Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-27
Especial CorrsspOndenoe OF The Star.l

Especial Correspondence OF The SIar.l
UrrER MARLBORO, PRINcE GEcRsE Cork
TY. Mp., April eeth, IS5e.-EpTroR STAR The
trial OF Henry alias Nimrod Richards for the
murder OF Colonel William LyIes at hts resi-
dence. Auburn" In this county. on the 18th
Of July, Is66, was set for trial in the Circnl,
Court here for to-day and the courtroom
was crowded to overhowing. It will be remsm-
bered that the murder Was committed BY nve
negroes, four Of whom, William Platter. ThOmss
DAVIS, Henry Luckett, and William Jones, were
tried at the September term OF the coart here
last year, and were convicted and sentenced %
into effect on Friday, November ID. fOllowing
In the presence Of a very large number OF per-
sons, including great many from your clay.
The circumstances OF the murder, ~ confessed
by Platter and indorsed a. true By the other
three, - far a. each one was concerned. were
a. follows Platter. with Nimrod Richards aud
Davis on Saturday, July 18th, left Alexandra
In boat and rowed % JOhnsons Spring. (about
i've miles below where Jones and Luckett cot
INTO the boat, aud the i've men proceeded % the
farm Of Mr. Lyles. on Piscstzwsy creek. nearly
opposite Fort Washington, I'm MarylAnd, and
hauled the boat on shore. They then went 70
the house OF Col. Lyles, and Platter Knocked. M.
Lyles opened the door, aud Platter ssked n he
wanted 20 hire any hands. 20 which Mr. Lyles
answered by directing them TO "a quarter near
by, saying they could lodge there, and that he
would answ er them in the morning. They re-
tired, but instead OF going 90 the out-house
pointed out 20 them. laid down on the grass and
agreed that the signal 60 attack the house shOali
be the word Rush." % be given by kichards.
About midnight Richards gave the word. aud
the i've Immediately ran to the door, aud. all
pushing against II, Il was burst open, when three
or four shots were fired by the sSsailants one OF
them resulting in the immediate death Of
Colonel Lyles- Platter stated that there
were three pistols in the party, Rich
ards, Luckeu, and himself having one
each; that they were equally guilty, and that
Richards was the leader OF the party. on their
entering and firing towards the bed Mrs. Lyles
got up, and, supposing that her husband had
escaped, ran out, but was overtaken by the as
sassins and brought back, and they demanded
20 know where the money was, when she, wish
ing another Opportunity 10 escape. offered to
90 TO the kitchen Tor light, but they refused 60
allow her TO 90 except with them, and light
was procured. Mrs. l. succeeded By signs in
making the small servant girl she had run OF
TO give the alarm; and while one OF the party
stood guard over her the others rsnsacked the
house, taking from the secretary from twelve
TO fifteen hundred dollars In Virginia bank
bills, over two hundred dollars in gold.
some silver, bed-clothing, silver spoons, &c.
Mrs. l.. managed TO escape from them, and got
behind large tree and remained there until
the parties left the house with their booty. She
then made her way to the cabin OF q colored
man, some distance on, and sank helpless on the
floor; and he, noticing blood on her clothes, gave
the alarm On some OF the neighbors of the de-
ceased coming 70 the house they found him living
on the floor, with his pistol in his hand. The
only wound ON him was in the right cheek. the
the brain.
Tins horrible murder caused much excitement
throughout that section Of the country; snd
Immediately measures were taken 20
cure the perpetrators, and the ncighbors Of
fered reward of $500 for their arrest. and a re-
ward was also offered by the State. For few
days no clue could be gained; but on the 18th OF
the same month Platter offered sl0 note on the
Old Dominion Bank for sale in that Bank,
| which fact was observed by Mr.. W. II. Mar
bury, and that gentleman followed him, on
leaving the bank, and noticed him stop 10 talk
| with Davis, and also saw him 90 again 70 the
bank with over S1Oo of Virginia money. These
facts were communicated TO Mr.. Hugh Latham.
who AZ that time was Mayor Of Alexandria aud
be detailed officers 70 attend TO the matter.
They soon arrested the entire party with the
| exception of Richards, who succeeded iu elu-
ding the officers until March IS. when. after
having travelled extensively through the North
he was captured, and on his person was
found an old diary, IN which his name appeared.
He was surrendered TO the authorities of
| this State about four weeks ago, and
| after being lodged in the Baltimore jail
] for a week. was brought here on Thursday week
by sheriff FRAZIER Richards in believed to have
been the party i'm this most atrocious murder.
| Before the execution Platter and Davis acknOw-
| ledged that, with man named Frank Dixon,
| they had robbed the house Of the Misses Palmer
the preceding spring, when Platter outraged one
| of the young ladies; also. that with Dixon aud
Richards they robbed a milk near Wash
| ington.
The accused, since his confinement in the Jail
here, has passed most Of his time IN religious
| reading, and seems 20 be broken down by his
long wanderings throughout the North. VIII ich
he says have extended over eleven States aud
the Canadas. lie was baptized i'm the Catholic
Church by Rev. Father Maher yesterday, in the
presence OF the Sheiir, the Clerk of the Court,
lMr. Brooke and others, and appeared 20 be
deeply affected.
PROCEEDINGS IN COURT TO-DAY.
At ten O'Clock this morning the Court con-
vened-Judges Brent, Ford and Magruder on
the bench. The case having been called Judge
Berry and Hon. Daniel Clark. who were as
SsO nod 4nrln 90 lata .
motion for a removal Of the case, for the rea-
sons that the prisoner does not believe he would
have in this court far and impartial trial, and
that he elects that the record of the presentment
and indictment may be transmitted to some
other court, and of a different circuit having
jurisdiction in such cases. The requisite afhda-
Wit accompanied the motion. There was no OBJ
lection to this motion by the States Attorney,
Mr.. George Z. Merrick, as under the constita-
lion of the State a prisoner has the right 20 re-
move his cause on affdavit. TIE Court directed
that the record of the proceeding be sent 20 the
Circuit Court Of Anne Arundel County which
Is now in session. Mr.. Henry Brooke, the Clerk
of the Court, will transmit the record without
delay, and IT is likely that an early day will be
fixed for the trial.
The accused was not brought into court, much
TO the disappointment OF the crowd of specta-
tors assembled from the adjoining county, he
having sworn to the AFFIDAVIT before DIR. Mum
dell, justice OF the peace. The county commis-
sioners, at their meeting this morning, author
lied the States Attorney, Mr.. Merrick, to follow
and prosecute the case, and he therefore will,
with Mr.. Revels, appear at the trial in Annap-
oils, at which Messrs. Berry and Clark. regarded
as the two finest lawyers in Southern Maryland,
will defend the accused.
Richards, after having wandered, as before
stated, over large portion Of the northern
States, arrived In Boston in November last, and
obtained employment a waiter in that city.
About the first of March he was recognized by
q colored man who had known him in Alexan
dria, and the Maryland authorities we're in
formed Of his Whereabouts. Deputy Sheriff e.
w. Hancock, of Baltimore city, was sent to
Boston with arequisition, and on calling on the
chief Of police, ofhcer Hammond WAS detailed
to make the arrest, and on the 18th Of March
he was secured, and by Messrs. hancock and
Hammond brought to Baltimore, and subse-
quently by sheriff Frazier was brought here and
lodged In the Jail, being heavily ironed.
1t ID stated that previous TO his lodgment in
Jail here he confessed the crime, and II was gem
orally believed that had he not been advised
otherwise he would have plead guilty when ar
raigned, and made q full confession. Certain
il Is, that notwithstanding the course he has
taken for the removal Of his trial, he does not
seem hopeful, and h constantly employed in
reading religious books and preparing 70 meet
death. He occupies the middle cell on the sec
ond floor Of the jail and none are allowed 70 see
him without permission; nor, indeed, does he
seem anxious to see any one, except his counsel.
Yesterday, when the sheriff with few friends
ovfa rod bn (ouv. - "a