The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-08
TRIAL OF MARION CROPS
AT TOWSONTOWN,
FOR THE MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER
RIGDON
FIFTH DAY.

RIGDON
FIFTH DAY
! TowsoNTowN, JAN 7, 1859
CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CoUNTY.-Hon John
| II. Price, Judge.
| Richard j. Cuttings ESQ. States Attorney prosecu
ting, assisted by Arthur W. Machen, Esq.
| William 7. Whyte, Esq, counsel for the defence
state u.s. Marion Crops, indicted for the murder of
Robert NJ Rigdon by shooting him with pistol, the
night of the 5th of November last.
On the opening of the Court yesterday morning, Judge
examined to retire from the room Witnesses in all
cases except Crops and Corres discharged until
! Thursday next.
The examination of witnesses for the State was then
resumed
Mr.. Thomas Kennard who had been directly examined
py the State on Thursday evening, recalled and di
rect examination resumed
By Mr. Gittngs.-When Crops told witness to go in
klgdons witness looked in the window and an old
man standing in the store in his shrt-sleeves.
Cross examined by Mr.. Whyte.-Have been in the Su-
perior Court Office since the 10th last Februarysince Mr.
Sangton took charge of the oce Smith and Geddes
on Cherrys corner; did not Stop knew them well;
Crops well; knew he staid about that neighbohood
witness had met Crops frequently, different places
can't say whether ever Crops with pistol; can't
recollect it, might have seen young men in that neigh
borhood with pistols different occasions; have seen
young men with horse pistols in different neghborhood
Rigdons murder the 5th of November; the Nav
| ors election took place time previous.
Mr.. Whyte.-'Was there not what called an cleo
tion for Mayor in 0ctober9"
| Wtness.-"Believe there was Mayor elected them,
Wtness.-Cant say whether he a number Of young
men have horse pistols about that time witness at
tending to his business don't remember any words
as used by Crops in the conversation with Witness wit-
ness here reiterated what he had stated exam
NATION in regard the conversation Bradys cellar
door, that all the conversations when Crops put the
pistol to witness chin witness got it away pos
sb had seen Corrie in the rounda Of the Court House
that day had no conversation with Corrie that day.
muttered something to witness and witness said 'No
didn't see him' witness did not know the old man in
Rlgdon store when witness turned the second time to
look at Crops and Corre he halfway between Rig
dons house and Pine street, don't know whether there
lamp in front of Rigdon's house, could not tell whether
Crops and Corrie had left Rgdons pavement when
turned to look the second they then NOV
ing witness left the Record office that night about
O'Clock, and stopped the Eutaw House pavement ten or
hteen minutes witness was standing the northwest
corner of Pine and Baltimore streets when he saw the
crowd chasing Corre Grahams store is this side of Ship
! ley's tavern
! Mrs. Rigdon recalled by the state-Knows a man
named Butts he resides next door to Witness Butts
IN witness house shortly before the occurrence should
judge about ten minutes Mr. Rgdon was sitting in the
corner and Mr. Butts standing in the between
the rooms talking to witness husband; Mr. Butts went
out but few minutes before Corrie came in the store
By Mr.. Whyte-Did not mention about Mr.. Butts on
direct examination because Butts customer and
being only friendly visit did not think of it. witness
husband had been home three four minutes be-
fore Mr. Butts came in Mr.. Butts in the back
when he first in and at one time with his back
against the manel piece; Mr. Butts stood in the doorway
from five to ten minutes witness would judge that
that long, Mr. Mitchell in the before Mr.. Butts
came in; witness said this the other day.
Mr. Geddes recalled by the Sate-Witness was stand
ing at the lamppos of Green and Baltimore
when the shot was fired; Smith and another young man.
W ho witness did not know with Witness Hilbert
and Champagne were not there then, they had gone
| away.
| Henry Bascom Underwood, sworn.-Live No. 2s Grun-
dy street. between Bdde and Preston streets; was in
West Baltimore street in the neghborhood of Rgdon's
house on the night of the murder; passing Bat
more street and standing at the gate along
of Rgdons house, the west side of the house, man
was dressed in dark cothes witness went to Wshampes
book store, and when witness returned the
there's witness then went to John Butts, furniture store
Weishampes store is between Rgdon's and Pine street.
witness then crossed the street towards Hummes shoe
store, got on the curbstone heard report of pistol
turning around saw two men run out of The gate: The
witness nf adj R;gdo
house; they towards Pine witness saw an Off
Ger run after them witness does NOT know he men wbom
he of the alley; an officer come out of
Jno Blanks the officer towards Pine ST. witness then
went over to Rigdons house; Rigdon laying on the
hoor Rigdon not dead them witness to the
watch house; them fetch in when at the watch
house; did not see these after them running
witness noticed the shooting of pistols the shots up
and down Baltimore street, the shots by the
officer and the man running; witness going down
Baltimore street. from Pearl towards Pine the south
SIDE ana not notice the position of the gate stayed at Weis
hample's about minute Rigdon's is between Weisham-
pies and Butts; stopped at Butts only long enough to
ask for young
Cross examined by Mr.. Whyte-Dd not notice whether
the gate Shut did not notice the at the
gate particularly witness thinks the at the gate had
on cap, don't know what kind of cap Mrs. Butts
opened the door of Butts house for Witness did not see
Mr. Butts it was between and o'clock witness went
| to his sisters house and it not quite O'Clock
that is the witness fixes the time; sisters house is in
Lexington street between Howard and Park witness re-
mained at the watch house little more than five min
ues; the followed by officer he had an off
GERS suit on did notice any others following them.
Hummers shoe store is about doors from Blanks
tavern; both of the who of the gate run
the alley to the pavement together and tho
street. both in the direction towards Pine street
did not notice the dress of the who came from
alley did not notice whether more than one person
out of Blanks; witness standing near the curb
when he saw the men run.
| By Mr.. Gittings-Only man cross the street.
the officer after the who crossed the street. wit
thinks did not notice how far the other
the officer after Blanks side can't tell wheth
er the other left the pavement Rgdons side can't tell
how far he went towards Pine street, did see any one
else come out of the alley did not stay at Rgdon's
minutes; witness is not acquainted with Crops
BY Mr. Whyte Was not before the Grand Jury, nor
| before the Mayor.
By Mr.. Gittings-Was summoned here last Tuesday:
was sick in bed when summoned.
| Hill G. Smith. sworn.-Resde 81 Hollns street. con-
duct branch of New York house, commercial agency
at No I'll Baltimore street. recolect the night of the
murder of Rgdon left place of business that night about
So'cock takes about half hour to go home half
way home was on the south side of Baltimore street.
OF Mr. Blanks house, few strides from it; heard
the report of fire arms; witness looked place
where the report came from and witness two men
emerge from entry adjoining Rgdon's house, ran
in enthusiastically direction and the other stopped
about the aey witness did notice him LONGER after
got past Blanks house. witness officer run out of
Blanks house and pursue the who was running;
proceeded far when the man
turned and fred witness distinctly the bullet wz
past his witness then turned and back to Mr.
Thomas store; witness got into stage and rode mn m
Poppleon street. while witness the stage he saw
crowd coming along with who had handkerchief
tied around his head which bloody; witness thinks
the who fired at the officer had on cap; do not
know either of the prisoners never them till Monday
| last
| from the alley; one remained about the alley.
| By the Court-The remained at the alley but
BY Mr.. Whyte-The man remained near the alley az
| long witness noticed.
By Mr.. Gitngs-Am under the impression the one who
| fired the pistol came out of the alley first.
By the Court-The who came was running
Officer John Cook, sworn-Am a police officer knew
Rgdon and recolect the night murder witness and
officer Higgins started from the watch house after roll
call to go to the theatre got to the Baltimore
and Paca streets; witness did not feel WELL and to
Higgins he would rather go home; Higgins witness
then crossed and went out Baltimore street. went
into Blanks house, had been there two minutes
when witness heard the report of pistol;
met man running in the middle of the street, he got
the pavement and witness followed him; witness was
within twenty feet of him, when the man turned round
and shot Witness witness shot at him aso witness then
pursued him along Baltimore street. down Pine to Ger
man. up German to Penn, down near an alley where
witness and others there caught him; thinks
or two others nut their hands on him at the ime
witness did, witness does not know who had hold
man besides Witness witness knows he had hold of him.
did not know the man then he old witness that his
Peter Corre witness and others took the ps
TO the station house. [Corre here brought up
and identified by witness After witness gave the prs-
in charge of the turnkey he to Rgdons house,
witness the other side of the street, can't
say if he was man or boy; would not like to say what
kind of person it was-might be mistaken; he
ming just got glimpse of him. witness fired four shots
| at the man.
! Crossexamned by Mr. Whyte-The person on the 9th
side in motion, going towards Pine street. he
going faster than walk did where this person
came FROM could not tell how he dressed could
| tell whether he a a boy; the who fired
was dressed in dark clothes can't tell what kind OF cap
he had when he running, he had a glazed
when he captured; witness beat is west of Fremont
street. have known Crops eight years. don't know
his relations with Rigdon witness not before the
Grand jury Crops almost every day when witness
was on the reserve force, that was two years ago.
By Mr.. Gittings.-The who witness was pursuing
going much faster than the person the other side
| of the street.
Officer William Higgins, sworn.-was with officer Cook
on the evening of the 5th November after roll call, in
company with officer Cook, started go the theatre
got far Paca street; concluded not to go; went
| out Baltimore street. and went into Blanks;
there two minutes when witness heard the
of pistol; came out and running, and officer
| Cook and witness Immediately after him; the
turned and fired, either at Cook witness; Cook and
witness chased him down Pine street German, and
along Penn street. when witness and Cook overlook the
man. officer Jamison had laid hands on him; witness did
any else the other side of the street, wit
the watch house with Corrie and afterwards
| to Rigdon's house.
August Watensheidt, sworn.-Reside Baltimore
street. opposite Rgdons; knew Crops; the night of
the murder witness Crops and Corre about min
utes before eight o'clock the opposite side of the
closed his store and few minutes after heard the report
of piso witness then out Of the gate of his house.
and Corre running the street, witness after
him; officer Cook pursued him and passed witness while
witness runnng when witness got to Pine street. he
stopped and turned back and went toward his house,
the of Pine street witness found pistol lying
the pavement it horse pistol; Crops and another
man the street and Crops said gve that
pstol; Crops from the of Pine street and
Baltimore street. where the shoe store is witness the
pistol to Cropps Crops and the other then went
towards Pine street and towards Rabog street.
short with Crops; he dressed in black
the short said if witness wouldn't give the pistol up
he'd knock him. witness said if he knocked him he
would shoot him. before Crops he
hallooed to witness to let that pistol lay; wit
81.