The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-03-23
The superior Court for orans4 county v.

The Superior Court for Orange county was
in session in this place last week, Judge CALpwrLI
presiding. On Thursday Obadiah Christmas put
upon his trial for murder committed in Granville coun-
" in February, 1885, on the body Of negro slave be-
longing to Mr.. Thomas j. Taylor Of that county. The
case was removed first Person county, and then
this county The principal witness this part Of the
prosecution was Mr., William Tillo,son from whose
testimony il appeared that he and Christmas had been
drinking together the night preceding the MURDER and
in the morning, first al Christmas house and then At
rillotsons which were about a mile and quarter
apart. Getting out Of liquor they store some
three Or four milss Off and filed jugs. drinking on
their way hack to Totson's. Alter remaining short
time in the house their TO fillotssns one Of
the children Of rlo,son told him that a negro man
riding up the lane towards the house. Tillotson
went OUT, followed rs Christmas. who seated himself
bench the door The negro, on coming up,
asked flotsOn II he had any stray hogs. Tillot
replied that be had not bu, he could perhaps tell
him where be could find some. Christmas then, adj
dressing the negro. said. Perhaps you want steal
some hogs, as Taylor's Nathan stole nv hogs" The
negro replied, did not steal your hogs. Master 0by,
I only fsi them Christians then asked, Is that
Nsthan I" The negro replied "yes" Christmas then
utierng pfofane exclamation, said to shoe,
you" And pulling out his pistol he fired a, him, but
missed him The horse which the negro sal wheel
Cd parity round, when Christmas fred again and The
negro tel The ground The bali ha.iag penstrlted
his head. TilIOuon then said 70 Christmas, ArsyOa
no, sorry iha, you eSei pistol" The latter re-
piled res. am"
Christmas then deelanng that he must carry away
the holy aud throw !, in the siresm. got upon The
horse. and persuaded Tiloison aid him in getting
IL Up before him. He thsn rode OF towards the stream
distant few hundred yards Tillo,son followed him
a shor space and then turned hack Christmas soon
returned to the house. SAID be had put the body
in the stream, bot had iei kna near it. lie
then ssni TO looking.gsss, said that he had under
stood that when . man commits murder " turns pale
bot TINT he had not changed coor yet. lie staid At
Tihtson's yet short time. snd then returned home.
| Il appears that the night ensuing. he fed with
his family into The State of Virgins, the house Of
his mother distant shout Ten miles. where ne was ar.
rested The next day.
To these facts IS stated BY Toison there was no re-.
bu,,ins testimony offered; and The main defense set Up
plea Of insanity ., the time. induced BY an d.
csssiye use q intoxicating liquor
The trial occupied The whole Of Thursday and Fri.
day, and wa. conducted with marked ability on both
sidcs. The prisoner u.s. defended BY the Hon. vii.
X liam A. Grshsm. and Henry W. Miller. n. W. Ran.
SON. and JOSIAH Turner. j.. Esqr. The prosecution
conducted By the solicitor Thos. Ruin, Esp as.
sisted by the Hon. Edwin G. Rssds and Thoms, B.
vinsble. E-q.
His Honor the Judge committed The rase 70 n. jury
who sa,urd,y morning rendered their verdict. find
ing the prnnsr guilty q murder and he was seaten.
70 he executed on Monday the 81 day Of May.
An sppsal. however. taken, and tn vii %
up v the Supreme Court.
Chrstm.. Is young msn about ,Weu,y.icur year.
old. and II spears ha. been grossly in,emPerate ioi
many yeaia