Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-03-06
The Changers.

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We learn that Grange has been organ
lied, under favorable auspices, in Bryan
town district, and that Dr. Samuel Mudd
is the chief officer. This is all the infor-
nation in regard to it that we have re-
ceived.
I1abeas Corpus Case from Charles Co.
The American gives the following par
ticulars in reference to the habeGs corpus
sued out by VIM. T. Killman, white, and
Andrew Wilmington, alias jackson, Pey-
ton White and George F. Young, colored,
and tried by Judge Brown in the City
Court of Baltimore. The prisoners, in
custody of Sheriff VIM. L. Cooke, OF this
county, were conveyed to Baltimore Tues
day morning last, on which day the case
was taken up. The Amecica1, referring to
the prisoners above mentioned, says:
They were the mate and seaman Of the
schooner Willie, who were committed to
prison by a Charles county magistrate on
the charge of stealing cord wood. Colum-
bus NJ. johnson, the master of the Willie,
swore that being at Harman's Landing on
the Potomac river, on January 27th, he
went ashore to purchase wood for cooking;
met a man. who sold him half a cord of
wood for two dollars he did not know
the man, who seemed to be respectable and
was near the wood at the time but left
soon afterwards. Witness took about a
quarter of cord and went on board his
vessel: the men began to pile the wood,
but were arrested by Mr. Carpenter, the
real owner Of the wood. Captain johnson
SAW the arrest, bu, as his yawl was on shore,
he could not 90 to their relief. After
wards Mr.. Carpenter, Mr.. Mudd, and one
other man, having the mate of the Willie
in custody, went in the yawl from the
shore to the vessel to arrest Captain John
son. Carpenter had a double -barreled
gun, with which he threatened to kill
Johnson if he did not surrender. When
they got on board desperate melee en-
sued. Johnson was knocked overheard
swan to the yawl and sculled for shore
The other party tried to run down the
yawl and 10 drown Johnson unless he sur
rendered. After being chased seven miles
back and forth, Johnson escaped. The
habeas corpus was sent from this city, and
the Sheriff of Charles county brought the
prisoners here. The compliments claimed
that the commitment was defective as not
laying venue of the crime, nor stating to
whom the stolen goods belonged, nor the
value of the goods stolen. nor charging
that the goods were felonlously taken, nor
stating definitely the term of commitment.
Mr. Carpenter was put on the stand, and
testified that his wood was being stolen
He was satisfied from the movement OF the
vessel that this was the purpose. He de-
tailed from his standpoint the capture of
the prisoners, and the subsequent melee
with johnson. killman had tried to kill
witness. who did not wish to kin, but to
capture Johnson.
Judge Brown held that unless there was
a palpable mistake in facts he could not
on such points, as should be tried by a
Jury, release the prisoners. The admission
of the mate precluded the idea of mistake.
lie further held that it was not necessary
10 have in the commitment definite time
for further examination. Charles county
on the commitment laid the venue suffi-
Ciently. 1t was not necessary TO state the
name Of the party from whom the wood
was taken. AS the commitment alleged
stealing" it did not seem necessary To
state value or charge 'feloniousiy." The
Court declined to release the prisoners, but
fixed the bail at $500 for each of them
Mr.. b. Carter and Mr.. Baker are the at
torneys for the accused. Bail was given
for the white man, and the three colored
men were about to be remanded. when
800 bail for each of them was offered, and
as they had only obeyed orders in taking
the wood, Judge Brown accepted that a
mount.
The case against Carpenter, in the [. S.
Circuit Court, we understand, has been
postponed.