Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-30
Yours truly,

Inc superior COurC LOT orange county was III SEES
sion in this place last week, Judge Caldwell presd
on his trial for murder committed in Granville coun-
ty in February, 1858, on the body Of negro slave
belonging to Mr.. Thomas j. Taylor, Of that county.
The case removed first to Person county, and
then to this county. The principal witness on the
part of the prosecution was Mr.. William Tilotson;
from whose testimony it appeared that he and
Christmas had been drinking together the night
preceding the murder, and in the morning. first at
Christmas's house and then at Tillotson's, which
were about mile and a quarter apart. Getting out
of liquor they went to store some three or four
miles off and filled two jugs, drinking on their way
back to Tllotson's. After remaining short time
in the house, their return to Tillotsons, of
the children of Tillotson told him that negro
was riding up the lane towards the house. Tiotson
went out, followed by Christmas, who seated HIM
self on a bench near the door. The negro, on COM
ing up, asked Tillotson if he had seen any stray
hogs. Tiotson replied that he had not but he
could perhaps tell him where he could find some
Christmas then, addressing the negro, said, PER
haps you want to steal some hogs as Taylor's Ma
than stole my hogs" The negro replied, 81 did
not steal your hogs, Master Oby, only fed them"
Christmas then asked, us that Nathan p The ne
gro replied Eyes" Christmas then uttering pro-
fame exclamation, said Il mean to shoot you" And
pulling out his pistol he fired at him. but missed
partly round, when Christmas fred again, and the
negro fell to the ground the ball having penetrated
his head Tillotson then said to Christmas, "are
you not sorry that you ever saw pistol?' The
latter replied, Eyes, l am"
Christmas then declaring thst he must carry away
the body and throw it in the stream, got upon the
horse and persuaded Tillotson to aid him in getting
it up before him. He then rode off towards the
stream, distant few hundred yards Tilotson fol-
lowed him short space and then turned back
Christmas soon returned to the house; said he had
not put the body in the stream, but had left it on
knoll near to it. He then went to lookng-glass,
said that he had understood that when man COM
mits murder be turns pale; but that he had not
changed color yet. He staid at Tillotson's yet a
short time, and then returned home.
1t appears that on the night ensuing, he fed with
his family into the State of Virginia to the house of
his mother, distant about ten miles, where he was
arrested the next day.
10 these facts as stated by Tlllotson there was
no rebutting testimony offered and the main de-
tense set up was plea of insanity at the time,
induced by an excessive of intoxicating LIQUOR.
The trial occupied the whole of Thursday and
Friday, and was conducted with marked ability on
both sides. The prisoner was defended by the Hon.
William A. Graham, and Henry W. Miller, M. w.
Ransom, and Josiah Turner, Jr., Esqs. The prose
cution was conducted by the Solicitor Thos Kuffin,
Esq, assisted by the Hon. Edwin G. Reade and
Thos. B. yenable Esq.
His Honor the Judge committed the case to the
jury, who on Saturday morning rendered their YER
dict, finding the prisoner guilty of murder, and he
was sentenced to be executed on Monday the I'd day
of May.
| An appeal however, was taken, and the case will
| go up to the Supreme Court
| Christmas is young man about twenty-fou
years old, and it appears has been grossly ntemper
ate for many years.-Hills. Recorder.