The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-11-27
Trial Of Joshua Griffin, ColOred, for the
Murder Of Miss Susan Taylor.
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

~-.SS SuooA
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
The trial of Joshua Griffin, col0red for
the murder of Miss Susan Taylor, near Aber-
deem, on the morning of the 18th of October
last, commenced in the Circuit Court for
Hartford county, on Friday, and was conclud-
ed ON Saturday evening, by the jury bring
ing in verdict of murder in the first degree.
The State was represented by its attorney, j.
L. Z, Hopkins, Esq, and G. w. Richardson,
Esq, appeared for the prisoner The regu-
lar panel was exhausted without getting q
single juryman, and the Court thereupon
ordered the Sheriff to summon $50 talesmep,
to be in attendance at nine o'clock Saturday
morning. These were sci cted principally
from the upper part of the county, as far re-
moved as possible from the scene of the MUIR
der. Fiom among them the following iu,y
was chosen without much difficulty:
Louis w. Bryant, Abel ID. Wilson, William
Wallace. James Irwin, VIM. Swift, Rog-
er Street., Frank McAtee, James A. Spicer
james A. Waters, Thomas Beaumont. Rob
ert Dickcy, Samuel Street,.
APPEARANCE OF THE PRISONER.
Joshua Griffin is stout, thick-sct. mus.
cular negro, about five feet seven inches in
height and 25 years of age He is n black,
repulsve-looking fellow. lie was born in
the old Jail at Bel Air his mother, at the time
of his birth, being prisoner there.
The trial attracted very little attention,
and was unmarked by any events of unusual
interest or Importance.
The case was opened by Mr.. Hopkins, on
behalf of the State, in a succinct account of
the murder, and IL statement that he expect.
ell to prove the prisoner at the bar guilty of
the terrible crime.
He was followed by Mr. Richardson, for
the prisoner, who said lie expected to show
the insufiiciency of any evidence to connect
the accused with the murder of Miss Taylor.
The examination of witnesses then com.
menced, the first one called for the prosecu-
ton, Icing
DIR. &. M. Frceman-who testified that he is q
practicing physician, living at Aberdeen. Was
called to examine the wounds on the dead BODY
OF Miss Taylor. 1t was his opinion that she
came to her death from lacerat ted wound on
the left side of her head, inflicted by some blunt
| Instrument such as Il club, and from strangula-
ton. The skin on the neck was very much
| abrascd; IN his opinion from finger nails She
| had been lead three or four hours, when he saw
| her.
Cross examined by the defence.-Such marks
could only have been made by finger nails
! could not have been caused by briars.
| Isaac Wartield and Benjamin Reed, colored
| both testified that they saw Griffin Mt Mr. Janoe
w. Michaers store, between day break and sun
rise, on the morning Miss Taylor was killed
and that Griffin told them he was going to Null.
berry Point.
Sol. Lisby, colorcd, testifed-Knew the pris
oner, Saw him on the morning Miss Taylor
was killed, between Michaers store and Miss
| Iaylors house; lie would not go that way to
Mulberry Point. Cross. examined by the de-
fence.-Was ut Mchaeps store; did not see
Reed there If there had been n noise made
could have heard it, but heard none.
jeff. Taylor, n lad about ~ years Of age neph
ew OF the murdered woman, testified that he ly
ed with her and went to school, On the morn.
ing of the murder he got his breakfast, and
started for school between six and seven o'clock
His aunt Susan always carried her keys in hel
pocket.
William Johnson, colored, testified as follows
] recollect the day Miss Taylor's body was
found. was engaged to do some work at the
barn that day. Went there between and {
u ClUch, ana saw inc uCuu DOuy OF q woman lying
in sheep pen on one side ofthe cattle yard.
turned the body over, and found ii yet warm.
| then went into the field where Mr. Henry Tay
Tor was al work, and told him, MIR. Henry and
| Mr. Joseph Taylor came back to the barn witt
me Immediately. Mr.. Henry TAYLOR said ii was
| his sister Susan.
Henry l.. Taylor, brother of the murdered
woman, was then sworn, and testified to the fol
| lowing facts Have known the prisoner all nv
life; lie belonged TO me. l took breakfast
with my sister Susan, on the morning she was
murdered, and then went out into the field tc
work. While was at work, VIM. johnson
came TO me and said 81 want YOU; there ia 4
dead woman at the barn" Immediately went
and recognized the body as that of my sister Su
san
The club with which the murder is suppos cd
to have been committed was then shown to the
witness, who said it belonged in the barn, and
coul1 only have been found by some one famil
lar with the premises and the arrangement Of
thngs there.
The witness continued: | then sent for Mr.
Michael. He came, and we went to the front
door Of the house. AS we approached the dool
| Griffin, the prisoner, was about coming out
| He Immediately drew back and locked the door
in our faces. Mr.. Michael then went around the
house one way and another. next saw Grit
| fin alighting on the ground q few feet from
where stood. He ran across the field
Joseph Taylor, another brother of Miss Susan
Taylor, testified as follows:
Saw Il man running; thought it was Joshua
Griffin; so far MS he knew Griffin was good Ina.
! tured negro.
Miss Mary Taylor testified that on the morn.
ing her sister was murdered, she saw Griffin
running through the gate he had on blue
coat coat said to belong to the prisoner was
here shown and identified by Miss Taylor us the
| coat worn by Griffin that morning. Could tell
him rs far us she could see him. He was kind to
| my sister, so far MS she knew
James Michael was sworn and testified. Lives
a quarter OF Il mile from where Miss Taylor liv-
ed. On the morning she was killed. he went TO
| the house, having been sent for by Mr.. Taylor
This witness corroboratcd the statement made
by Henry Taylor, about going to the front door
and seeing Griffin draw back and lock the door.
On going around the house, the witness saw
Griffin jump down to the ground. Shouted TO
him. stop, know you, Josh. Griffin" Grif-
fin ran. We followed him to the new cut road
with dog. Griffin was arrested at his moth
er's house, about half q mile from Miss Susan
Tayor's.
Cross examined by defence.-Griffn was in
my store between daylight and sunrise. The
witness recognized the coat shown him, as the
one worn by Griffin that morning
George Harris, testiiied-Am a Justice of the
peace; held coroner's inquest on the body of
Miss Susan Taylor. Griffin was arrested and
brought before me for examination. There was
some blood on his clothes.
Cross-eXamined.-l suppose 1t was blood.
Freedom Rice, colored.-Know the prisoner.
Saw him that morning, on the road going to-
wards his mothers.
Betsy Gibson colored-On the morning Miss
Taylor was killed. l saw the prisoner, Joshua
Griffin, running towards his mothers house
he had on blue coat. This was between 10
and il O'clock
George Gibson, colored.-Was acquainted
tbn yNrtan hut ,aN ~