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

4 II
public interest up 10 tie commencement
If the trial Of Thomas jackson on Friday
last.
State vs.. Thomas Jackson. Indicted
for the murder Of James Sco6eld. Jury
Trial. j. parran Crane prosecuting for
| the State. Combs & Downs and James
III. Wilson for prisoner. At the instance
of the States ATTORNEY. Mr.. Crane. the
Ccnrt assigned Col. James T. Blackstone
20 nssis. in the prosecution. Jurors put
I upon their roir dire and the following
persons selected to compose the panel -
Francis F. Floyd. James Jones. j. Gwinn
Barber. Charles j. Norris. Stephen Jones.
Robt. J. Barber. J. Alex. Jarboc, Geo.
l. Ralcy. Young y. Dawkins. Geo. w.
Morgan. II. b. Caywood and Zaccheus
Tippett.
The opening statement for the prosecu-
ton was made by the States Attorney. ].
Psrran Crane, who addressed himself to
the consideration oftwo proposiiions-1s',
was Scofeld murdered ? BADLY. was he
murdered By Jackson ? In this connec-
tion, the States officer said he expected
to show that Scofeld was alive and in good
health aud spirits at Q o'clock on the night
Of April the 3rd. that ut between IL and
8 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 Seofeld. and were seen in his
store short time before his murder, were
found in the house Of the prisoner. that
the prisoner sometime before the Bird of
April made repeated propositions to par
ties to join him in "raid' on Sco6eld.
offering rs inducements that Sco6eld had
killed colored man named Thomas. tina.
he hal 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
no was afraid Sco6eld would hurt him. ii e
prisoner replied. that be would make an
easy thing of it BY rapping him up and
striking him over the head rs he came to
the door TO open it. In conclusion, the
States Attorney stated. that though the
evidence against Jackson was mainly cir
cumstartial, nevertheless it was so closely
connected link by link as to leave no doubt
as TO the guilt Of the prisoner. Ifthc
contrary could be shown, il these facts
could be disapproved or explained away.
no one would be more gratiied than him
self, and he felt sure that it would be a
source o! no less qualification to the jury.
The defence waived their right to make
an opening statement. and the first witness
called for the State was John T. .Slat.ery.
Sla,tery testified. that he knew Scofeld
well. 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 II he was awakened BY the
light streaming through his window. look
ed out and discovered the store "f SEQ
fed to be on fire. that nc Immediately
dressed and ran over TO the burning store,
called to Scofield repeatedly. but receiving
no anwcr. he then ran to his (Sco6eld's)
dwelling about a hundred yards distant
and called to his little son who was up and
who told him he saw all but that he could
not leave his little sister who was very
much frightened, that the roof had fallen
in when he first arrived at the store ard
that the whole house was then in flames.
that there was no one present when he first
arrived, after short time Drummond and
q colored man named Dorsey joined him,
the windows were closed, thinks the door
was shut, could not get near the building
in consequence of the intense heat, re-
manned until the building had fallen in,
went home. returned early in the morning.
Drummond and Dorsey left short tune
before he did, saw in the morning the re.
mains of human being among the ashes,
Drummond pointed them out to him. saw
the cash drawer which he recognized as
that of Scofeld's. this was found on the
east side Of the door behind a hogshead
and within a short distance of the door,
the drawer was badly scorchcd and burned.
BY Defence. Could not sec inside the
house when he arrived.
Francis VI. Goddard called BY tho State.
on his way from Leonard Town to his
home called at Scofcld's store for his mail
on the nj ght cf the 3rd about 9 o'clock,
saw SSnSefd. foGnd him we'll. he was lean
inynp his counter engaged in reading or
wftifc.kwi,ncss asked for his mail. Sco-
field gave i, to him. there was no one in
10 store except deceased.
! by Defence. Thinks Sco6cld slept up
stairs. was very cautious about opening his
store after retiring for the night, never had
seen the prisoner ut the store.
By the State. When he saw the lock
of the door the mex. morning the Dol, was
back. Seo6eld generally sat up late read
ing or writing.
John s. Drummond called BY the State.
lives near Scofeld's. saw him about 8 o.
| clock on the night Of the 3rd, was in good
health and spirits. was awakened at a late
hour the same night by colored man
named Dorsey who told him Sccfeld's
store was on ERE. they Immediately went
over, found Sla,tery alone at the burning
| building. staid some time, then left, re-
turned the mex, morning. saw the remains
OF human being. they were Immediately