The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-06
TRIAL OF MARION CROpp
Al TOWSONTOWN,
FOR THE MURDER OF POLICE OFFJCER
RIGDON

IhIAL OF' MARION CROPPS
AT TOWSONTOWN
FOR THE MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER
RIGDON.
THIRD DAY.
c TowsoNTowN, Jan. s. 1852
CIRcu1T COURT FOR BALTIMORE CoUNTY-Hon John
II. Price, Judge ~ 0
richard j. Cuttings, Esq, States Attorney prosecu
tlng assisted by Arthur W. Machen, Esq.
Imam +: Whyte Esq, counsel for the defence.
state rs Marion Crops, indicted for the murder OF
| night OF the 5th of November last
On the opening of the Court yesterday morning Fred
michael of Baltimore police witness in tbe case m
SroPls mad been brought in upon attachment Lieut.
carmichael had been Sick, which of his non
to be quashed
The Clerk then proceeded to call the names of the fifty
talesmen ordered to be summoned by the Sher on the
adjournment of the Court on Tuesday
The first talesman called was William Fell johnson
who being sworn on his oor dire replied to the usual
questions byM Gitngs that he had made nm his mind
IN reference to the guilt innocence of the prisoner
| up their minds. ~
Isaac Taylor had not made up his mind; had formed
conclusion not to make his mind from newspaper re
| Challenged peremptoriiy by defence
oIter r, Merryman had not made up his mind. In
reply TO Mr. Whyte he said he not expressed an opin
on aiterWad he said he would qualify what he had be
lore sd that the reports about this were
true hanging was too good for him.
Mr.. Whye opposed the inror as ncompetent on the
ground that hehad expressed opinion and that at this
himself
mad not qualified his statement he would have been liza
Bile to indictment for perjury.
Judge Price think he is competent
Mr.. Gittings-''Mr Whyte do you challenge him9'
Mr.. Whyte.-'We should think did,
CHALLENGED peremptorly. .'
Joseph Taylor had made up his mind. Samuel W.
WorthingtOn had also made up his mind.
Mr.. Cuttings asked him when he had made it MP.
Mr.. Whyte objected to the question.
Challenged for cause.
T. X. Crane thought he not made up his mind. he
meant II the man was guilty he ought to punished
challenged peremptory.
Benz Dougherty had not made up his mind had not ex
pressed an opinion.
Challenged peremporily.
Lewis Merryman had made up his mind
Edward Hoshal had not made up his mind
pressed an opinion.
Sworn as a Juror
Isaac Anderson ditto
Sworn as Juror.
William Nane and William Bowen had made ND th cir
minds ~ P ~
Henry Cone had not made up his mind nor expressed
an opnion-read the newspaper account.
Challenged peremptorily.
John F. Wilhelm. had made up his mind
William l.. Fendall had made up his mind nor ex
ishment. 'r''' pun
Challenged peremptorily
j. II. Longnecker had not made I'D his mind nor ex
pressed an opinion.
Sworn as juror
Joshua Cross had not made nm his mind nor evrraSsa5
an opinion
Challenged peremporily
Samuel Cole had made up his mind
N. ii. Ware had not made up his mind nor EXPRESSED
an opinion he did not allow spaper reports to infu
ence his mind in cases of this kind
Sworn as juror
Samuel Hodges had not made up his mind
Challenged peremptorily.
Richard ArmicoSt, Daniel Whitney and Robert Cross
had made up their minds
John Taylor had not made up his mind nor was he
opposed to capital punishment Challenged preremptov
James Crowler and John Gibson had made up their
aas about the guilt or innocence of the prisoner
benjamin Upton to the question of Mr. Cuttings shook
his head to signify that he not made up his mind
On being asked ifhe was opposed capital punishment
he nodded afirmatvely
The juror then said he was hard of hearing
Judge Price said he might retire
John Crowther had made up his mind
Arsenus Schofeld had not made up his mind Sworn
as Juror
This being the twelfth juror sworn the panel was com.
The following gentlemen compose the Jury:
Alfred Amos otho Shipley, John Peirsol John Proctor
ward Hoshall, Isacc Anderson John Fl Ionrneeker
Nathan H. Ware and Arsenus Schofed.
Nj stewart Clerk of the Court then read the indict-
meht TO the jury with strong firm voice while
every juror in the box paid the srictest attention The
prisoner sat with his head leaning slightly to the left and
time. 'e 'e "iioie
The indictment first charges that Marion Crops Peter
Coie, and white man. the jurors unknown not bay
ing the fear of God before eyes but being moved and
seduced by the instgaon of the devil the 5th of No
vember, in the year our Lord one thousand bt b,n
dred and f:yeght, did shoot with pistol Robert Rio.
DON in the peace of God and State in and upon the
left side of the chest inhctinp mortal wonnds Of wb;nh
said mortal wounds the said Robert NJ Rgdon instantly
died The Indictment alleges pistol to have contained
four bullets and reces that each of them nentotd S
oay each one inicting mortal wound of the length of
half an inch and of the depth of three inches
The indictment also charges Corrie and tbe .svbt mon
70 he jurors UNKNOWN, with being and CON
cludes as follows: ~ 'l
And that the said Peter Corre and the said white man
10 he jurors aforesaid unknown at the time of commit
ng OF the said felony and as aforesaid then and
There eioniousy, wilfully and of their malice afore
houg were present, aiding abetting and assisting the
sald Marion Crops the said felony and murder in man
ner and form aforesaid to do and commit and so the
the said Marion Crops the said Peter Core and M said
Rite man to the Jurors aforesaid unknown him the said
ousy wilfully and of their aorehought did kin
ana murder contrary to the form of the Assembly
III such case made and provided and against peace
government and dignity of the State"
After the jury had been charged, Mr. Whyte asked the
Court to instruct them not read the ewspapers nor
hold conversation with any one.
me Court so instructed the jury, and told them
very cautious anout having any communication with
thelr amies If they desired any such communication
they had better be made by the of and through
te m Court The Court also instructed the Sheriff keep
the the jury together and let no hold with
them
Mr.. Whyte said he had request to make; that
although they could not stife the press and
that the witnesses in the could prevented from
reading the newspaper reports, STILL at the present time
he would ask that the witnesses be kept apart
Mr. Cuttings said he lad objections provided the order
applied also to the witnesses for the defence
Mr.. Whyte said of his witnesses he believed
We're here he told them they would not be required
to-day.
Mr.. Machen.-'There NAV be some here bowavar and
the learned counsel not be awa are off
MI Mr.. Mhyte-"Well call them and turn them OUT
Of the WITNESSES To % P ro9ms Tor fe
ing when they all directed by the Judge to retire to
the apartments.
Mr. Machen, assistant prosecutor for the State then
opened the case before the jury He commenced by uro
ing upon the jury to look well to evidence; the pr
oner at the bar placed at their hands life while the
State placed thousands of lives their hands for preser
vaton This cause is for murder murder unparalleled
having been perpeed without cause or the least excus
on he part OF the accused The indictment says there
was also white man, to the jurors unknown concerned
in this affair-tha doubt inserted for caution.
prooably there might have been many concerned in
the murder but this do not know am satisfied their
cohSclences VIII haunt them all the DAYS
The two however Crops and Corrie it is certain did
commit act and matters not which them fired
the fatal shot, they together aiding and abetting
rms act was perpetrated because officer Rgdon obeyed
the summon of the law testify against certain Henry
Gamorlll, IN the criminal Court of Baltimore charged
WIN IKE offence The prisoner at the bar present
at that trial and took active part, manifested
great interest for Gambr At six O'Clock on the eve
ming of GambrPs conviction effort was made to res.
cue him from the officers but the the law were
too strong, and finally succeeded in placing the convict
in his cell That night, Robert NJ Rigdon for doing his
duty as an honest man and good citizen hurled
eternlty-thls sad spread throughout the
city to the horror and fear of all law abiding citizens
Will show you the locality where this atrocious mur-
der was committed. MAPS exhibited to the ury
Rdon was standing at his mantle piece when the prison
went up this alley and fired his pistol through side
window, and five balls entered his body. Mr. NJ acben
then went on 10 describe the by
saying that the prisoner walking with Ripdon
IN Green street. and he had something of unicouS na
ture IN ms sleeve say it of a suspicious nature
because 1t excited suspicion Previous this however
Marion Crops and Peter Corrie an officer and
the inquiry was made what is the verdict Gambrilrs
case2 the reply was murder in the first degree"-the
prisoners responded what some of you will get muir
der in the first degree And cited all the occurrences
from the time of Rgdon's leaving the court house until
the fatal shot fired and the parties arrested as before
reported in the Exchange.
The following diagram of Rigdons house will aid the
reader IN understanding the precise position par
ties. -
"H- ~~1124zsz -.