The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-07
Davis Confesses the Foul MUIR
der at Union Bridge.
GALLONS ORATORY.
Heavenly Visions with His Neck
in the Moose.
M'COTTER'S STORY.
az Killed Bob Insley J For
give Every body"

WESTMINSTER, Nd, Feb. g. 1874
The'case OF Joseph W. Davis, charged with the
murder OF Abraham L. Lynn, near Union Bridge,
Carroll county, is perhaps the most remarkable IN
the annals OF Maryland Jurisprudence both for the
slender thread of circumstantial evidence which
led to his conviction and the pertinacity displayed
by his counsel III their efforts TO secure his ac
auittaL Lynn carried on the business of
q miller at Englar's mill, in Carroll county,
and Davis was his assistant and general
business manager. on the sth of April, 1872, Lynn
left his house about two ?. NJ. for the MILL which
was but a short distance on, and was never seen
again alive Davis soon followed, and was observed
moving about the premises for space variously
stated at from forty minutes to an hour and a hail.
During portion OF this time lie was seen in con-
versa ton with Hamilton shue, shoemaker
whose shop was near Lynns house. About half
past three P. M. Davis rode away to Union Bridge,
. small village in the neighborhood, and did
not return until six O'Clock. Mrs. Lynn, the wife
OF the miller, then inquired for her husband, but
was told by Davis that he had probably taken
walk and would soon return.
LYNN's CORPSE FOUND.
Becoming uneasy at his continued absence she
collected some OF the neighbors and instituted
search, which resulted in the discovery Of his man.
gied remains on the surface OF the wheat in the
sink Of the mill. The neighborhood was quiet
and peaceful and the country people were
terribly shocked at what perhaps the
greatest tragedy that had occurred within their
recOnectons. At first it was supposed that Lynn
had fallen into the sink accidentally and killed
himself and this impression was sensibly strength,
ened by the discovery OF a pocketbook in the
Clothes OF the dead man containing sl05, together
with his watch. A physician soon arrived on the
spot, however, and told another story. He found
six distinct wounds on the head Of the de-
ceased, one OF which proved to be CON-
pound fracture Of the skull and was the
cause Of death. The latter wound he saio could
not have been produced by accident, and Lynn
must have been murdered and subsequently
thrown INTO the sink. A coroner's jury was en-
panelled, and upon a careful investigation Of the
circumstances Davis was arrested upon the charge
or murder and Shue taken into custody &C
cessory. Davis, however, for several days prior
to the inquest was permitted to 90 at large, and
conducted himself with sdnqtrotd and Indifference
which betokened anything but guilt. The night
OF the murder, after his return from Union Bridge,
he dressed himself and drove his sweetheart to
visit q friend, and expressed great surprise when
summoned home and told OF the violent death OF
Lynn. He attended the funeral on the following
day, and jokingly told several parties that
he HAD KILLED LYNN
with an adze. He also threw out hints that more
than one person had a hand in the tragedy.
At the ensuing summer term OF the Circuit Court
for Carroll county Davis was put upon his trial for
the wilful murder OF Abraham L. Lynn Davis was
. young man, about twenty-five years OF age, un.
usually prepossessing in appearance, with a 1.-the
and active figure, neatly dressed, with wavy black
hair, an nciplenr mustache and piercing eyes, that
seemed to dance and twinkle in his head. He was
ananced TO charming young lady in the neigh
bOrhood OF Union Bridge, VINO had constantly
visited him while in prison, and now, with
womanly heroism, chung 10 him in his hour
OF trial. There was rakish, dev1l-may care air
about him, which. though attributed to brayado In
one OF maturer years, had certain fascination for
women when exhibited by the prisoner, who did not
look 10 be more than eighteen years old He was
very ably defended by James \. c. Bond, OF the
Carroll county Bar, and William P. Malsby. an ex-
ing attorney was as sisted by John E. smith and A.
X. syester, the Attorney General. The jury was
composed OF the most prominent men OF Car.
when he, left his house on the day Of his
death had n on MS person e. least $500 IA money
never seen after two P. NJ; that when his body
was found the wheat in the sink had settled some
feet, which was indicated by the marks OF blood
on the sides Of the sink; that number oil barrels
had been placed about the sink which were not
there IN the morning and which were no doubt in
tended 10 obstruct the view OF any accidentally
straying into the mill. The con Trajectory state
ments OF Davis were introduced and the clothes
whch ne wore on the evening OF the murder, por:
tons OF which were proved 10 have been washed
that night, were shown TO the jury.
THE CRowBAR,
also, with which he was supposed to have inflicted
the wounds, was exhibited. The case was very
ably argued by counsel and the Jury, after being
out for several days, failed to agree upon verdict
ano were discharged. They stood seven for
subsequently removed on afidavit to washington
county, IN an adjoining circuit, and was brought to
triai at the September term. in addition to the
testimony gwen at the former trial witness test-
NED, IN the course OF the second trial. that
Davis told him that Lynn killed with an adze,
n IN tha hoo o,,TI
md 1t, and that an examination Of the
tually did result in the discovery OF the adze. 1t
was also proved that several bank notes which
Davis had with him in jail had On them what APP
peared to be small spots OF blood. The defence
offered az witness J. Hamilton Stine charged as
an accessory, and the Court ruling the testimony
tnadmissible they Doted an exception. The jury
after oenS out snUI p verdict OF
captions was now signed, and the was
taken to the Court OF Appeals. 1t was argued at
length before that body and the appeal dismissed.
Subsequently some OF the Judges desiring rear
gument OF the case. it was again taken up, with
the same decision, however. Judge MaIsby, moth
ing daunted by his reverses.
APPEALED TO THE EXECUTIVE
the state TO nrerveae ana .ae eneGa
desire Governor whyte fixed a day to hear the tes-
naS yesO OF ss1s Tn9 me the enarge saT
not being forthcoming on the day appointed
the Governor postponed the hearing OF the cause
and at last the recusant witness was brought be-
lore him at his once in Baltimore city. Aftera
pauent hearing aud very searching examination
VI tne WITNESS Governor Wnyte DECIDED 10 Iet the
law take It's course All now thought that the case
was al an end and that Davis last hope on earth
was gone, but Judge Masby had not yet
clerical error was discovered in the proceed
Ings before the Washington County Court, and the
case was again brought before the Court
OF Appeals on writ Of error. Meanwhile Judge
Masby petitloned the Legislature, in session at
Annapolis, for a stay OF execution, and the whole
subject was referred TO a joint committee OF both
houses. by this time public opinion had become
greatly divided upon the question OF the guilt or
innocence had
been aroused, both because OF The delay in the exc
cutlOn Of the sentence and Developments which
went 10 snow that Lynn the murdered man, was
no Detter than he should have been; in TACT. that
Ior years PRIOR to his death he had been secretly
engaged 10 the neiarious business OF counterfeit
Ing Inc currency OF the United states.
Davis youth. good looks, manly bearing and the
beautiful devotion OF his fdncee, all appealed to
the more tender hearted portion Of the com
munity. and the exceedingly slight Chain of evil
dence against him-a mere web OF gossamer 1t
appeared-led many TO doubt the proprlety of en-
eIro,rr nc m rapaItv For 49, 49, -.