as witness for the defence.
By Mr.. Gittings-Always considered Crops friend
witness and he were always on good terms.
George Stewart, sworn-Recollect evening of Rigdons
death; know Crops, the prisoner; CroDps Ba
street that night, in front of Cudney before Rig
dons DEATH Strong and Rothrock were with witness
Crops and Corrie with Witness Corrie and
Crops come up then and witness Crops stoop and
point with pistol, or something of that kind, to
wards Mr.. Rigdon Stinchconb with Rig1on and an
other witness learned since his was Freeman;
Crops was behind an awning post the officers in
front of the new building; witness in front of Cud
neys Cuney's is oyster saloon; it was lighted up il
has large windows; the light in the bar room shining
out on the window Corrre Crops, looking at
him. witness went into Cudneys after he saw Crops;
stad there about five minutes did not CropDs and
Corrie after that witness went out and down Baltimore
street, witness went out of Cudneys alone the three Off
together Rigdon in the middle did not see
what became of Rigdon and Stinchcomb
Cross examination by Mr.. Whyte.-It was between 7
and o'lock when witness and others standing in
front of Cudneys don't remember any conversation be
tween the officers and Crops and Corre Rothrock
was with Witness Strong, Rothrock and witness all went
into Cudneys together the officers abreast walking
along the street; when witness Crops stoop they
were in front OF the new building there is which
projects in front of the building don't how much
space the fence occupies; witness standing
standing behind the awning; witness said behind the
awning post Crops stood in a kind of side position
saw his right arm; witness saw about two inches
of the barrel of something; it looked dark to wit
ness it was not gtterng witness can't tell whether
smooth, round not; can't tell if it was square
it looked to witness if it a pistol or
something of that kind; witness went out before the
others left; witness has not had weapon exhibited
him before this trial. in the neighborhood when
the pistol fired which is supposed have killed Rig
don when the officers passed witness at Cudneys they
abreast Rigdon distinctly them when witness
saw Crops crouching, he directly afterwards
Cudneys; Crops was still in STOPPING position, re-
mained in that position witness into Cudney's
witness did observe Crops turn and look at him
Corre was standing in the centre of the pavement the
rear of Crops don't remember whether Strong or
witness went in first all went in the same time
BY Mr.. Gittings-Dont recollect whether Otis Thomp,
son was with witness knows Thompson.
By Mr.. Whyte-Don't remember who else was present
with witness in front of Cudney's.
Stewart Correll sworn-Witness is boy IA years old
Mr. Whyte asked if the witness understood the nature
of an oath and asked the Judge to examine him
Judge Price did so, and said the witness perfectly
competent.
Witness went on-He lived at 4s6 Baltimore street at
the time of the murder the second door Motons
have known Marion Crops by sight ever since last sum-
mer Crops that night looking in Blanks window;
saw another man with him; think the other man was
smaller the windows cose witness means the sash
was not down. witness the other upon his knees
looking in the window witness Rigdon come ont and
the witness did not know Jumped down and cot be
hind the projection of Blanks house; witness did see
where Crops went saw RigdOn as far as the
pump; then saw these men up and commenced talk
not know what time of night was; witness father was
about shutting the shop witness heard report of
the pisol witness came out and running on
other side of the street; he fired pistol at another
aud witness the chasing the other also fire they
an to Pine street. and turned around Pine witness was
playing in the street at the time he Crops and Cor
saying, ''rll bet them fellows after Rigdon"
Cross examined by Mr.. Whyte-Winess was not ex-
amned before the Mayor he examined before the
Grand Jury; summoned here last Saturday evening"
was playing with William Moton have had conversa-
ton particularly about this affair; Mr. Cuttings
came to see witness gentleman asked witness what he
knew about it, witness told him he saw Crops and Cor
rie looking in the window Blanks; there was num-
Der of gentlemen in the the time the store was
Messrs Bird Bro on Baltimore street. witness is clerk
there; it dark night; witness standing Bells
awning post Bells is three houses above Rigdons the
nearest iamppo on Blanks side is near Pine street
there is lamp post just opposite Blanks the other
side of the street; Crops did not get up in the
window like the other man; did not see Crops
come up to Rigdon; saw officers come up to
Kigdon; did not pay any attention to them after that
when witness first looked the street Crops and
another looking in the window; their backs
turned towards witness; after Rgdon came out of
the door, witness did not notice whether Crops and the
other man were on the pavement when Crops look
ing IN the WINDOW witness saw the side of his face wit
standing above HIM the other side of the
street. witness thinks Crops had light brown coat
he had light clothes witness thinks; witness has had
no conversation with any about the case; Motion
lived in that neghborhood witness lived the door
above him.
By Mr.. Gittings.-When Mr. Cuttings came to see wit
ness, of the clerks asked me about the case wit
is certain it Crops he night that is
farthest from the projection Of Blanks house, shot
was fired about half an hour after witness Crops
By Mr.. Whyte.-Knew Crops pretty WE'LL he has been
often pointed out to witness by other boys
William Motion, youth 13 years of age was exam
ined by Judge Price, who it his opinion that he
was not competent to testify
Officer John Stnchcomb, recalled by Mr. Gittings-
When Rigdon and witness in front of Cudneys
officer Freeman came up while in conversations
Rigdon moved off first, witness next and Freeman
AFTER Rgdon and witness went into the cigar store and
Freeman went on Foxs shoe store is on the Northeast
of Pine and Baltimore Streets dom recollect if the
lighted that evening: Rigdon was ahead of
witness; Freeman in front of Rigdon; they were
walking about single file they than three
or four feet apart.
officer Freeman yesterday there some conversation
between us in front OF Cudney's.
Rgdon's death know Crops; witness standing on
northeast of Baltimore and Green Henry
Hilbert, Adam Geddes and Henry Smith, about X
o'clock; Crops and Corrie from Porters corner
right opposite Corrie said II understand that Gambr
is convicted; witness said 81 believe he ISL Crops
said to Adam Geddes, You above speaking us"
and struck Geddes; Geddes said, If you that again
III hurt you; Crops then drew epistol Hubert
told him to put up; then Rigdon along;
asked Who is that?" think Hilbert said it was Rigdon
and Core went to Perkins corner-the southwest
corner Crops then after Rgdon; he was about
half square behind Rgdon they had been on the corner
about five minutes when Rigdon came along; Rig
don went down Baltimore street towards his house
Corrie crossed dagonay to Perkins corner and
Crops followed Rgdon the side of the street.
when Corrie went across witness heard him whistle
to Crops; some one then said, "Cropps, Corrie is
calling YOU" then Crops went down Baltimore
street behind Rgdop; Geddes and Hilbert were on the
corner before Witness witness noticed the pistol Crops
drew on Geddes the pistol about Is inches long;
Crops drew it from his breast witness thought was
gun cut of; noticed the but sticking of Cropps coat
did not notice anything peculiar about the stock noticed
wire or something tied around the barrel the stock
there was nothing said about the pistol in Crops pres
ence; witness thinks he would know the pistol again
(pisto shown) that looks something like that the man
who had the pistol; [ponting to Crops
Cross examined by Mr.. Whyte-It about \ O'Clock
Tc coe abo Sa ten nonf ha % %oh sa as With another
ofhcer; dld not know who the officer did Off
Mcdonald at this time; him before this on the
opposite about half hour beore have that
pistol before, since Rgdons death; think Mr.. Whitney
showed it to Witness witness Crops and Corre
into Mr.. Cherrys store about minutes before this
knew Crops well before this; had been in the habit
coming about there, but had not him
ten before this occurrence believes Crops in
street.
Adam Geddes, sworn.-Witness was standing on the
of Green and Baltimore streets the night the
MURDER Crops and Corrie came up and Corrie asked
about Gambrls trial; witness thinks Champagne an
swered it murder in the first degree Crops then
to witness and struck witness in the side;
don't do that else I'll hit Crops then pistol
witness; Hilbert told Crops put away: Rigdon
thinks Hilbert answered 'yes' Corrie then
to Perkins and whistled, and Crops
down Baltimore street behind Rigdon; 10 minutes AFTER
witness heard the pistol fired
Cross examination by Mr.. Whyte.-It about 25
minutes of o'clock not positive about tme Corrie
made the remark about Gambrl; had known Crops
well before that tme Crops has always been about
neighborhood; witness standing the house
wards the watch house, Crops and Corrie Por
corner witness standing the same place when
out minute, he put it away when he told; Rigdon
had got near to Pearl street when Crops started Crops