The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-20
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune. /
HORRIBLE AFFAIR In DELAWARE

w
GEoRGETowN, Del, Aug. 15.-On last Sunday
evening most diabolical murder was committed
In TINS county (Sussex), near St. Johnstown, the
victim being young white girl aged fourteen
years, the daughter of Zachariah Griffith, a highly
respectable farmer of the neighborhood. The per
petrator of the iendsh act was a mulatto bow,
eighteen years old, bound to Daniel Curry and in
the service OF Mr.. Lord.
1he 1acts OF the case, as developed at the Coro-
ner's inquest held on Monday evening and Tuesday
morning are these:
Miss Griffith, with young female friend were
walking out on Sunday afternoon at about five
O'Clock; In their walk they passed Mr.. Lords
mouse, in which there was no one save the mulatto
boy; ne regarded the girls very attentivey as they
passed, and smiled at them. Miss Griffith having
accompanied her friend short distance toward the
home of the latter, left her. and started IN return
to her own home.
AS she was walking along the path this negro
emerged from the woods carrying a stick in his
hand; he Immediately approached her, gave her
DoW over the head with the stick, seized her by
the arm with one hand, and applied the other to
her throat, retaining his hold till she fell, after
which he attempted to violate her person. In the
meantime, he had tied strong string around her
throat, and had drawn it sufficiently tight to in
duce strangulation; he dessted from his heIlsh
purpose after having discovered that his victim
dead. In order to conceal the evidence of his afro
cious deed for the time being at least he dragged
the body about hundred and fifty yards, and
threw it into ditch in which the water was foot
deep. The attack upon the girl was so sudden and
severe that she had little opportunity to resist not
word was spoken by either during the affair ac-
cording to the negros statement
- Inc Coroner, Faucet, of this town, was sent tor
He went, accompanied by his Deputy, Barker A
Jury was summoned, together with witnesses, and
Drs Sadler, Cahill, Prettyman and Purcell. Suspi-
clons az once had attached to the negro, who was
the only person seen in the neighborhood at the
time. The body of the murdered girl was found
within an hour after the occurrence. A post NOR
tenn examination was held. Two or three severe
wounds were found upon her head, her face was
scratched the impressions of fingers were seen upon
the throat, string was drawn tightly about the
neck, marks OF violence were seen upon her person.
and her clothes were badly torn. The negro with
three others, was arrested and brought before the
Coroner, and the first was severely questioned At
the examination Monday evening nothing definite
was elected, but the suspicious about the neoro's
guilt in the minds of the jurors became more con-
hrmed when the negro refused, on the request of
Deputy Barker, to touch the corpse. The jury in
sisted that the negro should touch the BODY bnt he
obstinatey persisted in his refusal evidently being
acquainted with the popular superstition reg gardne
the touch of the victim by the murderer causing
wounds to bleed aresh.
On the following morning, as the inquest was as
sembllng, the negro was informed by one of the
persons present that he would be obliged 10 put
his hand on the body of the deceased-that the
inquest would compel him to do it. This fright
ened the negro to such a degree that be promised
to disclose ALL if they would not compel him to
touch the body. Accordingly, he made a clean
oreast OF it, giving the facts above stated. We
nave seen his evidence, and 1t shows most devil
1sh purpose upon his part. A verdict in accord
% ance with the testimony was brought in 1t was
with the greatest difficulty that the crowd was
prevented from lynching him, and had there been
any uncertainty as to his receiving his deserts,
mob law would have been enforced There were
many who insisted on hanging him Immediately,
out Judgment finally prevailed over excitement,
and the Coroner was suffered to bring him to iail
in Georgetown. 80 Fpf
y, 10 Corn SPEouLAroRs.-The st. Louis Evening
Nsios suggests to spectators who may be inclined
TO venture largely in for the Southern MARKET
nnder the idea that there is to be great dearth
there, that it will prove grevious delusion and
may be disastrous to their fortunes. ''There will
De some scarcity-enough to give healthy activity
TO the trade-nothing more Missouri has planted
this year, it is said, fifty per cent. more corn than
ever before. Some of it is cut Short but the great
est crop ever made stands on the ground. Illinois
boasts that she could feed the South for year. and
the officers of the Land Department of the Illinois
Central Railroad, who have excellent facilities for
the collection of data estimate that the corn crop
OF Illinois this year will exceed some hundred mil
lions of bushels" Many of the Southern papers
Inclined to dstrust the reports of scarcity of
corn in that region, although it seems certain thst
the crop will he small. ~