Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-06-12
The Maryland Homicide.

correspondent of the Baltimore Sun, writ
ing from Belair, Hartford county, aryland,
May 9th, says:
The trial of Miss Martha J. Cairness, for the
murder of Nicholas McComas, her alleged Sc
ducer, the 10th of April last, at Jarrettsville,
commenced here yesterday
The first witness called John Ware, who
testified that he had been acquainted with Nc
Comas, but not with Miss Cairness though he
knew her by sight. While at Jarrettsville on the
10th of April, he saw her cross the bar-room
and come rapidly to the door, looking upon the
porch where he and McComas both were the
latter was about ten feet to the right of the
door, and Miss Cairness, leyelng a revolver
which she held in her hand, fred in the direction
of McComas; then, stepping backward, and ap-
parently preparing to fire again, said '' Gen
tlemen, you all know what it's done for :" did
not know McComas was shot witness told Nc
Comas to run, but he staggered backward
catching hold of an upper right of the porch !;
he grew pale, his eyes glazed and be soon had
the appearance of dying man Miss Cairness
advanced and fired q second time, when Nc
Comas fell off the porch, and while he was ly-
ing upon the ground she fred two more shots at
him; she then passed into the bar-room; wit
ness helped to take McComas up; they carried
him into the house, but never heard him speak
after the firing commenced it was found that
one ball penetrated the left breast, near the
heart, and another the upper portion of the
thigh.
Several very respectable citizens testified to
the former amiable character and good re2uta-
tion of the prisoner. The testimony of her
mother is interesting:
Knew Nicholas McComas for seven years he
was engaged to be married to my daughter; ap-
piled formally to me for my consent to the en-
gagement. McComas was received into the fam
lily as An accepted sutor; dresses made
up and other preparations made for the mar
riage; no time was set /; McComas put it off on
various frivolous pretexts from time to an
other; McComas finally appointed a day in No.
vember last for the marriage, but came
to the house afterward my daughter suffered
much distress of mind in consequence of this
action wept and shed tears ; witness daughter
is the mother of child McComas
of the fact when he last promised to
marry her. witness inquired of McComas what
be was going to do he said it was all his
fault; that he would take care of her; witness
said: You marry her, and will take care of
her ;" McComas said, g Don't you blame Mar
tina Jane !" l said, 81 will not throw her out of
doors; finally he promised to marry her on the
next Thursday his calculation was to 60 to
Baltimore and be married, but he never came,
and Martha Jane sat up until four o'clock, wait
ing for him, and then went to bed weeping; she
was confined on the first day of January last !;
DR.. Martin Jarrett attended her there was a
wedding dress and a wedding ring, and it is on
her finger there now.
Another letter writer says;
Miss Cairness is quite engaging, some say
pretty, in appearance. Her figure is exceedingly
slight. She is rather tall; has q small face,
regular in outline, light complexion, dark eyes
and hair, and possesses quiet modest express
ion, which is in keeping with her general de-
meanor. 1t will not be deemed carrying details
too far when, for the sake of more perfectly por-
traving her personnel, it is remarked that her
physical weight, according to her own testimony
in casual conversations with friends, does hoi
exceed ninety-seven pounds. Such points of OBJ
servatons might be deemed tri1ng under ordi
nary circumstances, but it is well to take advant
age of even little things to correct erroneou:
impressions which had originated in this case
among hearsay attestators 1t is reported by
some who have even seen her, but who cannot
resist the impulse to invest the lady with heroic
attributes, that she is of quite a muscular frame
very resolute, and naughty in appearance, and
quite fitting character for just such tragedy
as that in which an unhappy fate has involved
her. During her nominal Imprisonment at the
Glenn House, Miss Cairness has had the com
panionship Of her widowed mother most of the
time and has been called on by her brother and
other relatives and friends. The family, which
has always been in excellent circumstances, and
enjoyed the respect and esteem of the commu
nifty, still possesses its hold upon the hearts o.
its friends, rather strengthened. if possible, BY
the afiicton into which it has been plunged.
A dispatch from Baltimore, dated May 9Th
says the trial was concluded on the evening o.
the sth instant. The jury after an absence o.
five minutes, brought in a verdict of q moi
guilty"