The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-14
BLOCK -MKAIG HOMICIDE
A Tragedy Enacted I'm Mary
land.
Trial OF II. O. Block for ehooting thu seducsr d
HIS sistar--Eall Account Of the. Deod-social
Standing Of the HON: eide and His Victim
The Town Ablaso With Excl .emsnt-
Scenes In the Court-Adjournment

Dccn Tor tile past day or TWO greatly disturbed by
an influx Of strangers who were drawn hlther By
the approach or the trial OF Harrison Crawford
Block for the murder OF Colonel w. w. McKaig, OF
Cumberland, Md. No such case as this has ever
before occupied the attention Of the courts OF tho
State OF Maryland and rarely has such one been
before the judicial tribunals OF any State. Tha
case OF Daniel Mcfarland, tried for the murder OF
Richardson, In New York, does not eclipse this on8
In interest or Importance.
Both parties arc of the most prominent and IN
1uential fam lies In the State 10th were universally
respected where known, and some OF the finest legal
talent In the country is engaged both to prosecute
ana DEFEND The facts Of the killing as published
In the HERALD at the time the deed was committed
may be With profit recounted here
THE MURDER
On Monday the 18th day OF last October at an eariy
hour In The morning, Colonel Mcla,g was going to
his place ofbusiness. he was met on Baltimore street.
the principal thoroughfare Of the city OF Cumber-
land, by Mr.. Block ana shot dead; i've shots were
discharged at him, three OF winch took effect. Az
ter McKaig iell Block ran over to wnere he Kay and
finding him dead withdrew, eycairaipg to those who
had gathered around, II have killed this man. who
ruined my sister, and have a charge for aay one
vino does not justify the act" declaration which
reveals the alleged cause for which he had committed
the deed. He then went Immediately and gave HIM
ted co jail, where he has since been.
At tho october terra Of this court which was then
sitting, the Grand Jury iound a bill OF lndictmens
against him, but owing to Illness or his sister the
case was continued I'D the January term. AT that
term IL was called and the trial proceeded with 30
lar as to draw jury, when the prosecution moved
change OF venue to this city, which was granted.
THE WITHIN,
Colonel w. w. McKaig, Jr, was the son of Hon. w.
". McKaig and the nephew OF Hon. Thomas J. Nc
Kaig, both Of whom are well known as among the
most prominent, wealthy and influential citizens Of
the State OF Maryland. lie was when Killed, nearly
thirty years o. age lie was largely engaged I'm
manufacturing at Cumberland, and enjoyed to such
q degree the esteem and confidence OF the commu-
nifty that all the business houses in the place were
closed on the day of his funeral and draped In
mourning.
Harrison CRAWFORD Block, is the son OF L. D. Block
On old and respected citizen or Cumberland, and
near relative Of the late Hon. J. Dixon Roman and
Hon. J.Pnip Roman, both OF whom were when
living, recognized rs among the foremost leaders in
the political and financial affairs OF the State. Nc
Is recognized as young man of fine attainments
end IL universally respected By AL who know him.
weight OF years has rested lightly on NH his pow row ana
he does not look to be over twenty Of medium
height rather sght in frame, and IS in all respects
what the world would call handsome. He has q
proiusion OF rch black hair and eyes OF the same
color; clear, frank, manly countenance that de-
than ordinary intelligence. lie dresses with taste,
and every movement is Indicative or the digniHed
gentleman that lie ls. He was at the time the decd
was committed. and still il, the superintendent OF
the Franklin Coal Company, OF Piedmont, West Vir.
months the company nave not and viii no. iii nis
place. and the operations OF the company are car.
red on IN his name he signing the necessary papers
the social standing OF both parties was unexcep-
tlonable, while Colonel McEaig was surrounded
with influences that luxury or wealth commands
blessing young Iilaek did not enjoy. save In very
limited degree. Yet the same society that sought
the one welcomed the o,icr, and the same place Of
worship that knew one honored The other also.
AS We stated at the beginning OF this correspond
ence this IL remarkable case, and great interest
Is manifested in 1t. Two hundred witnesses nave
been summoned, and proninenl men from all parts
OF the State are mere TO listen to It, IL Is estimated
that Of least Ave thousand people VIII be In attend
ance upon the trial Among the Witnesses upon
bo;n sides appear the names OF men prominent In
OPENING OF THE COURT
AT ten minutes TO ten O'Clock the bain Of tho
court commanded silence, and moment after the
judges appeared and took their seats the court 70
composed OF three judges-one Chief Justice ana
the Chief Justice, aud Hon: ". Neris Bowie, OF 1ars
roll, The adjoining county. and Hon. John A. Lynch,
nized as gentlemen OF nne legal attannents, ana
men who have for years been classed
the ssa aer legal oses q had g seoos
seated the prisoner came In with tile Sheriff aud at
tended BY his father. LIE was neatly dressed In .
full suit or dark Clothes and looked none the worse
for The SIX months confinement he had undergone.
After he became seated several friends came for
ward ana shook hands with him. AT precisely ten
O'Clock the counsel on both sides came in ana took
their respective POSITIONS and the array OF legal Ia
the most formidable that has been gathered for .
similar purpose anywhere In shls country for long
time. For the prosecution are Hon. Isaac d. joined,
Attorney General Tor the State Of Maryland: Hon.
Milton Whitney, OF Baltimore; recognized as one OF
Mir. Francis Brenglc State Attorney, Of Frederics
county, aud Mr.. Semmea Attorney for Allegheny
county, where tho deed was committed.
II. nf
Indiana, whose reputation as an advocate and law
yer IS second to no mans In hits country; MIR. An
drew X. Syester, HaQerstOwn. Nd, whose fine
attanments in ali the departments OF tho law, espc-
ciaily upon the criminal side, arc well known;
fne position ana practice and William Price and
Lloyd Lowndes, Of Cumberland. men OF marked
seated Judge ManIsbY asked II tho counsel wero
ready for trial Mr. Brengle, state Attorney replied
that the state were, and Mr.. Nelson signifed tho
readiness Of the defence.
THE JURY.
1t ten minutes after ten O'Clock the Judge or
was called, ana after being sworn the usual quss-
lions as to whether he had formed or expressed an
whether he. had any conscientious scrupes to
capital punishment or not were propounded and re-
Clerk commanded the Jurors to Hook upon the
prisoner at the bar" AS each turned his eyes
ansed on V ether SIDE by his Counsel they were met
by the piercing black eyes OF tho prisoner with u
steady and searching gaze as \ trying 70 divine sIs
ton to the al-absorbing topic In his own.
First one was called and rejected by the defence;
then another for having formed an opinion, and q
third was accepted and sworn In, and 30 on until
the regular panel OF twenty. flour was exhausted.
Out OF the twenty.fOur nine had been accepted ana
sworn as jurors, three discharged for having
formed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence
OF the prisoner, four because OF sickness ana
eight mad been challenged BY the defence. The
Attorney General then asked that the Court draw
from the box the names necessary to complete tho
panel, instead OF directing the Sheriff to summ0ns
taesmon, rs usual. the Court 10 ordered and the
necessary names were drawn, when the court, -
two p. NJ, adjourned until tomorrow morning AZ
nine O'Clock, TO enable the Sheriff 70 summon
those drawn. Tonight the excitement seems on
the Increase, all classes discussing the PROBABLE
result OF the trial. and the town u filled with
strangers. Tho evening trains brought large
increase Of spectators aud special train was run
10 this point for the accommodation OF the people.
Telegranls are being hourly received by the hotter
PROJECTORS asking for rooms, ana NAM rooms have
will DO on trial at least two weeks, and colIpeto
synopsis OF each days proceedings Will be furnished