Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-05-22


were no proceedings of our Circuit Court
since the Last Issue Of our pspcr Of general
public interest up to the commencement
Of the trial Of Thomas jackson on Friday
last.
State W. Thonss Jackson. Indicted
for ID. murder Of James Seo6eid. Jury
Trial. J. Parrsn Crane prosecuting fer
the State. Combs & Downs and James
II. Wilson for prisoner. At the instance
Of the States Attorney. Mr. Crane. the
Court assigned Col. james T. Blackstone
to assist in the prosecution. Jurors put
upon their roir dire aud the following
persons selected to compose the panel =
Francis r. Floyd. james Jones. J. Gvinn
Barber. Charles j. Norris. Stephen Jones.
Robt. T. Barber. J. Alex. Jarboc. Ger.
L Raley. Young p. Dawkins. Geo. w.
Morgan. H. B. Caywood and Zaecbeus
Tippett.
The opening statement for the prosecu-
ton was made by the States Attorney. J.
Parran Crane. who addressed himself to
the consideration oftwo proposi,iops-lr.
was scoicld murdered ? 2ndly. was be
murdered BY jackson In this connee-
ton. the States officer said he expected
to show that Scofeld was alive and in good
health and spirits at 8 o'clock on the night
Of April the 3rd. that at between IL and
3 o'clock his house was discovered to be
in flames and that on the morning Of the
4th his remains were found in the ashes
Of the burnt building. that goods which
belonged to Scofeld. and we're seen in his
store q short time before his murder. were
found in the house Of the prisoner. that
the prisoner sometime before the 3rd Of
April made repeated propositions to par
ties to Join him in ''raid" on Sco6eld.
Offering as inducements that Scoield had
killed q colored man named Thomas. that
he had not been properly punished for it.
that he had plenty Of money, ETC.. and to
one of the witnesses Who had remarked,
that he could not join in the raid because
ho was afraid Scofield would hurt him. the
prisoner replied. that he would make m
easy thing of it BY rapping him up and
striking him over the head as he came to
the door to open it. In conclusion. the
States Attorney stated. that though the
evidence against Jackson was mainly cir
cumstantial, nevertheless it was so closely
connected link by link as to leave no doubt
as to the guilt Of the prisoner. Ifthc
contrary could DO shown, if these facts
could be disapproved or explained away.
no one would be more gra,i6ed than him
self, and he felt sure that it would be a
source of no less qualification to the jury.
The defence waived their right to make
an opening statement, aud the FIRST witness
called for the State was John 7. Slat,ery.
Slattsy testified. that, be knew Sco6eld
we'll. that he left him about half an hour
before sunset on the evening of the 3rd :.
apparently in good health and spirits. that
at half past ~ he was awakened by the
light streaming through his window. look
ed out and discovered the store Of Sco-
field to be on Gre. that he immediately
dressed and ran over to the burning store.
called to Scodeld repeatedly. but receiving
no anwer, he then ran to his (Scofeld' 81
dwelling about hundred yards distan,
and called to his little son who was up and
who told him he saw all but that be could
not leave his little sister who was very
much frightened, that the roof had fallen
in when he first arrived at the store and
that the whole house was then in flames.
that there was no one present when he first
arrived. after short time Drummond and
colored man named Dorsey Joined him,
the windows were closed, thinks the door
was shut. could not &c. near the building
in consequence Of the intense heat. re-
manned until the building had fallen in,
went home. returned early in the morning i,
Drummond and Dorsey left short time
before he did. saw in the morning the re-
mains Of a human being among the ashes,
Drummond pointed them out to him, saw
the cash drawer which he recognized a.
that of Scofeld's. this vas found on the
east side Of the door behind hogshead
and within 4 short distance of the door,
the drawer was badly scorched and burned
BY Defence. Could not see inside the
house when he arrived.
Francis NJ. Goddard called By the State.
on his way from Leonard Town to his
home called at Sco6eld's store for his mail
on the night Of the Srd about 8 o'clock,
saw .Scofeld. found him weil, be was lean
ing on his counter engaged in reading or
writing. witness asked for his mail, Sco-
field gave il to him. there was no one in
the store except deceased.
BY Defence. Thinks Scofeld slept up
stairs. was very cautious about opening bis
store after retiring for the night, never had
seen the prisoner at the store.
BY the State. When be saw the lock
OF the door the next morning the bolt was
back. Seo6eld generally sat up late read
ing or writing.
John s. Drummond called BY the State.
lives near Sco6eld's. saw him about 8 o.
clock on the night Of the 3rd. was in good
health and spirits. was awakened at q late
hour the same night BY a colored man
named Dorsey Who told him Scofeld's
store was on Gre. they Immediately wen,
over, found Slatsery alone a. the burning
building. staid some time. then left. re-
turned the next morning. saw the remains
OF human being. they were Immediately