The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-02-27
THE SAM BROWN MURDER,
Trial Of Jerry Knight at Wash
ington, Pa. =.
His Conviction Probable.
Full History Of the Case.
From The Paper.
Facts about the Homicide.

! Facts ABOUT the Homicide.
WASHINGTON, Pa, February "a
About the first Of July last, the people
residing in West Middlesex and vicinity
were Mortified at the dead body Of a
well known negro, named Sam Brown,
floating in Cross creek, small stream
a mile or so north OF the borough, bear
ing upon it conclusive evidence that he
had been the victim Of most brutal
murder. Two holes were discovered on
the head, which had no doubt been
made by bullets, and the back Of the
head was crushed In to such::an extent
that, as the physician who made the
post norton examination expressed it,
both clenched hands of man could
have been easily inserted in the wound.
The body was first discovered by some
boys who were SEEMING in the creek, and
from its decaying condition, had evil
IDENTIFY been dead fors some time. Brown
was very dark negro, but by some sim
gular process the body was found to
have become almost white. No diff
Guilty, however, was had in identifying
the body by the contents OF the pockets
and mark on one Of his arms.
AS might well be supposed, The dis
covery OF this fearful murder in their
midst, produced the greatest excitement
in that neighborhood. Efforts were at
once instituted to ferret out, and, if pos
sible, bring the guilty party or parties
to justice. A jury of inquest was i'm
panneled by justice Mcclure, and a
number Of persons examined.
1t was soon ascertained that Brown
had been missing about week before
the finding of his dead body. TWAS in
evidence that he and his wife had had
frequent quarrels, growing out of the
notorious criminal intimacy between
her and several colored men in that vi
cinity. 1t was also shown that threats
to kill Sam had been made by his wife
and two of her paramours, named John
Fullem and Jerry Knight. Various
circumstances seemed to point with I'M
erring certainty towards these three per
sons as the guilty parties. They were
accordingly arrested and committed to
the Washington Jail for trial. Elizabeth
Brown, daughter Of the murdered
man, about eighteen years Of age, was
also committed to Jail as an important
witness for the commonwealth.
Trial and Conviction OF the Wife.
At the December term Of the Wash
ington County Court, Emily Brown, the
wife, was placed upon trial for partic-
ipating in the butchery of her husband,
and after tedious investigation, lasting
some four days, during which time a
vast amount of testimony, nearly all OF
circumstantial character, was intro
duced, she was convicted 10y the Jury
Of murder in the second degree, and
sentenced by the court to confinement
of eight years and four months in the
Western penitentary. Mrs. Brown al
ways denied her guilt, but said she be-
lieved that the killing was done by
Knight; she also expressed her belief
that Fullem was innocent.
At the trial Of Mrs. Brown the Com
monwealth was represented by Zanthus
Bentley, Esq, District Attorney, and
Crumrine and Patterson. The prisoner
was defended by NJ. l. A. McCracken
and Marcus Acheson, Esqs.
Trial Of knight.
At the opening Of the Court on Tues
day morning last, Jerry Knight was
placed upon trial. Messrs. Nankirk
and Cow appeared for the prisoner, hav-
ing been assigned by the Court at the
December term, and Crumrine, Patter-
son and Bentley for the Commonwealth.
After the usual preliminaries, a jury was
selected without much difficulty. The
case was opened by Mr.. Patterson in a
brief speech, and the examination of
the witnesses commenced.
At this time (Friday morning) the
Commonwealth closed its side OF the
case. Mr.. Vankirk opened on the part
of the defense. 1t is agreed by those
who have watched the progress of the
trial that a very strong case has been
made ont, and that conviction of muir.
der in the first degree is highly proba'
ble. A verdict will most likely he
reached tonight.
Jerry Knight, the prisoner who seems
to be in such immediate peril, is large,
hurley, coal black negro, apparently
about thirty-fve or forty years OF age.
He appears to have had tolerably fair
reputation at West Middletown until
his conduct with Browns wife became
public. He is Of very low order of in
tellect, and has never yet seemed to
realize the peril in which he is envel.
oped. Since his Imprisonment his own
talk has, perhaps, furnished the prose
cution with its best evidence.
Still Another Trial.
TIE trial OF his alleged participant in
the killing, John Fullem, will be com
menced Immediately after the conclu,
sion Of the present case. This prisoner
is about the same age, or perhaps, a
little older than Jerry Knight. He is
represented as very cunning, shrewd
rascal. Since his incarceration he has
been extremely cautious about his con.
versation with persons about the jail
1t is understood that he Will attempt to
prove an abb, and for that purpose has
brought quite a number Of witnesses
from Florence, in the northern part o.
the county, to prove that he was al
work in that vicinity on the day on
which it is believed the murder was
committed, and consequently could moi
have been present at the commission Of
the deed