The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-03-12

The crime for which Joshua Griffin will
to-day suffer the sentence Of the law, was
the murder, on the 10Th day of October last, OF
Miss Susan Taylor, near Aberdeen, in this
county The account of the crime is as fol-
| lows:
The murdered woman was unmarried, reputed
wealthy and about As years of age She was the
daughter of James Taylor, and the sister of Jo.
seph and Henry l.. Taylor. She lived with her
brother, Joseph Taylor, three miles from Aber-
deem, on tho Neck road, two children, Fanny
and jeff, orphans of q deceased brother, James,
living with them. Griffin was born in the Jail at
Bel Air, his mother at the time being prisoner
there. He was taken out of Jail and raised by
Miss Taylor, with whom he lived until wear
or more ago, when he was sent away for his bad
habits. He is q short, slender, but muscular.
very black and rcpulsiye looking fellow; about
90 years of age,
THE MURDER AND ITS DISCOVERY,
The murder, II Is supposed, occurred between
Z and O'Clock in the morning. Mr.. Joseph
Taylor had gone out 10 work with the hands in
the field after breakfast, which was served at 81
A. NJ. The children had gone TO school, some
distance off.
AT about or O'clock, VIM. johnson, n col.
ored man, tenant on the adjoining farm, came
to the house where Miss Taylor lived, having
been engaged TO do some work at the barn that
day. Passing the barn he saw the dead body of
Miss Susan Taylor lying IN sheep pen adi0in.
ing the cattle yard. He turned the BODY over
and found 1t yet warm. Her clothing was dis.
arranged, her head cut and mashed, evidently
with club, and there were marks of fingers on
the murdered woman's throat. johnson ran to
the field and gave the alarm to Henry and Joseph
Taylor, who fastened TO he spot and recognized
the body as that oftheir sister.
Miss Taylor had gone to the yard to milk the
cows, and was thele attacked by the negro, who
first choked her, and failing to kill her in that
way, beat her cruelty over the head with club
OF sweet gum wood taken from cattle rack
IN the yard. The woman was strong and robust
and the marks on The ground showed that she
struggled desperately with her murderer. Sue
cceding at last in killing her. Griffin, it appears,
dragged her body TO the sheep pen alluded to-
where he left it.
The two brothers, with Mr.. James Michael, a
ncighbor, who had arrived in the meantime,
then went to the house, the doors of which
were found locked. Upon approaching the
front door, Griffin was met, in the act of
coming out. The murderer drew back and
locked the door in their faces.
ESCAPE AND PURSUIT,
Shortly afterwards window in the second
story at the rear was raised, and Joshua Griffin
was seen to step out to The roof of the yeranda,
from which he lcaped 10 the ground and ran
across the field to the woods The alarm spread
rapidly, and an excl ed crowd, on horseback
and afoot, went in search of him.
THE ARREST AND TRIAL
About two o'clock in the afternoon he was
found and arrested by Constable Sunderland
in his mothers house, about half a mile from
where Miss Taylor lived. blue coat identi.
fled by witnesses rs the one worn by Griffin
that morning, was found among some rags un.
der the bed
When Griffin was arrested and brought be-
fore the magistrate there was blood upon his
clothes.
Griffin was tried at 1hc last November term
of court and the jury after being out one hour,
returned verdict of murder in the first degree,
He was defended by e. w. Richardson, ESQ.
the State being represented by j. Y. G. Hop.
kins, Esq.
INDIFFERENT To HIS FATE.
Griffin was visited by his counsel Mr. Rich
ardson, on Thursday, and urged TO make q full
confession, il he was indeed guilty of the crime
He stoutly protested his innocence, and denied
positively having been in the house. The proof
upon the latter point, however, was positive,
Griffin having been seen plainly by persons who
knew him we'll The condemned man appears
to be stolid and to great degree Indifferent to
his late. In conversation with his counsel he
said he was ready to die, but would rather 20
to the Penteni larry for life. The Rev. Mr. Fin.
ney, pastor of the PresbS terrain Church. in this
place, visited him, and in response to an maui
ny as TO whether he desired his ministrations at
| the gallows, Griffin replied that he did not
know whether he did or not. To Rev. David
Baker, Of the Colored Presbyterian Church, he
gave the same rcplyj but afterwards said he
would let him know last night whether or not
| he wanted him to be with him at the gallows
The gallows has been erected on the Aims.
house Farm, the property of the county, at n
| spot about one mile from Bel Air. Sheriff JAR
| rett has summoned large posse of deputies, to
ensure order upon the occasion.