The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-03-29
MURDER TRIAL.


presiding. On Thursday Obadiah Christmas was
put upon his trial for murder committed In Gran
willie county in February, 1853 on the body OF
negro slave belonging to MIR Thomas j. Taylor, OF
that county, The case removed first to Per-
son county, and then to this county. The princl-
pal witness on the part of the prosecution was MIR
William Tillotson; from whose testimony 1t ap-
peared that he and Christmas had been drinking
together the night preceding the murder, and In
the morning first at Christmas house and then at
Tillotson's, which was about mile and 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 Tiilotsons. After
remaining short time In the house. on their return
to Tillotson's, one of the children of Tiotson told
him that negro man was riding up the lane to-
wards the house. Iillotson went out, followed by
Christmas who seated himself near the door. The
negro, on coming up asked Tiiotson if he had seen
any stray hogs. Tillotson replied that he had not
but he could perhaps tell him where he could find
some. Christmas then, addressing the negro said,
perhaps you want to steal some hogs, as Taylor
Nathan stole my hogs The negro replied, 81
did not steal your hogs Master Oby, only ted
them" Christmas then asked, sis that Nathan:
The negro replied eyes" Christmas then utter
ing prOtane exclamation, said, II mean to shoot
you" And pulling out his pistol he tired at him.
but missed him. The horse which the negro
sat wheeled partly round, when Christmas tred
again. and the negro fell to the ground, the ball
having penetrated his lead. Tillotson then SAID
to Christmas, care you not sorry that you ever
saw pistol?" The latter replied Eyes | am
Christmas then declaring that he must carry
away the body and throw it in the stream, got upon
the horse and persuaded Tlotson to aid him in
getting it up before him. He then rode off to-
wards the stream distant few hundred yards.
Tillotson followed him short space and then turn
ed back Christmas soon returned to the house;
said he had not put the body in the stream, but
had left it on a knoll near to it. He then went to
looking glass, said he had understood that when
a man commits murder he turns pale; but that he
had not changed color yet. He staid at Tillotsons
yet a short time, and then returned home.
1t appears that, 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.
To these facts as stated by Tiotson there was
no rebutting testimony offered; and the main de-
Tense set up plea of insanity at the time, in
duced by excessive use 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,
NJ W. Ransom, and Joseph Turner, jr., Esqrs
The prosecution was conducted by the Solicitor
Thos. Rufin, Esq, assisted by the Hon. Edwin g.
Reade and Thomas B. Ven.ble, Esq.
His Honor the Judge committed the case to the
jury, who on Saturday morning rendered their YER
diet, 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
will 90 up to the Supreme Court.
Christmas is young man about twenty-four
years old, and it appears has been grossly intern
pcrate for many years.-Hilsboro Recorder
A Hilsborough correspondent of the Petersburg
Express, speaking of the trial, says:
The main defence Of the prisoner was insanity.
One ground taken by the prisoners counsel for
new trial is this-that the Judge excluded evil
dence to show that number of the blood relations
were insane and that it was hereditary in his fami-
ly. There were other grounds which is unneces-
sary to state.
This trial caused as much interest, and elected
as fine display of ability and eloquence, as any
that has taken place in the State for many years.
The Judge declared, in opening his charge, that
he had never heard ADLER arguments, and fairer
display of skill and eloquence, than had marked
both the prosecution and the defence "No North
Carolinian," said he, could have heard the argu-
ments without feeling proud of his State. ~