Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-04-29
.JUNIUS.
The Black Mckaig Case.

This case was brought to termina-
ton last Friday evening by the acquittal
of the prisoner. The evidence on both
sides was closed on Wednesday, and on
Thursday morning the argument of
counsel commenced. Mr. Frank Bren-
gle States Attorney, opened, followed
by Attorney General Jones, both of
whom delivered very able arguments.
At the conclusion of the latter gentle
mans remarks, Mr. Fred J. Nelson
opened on the part Of the defence and
spoke several hours, who was followed
by Mr.. Price, who consumed about one
hour in the delivery Of his remarks, and
was followed by Mr. Syester, of Hagers-
town, in a speech of several hours
length when the Court adjourned. On
Friday morning the argument was con-
tinued by Mr.. Voorhees,, ofIndiana, who
made the closing speech for the defense.
He spoke about three hours and was lis
tened to with deep attention by the i'm
mense throng of spectators The court
room was filled to overlooking. The
people began to assemble in the room at
eight o'clock, and by nine clock, every
available nook and corner was occupied
by eager spectators AT the close Of
Mr.. Voorhees, remarks, Mr.. Whitney,
of Baltimore, closed the case on the
part of the State, but as he was some
what indisposed, he only spoke about
two hours. He made an elaborate ar
gument, reviewing all the evidence in
detail, and arguing therefore that the
prisoner had been guilty of premedita-
ted murder At the conclusion of Mr.
Whitney's remarks the jury retired, and
in few minutes thereafter, they order
ed dinner, from which it was inferred
that it would require sometime to agree
upon a verdict, but this proved an error
as the most of the jurors had made up
their minds before they left the box.
After an absence of about an hour and
thirty minutes, the jury returned with
the verdict The great mass of the
spectators had not left the court room,
and those who were standing in the
yard, made a rush for the hall when
they heard that the verdict was about
to be announced A death-like silence
now prevailed. The Court cautioned
the crowd against any demonstrations
of applause or of disapprobation, but
added that "the popular feeling is some
times hard to restrain" When the usu-
al forms were gone through with, the
clerk, addressing the jury, asked the
foreman the following question ''Do
you find the prisoner guilty of the mat
ter whereof he stands indicted ? to
which the response mot guilty" was
given, which was the signal for tremen-
dous applause by the spectators. Judge
Maulsby attempted to suppress this out
break of feeling, but the crowd, forget
ting where they were, kept on cheering
in spite of the remonstrance of the
Court. The prisoner embraced his mo-
ther, who threw herself into his arms.
When the embracing and hand shaking
were gone through with, Black and his
mother left the Court House, followed
by large crowd, for the City Hotel, the
people cheering and congratulating them
as they passed along. Thus has most
exciting trial been disposed of after con-
Stunning ten days, and upon which be-
tween a hundred and seventy and eighty
witnesses were summoned, although on
" about forty of them were examined.
The case of the State VS.. Black, father of
Harry Crawford Black, indicted for
shooting W. w. McKaig with intent to
KILL was, by consent of counsel, continued
till next term.-Frederick Eramlner.
Hon. Thomas F. Marshall, one of the
brightest intellects that Kentucky ever
Il q IL 49, MA. lo..