The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-06-04
For The Cecil Wing.
The Trial and Conviction Of Harris and
Thompson.

The cases of George Harris and Ben Thompson alias
Ben Bolt indicted for the murder of Alexander Russum
at Back Creek in this county, the 2Sth day of Dec.
last finally concluded on Wednesday, May 18TH by
the of Harris to be hung and of Bolt to cig
teen years in the peDitcntary.
The removed to Hartford county and the
prisoners taken there Monday the ID of May
On account of the absence of witnesses the cases
delayed for some days. but on Thursday morning, the
9Th inst, Ben Bolt placed in the DOCK and after
demurrer to the Indictment which demurrer was over
ruled by the Court-Juges Graso and Bateman prcsid
ing-the prisoner plead not guilty. The State was rep
resented by P. H. Rutedge, States Attorney for Har-
ford; Noble 7. Biddle, States Attorney for Cecil and
Wm J. jones' who had been assigned assist the pros
ecuton, by the Court in Cecil at the instance of the
County Commissioners. Henry ". Archer and james
b. Groome appeared as counsel for the prisoners.
The testimony substantially as published in THE
WING soon after the affair took place The prisoners
counsel in their opening statement to the jury declared
their purpose to show that Bolt of unsound mind
but nothing of the sort was seriously attempted and
their principal efforts directed to reduce the offence
to degree of homicide below murder in the first
degree. The argument in the was closed on Satur-
day evening, the 9TH, about eight o'clock and the jury
remained out until Monday morning. and returned with
verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree.
The trial OF Harris was commenced the afternoon
of Monday the 9th The evidence nearly the same
that in Bolts except the proof of the previous
threats of Harris to kill Russum; his attempt to do
ten days before his persuasion of Bolt remain at his
store and help him to commit the murder and his sue
loaded only with powder and paper. 1t doubtful
of more deliberate cowardy, and brutal murder
was ever proven in court of justice
Harris defended by Albert Constable W. H. Young
and Robert r. Nandver; and the jury retired Thursday
evening, about four o'clock and early Friday morning
sent the baf for the Judges and rendered verdict of
murder in the first degree, about nine o'clock.
A motion Immediately made for a new trial which
after various posponements finally argued on Mon
day and Tuesday of last week by W. H. Young and II
W. Archer for Harris and W. j. Jones for the State
Mr.. Archer in speech of two hours marked will,
all his great ability strongly urged trial mainly
the ground that of the jurors over sxtyfye
years age and that there had been defects and rreg-
arites in the drawing of the jury The Court reserved
its decision until Wednesday morning. and then over
ruled the motion in able opinion. which carefully
took up and considered all the points in the case In
the of his remarks, Judge Grason said that in
view of the fact that the prisoner had been found guilty
of an offence for which his life had been forfeited he had
most carefully considered the notion and if he could
have doubted for instant that the verdict had not
done complete justice, he would have granted Il new
trial But had been proved that the prisoner had pre-
meitated the murder for nearly weeks had planned
with Bolt for its preparation had sought the quarrel
with drunken man. and urged it until he succeeded
getting Russum to fire pistol, which Harris knew was
loaded only with powder and paper and then made this
the excuse for numbering him.
Soon after the delivery of this opinion, the prisoners
were brought into Court and sentenced Bolt con-