The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-12
TRIAL OF MARION CROPS
AT TOWSONTOWN,
FOR THE MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER
RIGDON
VERDICT OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
EIGHTH DAY.

EIGHTH DAY
TowsoNTowN, jan II, 1859
CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CoUNFY.-Hon John
! Richard j. Cuttings, Esq., States Attorney prosecu
| ting, assisted by Arthur W. Machen Esq
William I. Whyte, Esq, counsel for the defence.
State rs Marion Crops, indicted for the murder OF
Robert M Rigdon by shooting him with pistol the
night of the 5th of November last
On the opening of the Court witnesses who had not
been examined were requested by the Judge to retire
The examination of witnesses the defence was then
| continued.
| John Dorman sworn-Was at Courtney's, sitting in
the bar room on the night of the MURDER heard the ps
to fred heard more than shot, Courtneys door
OPEN saw Crops and Shewey standing at the door
the shot fired and they had been there five minutes
before it was fired the first shot was fired wit
ness left Courtneys went down Raborg Pearl street
and then went home.
Crossexamined by Mr.. Gittings-Witness went to
Courtneys that night about o'clock had been there
about 10 minutes when the shot was fred the bar room
is about sixteen feet deep did drink; there is
waiting Bill Courtney; witness was sitting
on the side OF the opposite the bar; the door was
open, but witness don't know whether chock back
or not witness was about three four feet door
Crops was standing against the frame the door with
his foot on the SILL don't know which way Crops came;
| witness saw him at the door when he came
up, because he said to witness, sHow are you
johnny Crops then commenced to talk to Shewey;
witness heard more than three Shots heard than
three shots easy did not hear witness came out
of Courtneys door and Chambers Barrett in the
act of crossing Raborg street, they the opposite
side as soon as the pistol fred Chambers Barrett and
Crops ran up the street. witness home after he
heard the pistol fred Crops and Shewey had some con
versation together Crops began the conversation he
said ''haoo Shewey witness heard Rigdon's death
next morning when he down sairs don't know any
thing about Rgdon's body don't know how far the shot
was off, witness left he heard the shot, though
the shot about hundred yards Off witness left be-
cause he afraid of pistols witness don't know when
person is safe if witness sitting in bar ROOM an
hundred yards off from pistol shot he don't know
whether he would be safer than going in
| go home.
By Mr.. Machen.-Witness went down Raborg street to
Pearl, up Pearl to Fayete did not notice any one on
Pearl street, witness thinks Crops dressed in grey
suit thinks he had on sloach hat did not notice Grego
ry Barretts Dress think he dressed in black dom
know how Chambers was dressed; witness don't notice
peoples dresse aint his business; can recolect that
Cropps was dressed in grey suit witness went up to
Courtneys to the fellows witness had at the
courthouse that day; the house the day
fore witness at home all day before went to Court
neys he wasn't WE'LL he went to Courtney's to see the
fellows because thought they would be about there:
witness has been at Blanks witness don't know where
Rigdon lives Crops spoke to Witness soon as the
pistol was fired, witness being afraid of firearms
away witness thinks Chambers and Barrett from
Pearl street, when witness noticed them they were little
inclined towards Pearl street. crossing Raborg dontknow
who nearesto witness they eight or ten feet from
the door of Courtneys when witness them; it is eight
ten feet from the opposite side of street to Court
neys door, witness Judges Rabog street be about
or ten feet wide; Crops went towards Pine street
when the pistol fired; witness don't know if Barrett
and Chambers crowd the side Crops was
on they all up the street together when the second
shot was fired witness few yards from Pearl street.
the shot towards Baltimore street. Judge between
Pine and Pearl Streets in Pearl when the
shot fired; Shewey had that wooly coat of his
and had on cap; Crops said, when he up, show
you ~hewey;' Shewey said 'halloo they then con
versed in low witness did hear the conyers-
tion Chambers and Barrett had on dark clothes but
witness don't know if they had on hats caps;
don't know what became of Shewey he is alive
witness believes; witness went home after was
fired.
ing been going to for nine years witness has been
doing nothing for the last year has been living on his
money; there is no Indictment pending against witness
now witness has been arrested many time; witness was
arrested on Saturday astbu there nothing proved
against him.
Mr.. Gittings-.Were you not discharged on the cond
tion you were to leave town?n
Winess.-"No, sir; Mr. Swami didn't tell me that al
though it is so in the SUe.'
Mr.. Gittings-"Were you not arrested for being bur
glar, thief and pickpccket?n
Witness.-"No, SIR was arret ted out of spite. be
cause was going to testify in this caser
Mr.. Whyte -'Ahl there he says he was arrested ont
Of spite because use he was witness for the defence"
Witness-''Yes, was but they didn't prove ANYTHING
on me-" Ito Mr. Gittngs John Bishop arrested me do
you know him?" ' 49,
Mr.. Gttings-"I do not have very little acouant
ance with the police officers; suppose you know them
all very we'll Then you didn't promise to leave town
when you reeased?"
Witness-''No did not and amt going to leave town
neither, that's me-"
Mr. Cuttings You will stay in town and live on your
money, eh!"
Witness.-"Yes sir, and I've got property besidesn
Mr. Gittngs.-"That will do, you can step down sirn
Mr. Whytc after the examination of the Witness an
nounced that the defence had testimony tc
offer.
The State then called the following witnesses as rebut
Frederick Pinckney, recalled by the State-Am ac
quanted with the character of Joseph Creamer for
and veracty witness would not believe him his oath
and has told Grand Juries so.
Mr.. Whyte.-"Now this aint evidence your honorn
Judge Price.-'Well state your obecton.and the Court
will hear the argument "
Mr.. Whyte-'I do not intend now to state nv obiec
tion but if any more witnesses to be broug up
evidence of mans character for truth and yeracy was
to be got from the mans associates
Mr. Pinckney-'Mr. Whyte, you couldn't expect me to
not thot
way'
Mr. Whyte-'Of course not sirn
Andrew Barthoow, sworn-Recoect the night Rigdon
was killed. when witness heard the report was in Pine
street. between Saratoga and Lexington streets in
of his house, witness down towards Pine and Balt
more streets witness saw man on the east side of Pine
street running towards Raborg street. he was on his
tip toes; witness don't know who the was the man
had on light coat, and think had slouch hat or
cap the turned his coat collar up and ran down
Raborg street. when witness got the of Baltimore
and Pine streets he the crowd Pine street about
twenty feet from Baltimore street, did see Barrett and
Chambers on the corner witness out of
Raborg street
Crossexamined by Mr.. Whyte-When witness got to
the he did not Crops the corner did not
any one go across Baltimore street and take pistol
David Cherry, sworn.-Know Cropps live on the cor
of Green and Baltimore streets; witness was home
when the shot was fired after that witness him
ing down Pearl street towards Baltimore street.
Mr.. Gittngs.-"Describe him."
Witness.-"He looked very suspicious
Mr. Whyte.-"Oh your honor, don't let this go to the
jury"
Judge Prlce-''The witness will describe him as well
he CAM
Mr. Whyte"But he is going to speak about his coun.
tenance; can the appearance of mans countenance
evidence against him.
Witness continued-Cropps looked as if he had been
runnns looked white and seemed exhausted he had
been running Crops then to Rigdon house: wit
went to the house but could not get in: when
at Pearl street corner the who had Corre were
crossing Baltimore street near Green going towards the
Cross-examined by Mr.. whyte-cropp's went to Rig.
dons before witness did; witness the corner
nOf oir hafor
Crops asked what was the matter when he came up
Henry Smith, recaed-When Crops and Chambers
passed Cherys corner they Green street from
Pearl street and went right down Baltimore street.
By Mr.. Whyte.-Notced particularly the way they
came when they crossed Green street
Mr. Cuttings here announced that the State had closed
its
Mr. Whyte said the defence did not intend to offer any
more testimony.
Mr. Machen then arose and addressed the jury He
said that this ordinary trial but was surrounded
by circumstances drew the attention NJ the
community to it and to this Jury There is no question
here about the grade of the crime the
est dye The murder of Robert NJ Rgdon said he
out eminent terrible crime There are times and
places for murder might look for them upon the high
ways in dark lanes and in the dead hour of the night
here is poor hunted down Rgdon, hunted from corner to
corner who hailed with pleasure the when he could
to his home when he could lay the trusy
which was to him not only for his proec
ton but for that of his citizens and remain
his quiet cheerful family, secure, he thought, from
any harm, murdered in cold blood. Was he
human, said Mr.. Machen, with that peaceful
scene before him, the wife in range of the shot,
talking to the husband of her choice-was who
could at the time have fired that fatal shot, could
have kept steady hand? The appalling nature of the
deed, shows that done by no ordinary hand Mr.
Machen then referred to the of the murder and
said that because Rgdon had the courage to go upon the
stand and testify to the TRUTH and not commit perjury
he was to be cut down. This terrible state of af
fairs in the city of Batmore-it might well be called
reign of terror
At this period Mr.. Gittings who had retired short
time from the court room in and announced to the
Court that he had just discovered rebutting
mony which was very material and of very important
character He had just received information of it and
would submit to the discretion Of the Court whether it
would be admitted or not.
Mr. Whyte.-'.I object to its admission now as the
State has announced that it had closed its testimony
Judge Price.-as the evidence just been dscovered?'
Mr. Gttings-"Yes, sir''
Mr. Whyte-sHas this witness been in the court room
during the trial"
Mr. Gttings-''No sir, it is man who was subponaed
by the State and who has been witness during
the trial; he about this until this morning
because he says he did wish to be put upon the
stand think the evidence should be admitted now
Mr.. Cuttings here cited where testimony was ad
that it had closed to show the nationality avessel
which point the counsel had overlooked.
Mr.. Whyte objected to its reception.
The Count ruled that the evidence could be admitted
Mr. Cuttings desired the witness to be called
ReYerdy Hays, sworn-Ives next to John Blanks; on
the east side of Bank witness in his house when
the snot was fired; 1t took witness minute minute
and half to get to the front door, when witness
the door he saw two men running from Rgdons
in the middle of the street and the other running the
noth SIDE towards Pearl street, this Cropps the
prisoner at the bar.
Cross-examined by Mr. Whyte-Witness made this
statement this morning to Mr. Gittngs have not been in
the court during the trial. witness told this
raj witness told officer Stinchcomb; told it Mr..
Fittings; witness did not want to be put the stand;
witness saw two persons over the mdd of the street,
Crops dressed in brown clothes Crops
often; Crops Nicholas pavement; Crops was
looking back looking his left shoulder running;
think Crops had on light slouch had Crops