The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-03-27
Democracy Pure and Undeflled.

DtMOCIuCy L uTt huu VuucuACus
The Baltimore American of Tuesday
gives the following account of trial
for murder and its results, which
shows off Rebel Democratic hate for
the colored people in its clearest light.
That a party which endorses and en-.
courages such ruffianism is q disgrace
to the State or any civilized community
we think every reader must agree.
On Christmas Eve last, at Cumber-
land, Md, a gang of ruffians broke into
the Colored Methodist Church in that
city, where Fair was being held by
the members of the congregation, and
without any provocation, murdered a
colored man named Wesley Ross, who
was attending the Fair with his wife
and child. The assassins and their ac-
completes, ultra "nigger haters F" and
active Democratic partisans, were ar,
rested taken before magistrate, and
during their examination deliberately
walked out Of the magistrates Office
The States Attorney had them again
taken into custody, and George w. Stills
and John McGirr were indicted by the
Grand Jury of Allegany county for
murder, and another of the gang, Thos.
Summons, was tried there on the
charge of assault with intent to kill,
but was acquitted. With this fact be,
fore him, and it being evident that jus
tice would not be awarded the alleged
murderers, and fair trial had in Allie
gany, the States Attorney had the
cases of McGirr and Stills removed to
the Circuit Court of Washington coun.
ty where the trial, if such it can be
called, took place last week. The wit.
nesses for the prosecution were nearly
all colored persons, but they had been
eye-witncsses to the tragedy. One
testified to having seen Stills and
McGirr enter the church on the night
of the murder-Sills with knife in his
hand, and McGirr with razor. This
testimony was corroborated by several
persons. Three witnesses, who were
standing in the immediate vicinity OF
the murdered man, testified to having
seen "SiIls cut Ross" and to McGirr
striking him Immediately afterwards
and jumping upon and trampling his
body when he fell to the floor from loss
of blood. Upon this indisputable testi
mony the State rested its case. The
evidence for the prisoners was that
principally of the parties who were en-
gagged in the outrage. They testified
that "a strange man" entered the
church with them, and they saw hin
leave after the murder was accomplish
ed. Of course, they did not know who
the "strange man was. 1t will hard
ly be believed, in the face of positive
testimony as to the guilt of the prison
ers, that a Washington county jury
after thirty minutes elaboration, rem
dered a verdict of mot guilty" ant
let these rufians again loose upor
society. Mr.. David B. Myers (white
testified that previous to the murder hi
met Stills and his gang in the vicinity
of the church, and he heard Stills say
that he would give the black
hell, and he would whip any whit
man who would take up for them !
and after committing the deed, Mrs
Miles (white) testifes that she hear(
Sills boast that he had killed one mig
ger, and he would kill another; hi
would kill them all, one by one, as fas
as they would bring them to him." I
was probably with the idea that TIL
,,nrdorarc u-ould ctill furt har raduc
the colored population of Allegan,
county that their partisans in Washing
ton county set them free. On no othe
ground can we account for their action
The verdict is disgrace to the count.
and the State, and unworthy of tn
DAYS in which we live