The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-13
Execution of Two Murderers in Mary.
land Yesterday.
GREED AND REVENGE GRATIFIED.
Brutal Staying OF TWO White
Women by Negroes.
Prayers and Hymn-Singing at the
Jail.

BELAIn, Nd, March IL, 1875
Joshua Grimm a colored man, was hanged near
Belair this morning. The crime Ter which ne ex-
plated his offence with his life was Tor the murder
Of Miss susan Taylor. OF Aberdeen, on the 18th OF
October last the details OF which are given below.
THE CONFESSION.
shortly before the time fixed for the execution
grimm made q lu confession 10 the Sherin. In
which ne stated that ne Killed MISS Taylor with .
clue on account OF grudge he had against ner
brother, who hao whipped him previously. He
alleged that MISS Taylor was the cause OF this
whipping.
TIE EXECUTION.
At nine minutes past ten O'Clock this morning
the signal was given by the Sheriff, and the eoro
that had been placed around tue mans neck was
Immediately drawn, and he was virtually dead.
Errin struggled violently Tor ten minutes, after
winch the body became quiet In twenty-five
minutes 1t was cut down, and the surgeons, alter
IN examination, announced that life was extlnct.
Several mem oers OF the Taylor family. including
women and small children, were present Alter
the body was cut down the surgeons mace q post
mortem examination.
EXECUTIONS IN MARYLAND
More executions have taken place in Maryland
during the last tive six years, IN proportion to
the size OF the State, tnan IN any other Common
wealth in the Union. With three exceptions
every county has had It's hanging, some OF them
three or tour, and Baltimore city heads the list.
Itwould be supposed from this that Maryland was
dlsorderly state; but such Is not the case. The
yeneral peace and quiet in Baltimore aud through
cut the State is OF an exceptional character.
Baltimore itself Is well governed and compare
lively zee from criminals and the disposition to
observe the laws In the counties Is marked.
The most plausible explanation OF the very
large number oil executions Is that the AVS are
faithfully executed Dy The courts, and successive
Governors have SHOWN decided unwlllingness to
Interfere with the course o. justice by interposng
their cemency. hanging is certainly not played
uutn here, and the Judiclous ELECTS OF 1t cannot
perhaps md more compete eXempnncaton
snyWnere else The two executions when took
place TO-DAY we're for crimes almost identical In
DO III cases the criminals were negroes and IN each
the victim was waite woman ano, strange 70
say, both women were murdered pretty much In
Inc same manner, eacn having been knocked on
the head with oludgeon.
GREED AND REVENGE.
In the case oil Grim, however, the motive was
greed, wnlle In the case OF Wheeler, executed In
iancied insult offered him in controversy ABOUT
by unusual atrocty and bus little sympathy was
1elt Tor the guilty wretches.
GRIFFIS's CRIME.
Until the morning OF the 18th OF october last,
miss susan FAVOR. lady ABOUT lorty years OF
age. lived with ner brothers, Joseph and Henry.
upon farm in an almost secluded nei q.
four miles from Aberdeen, IN Hartford county.
JOSHUA Griffin, negro, ABOUT twenty-five years
DID, mad been raised by the family ana Was treated,
As Is customary among those who owned slaves
before ana retained their services alter It's
close, with the utmost kindness and confidence
Ris position partook more or the nature OF
younger member Of the household than OF the
hired servant. The fanny mad break
tasted on tnis morning aud the brothers
OF MISS Taylor had lett the house 70 SOW held OF
wheat, while Griffin was directed by them TO
attend TO some duties IN the farmyard. Before
they cit the house there was SOME conversation
between them and their sister about carriage
horse when she told them she intended 10 turn
in a
ever saw their sister alive. In about an hours
tune they were startled by the sudden appear
ance OF a negro named Willlam johnson. VINO
was also employed on the place. lie oasned up 10
the brothers III state OF excitement verging on
INSANITY, ana some moments elapsed before ne
couu make himself understood. When, however,
he came to himself he told sheIn that Miss Taylor
was lyIng call pen IN The barnyard, with her
yku!l crushed In, and hat sac was unconscious.
TIE MURDER.
The three hurried 10 the barn and there found
the unfortunate woman lying on ner race,
with ner right arm across her breast and
ciencnea, stretched out to It's full length. inere
was a horrible wound on the back oil her mead, the
BkuA oelhs ciuSheu, on "ncn Dioou auu Va aus
were oozing When turned over II was Iound tnat
the pulse was stu beating, though leeoiy, and
that sac stu oreathed; out on attending to ralse
sne maze a lew gssps ana AL was over. The
brothers, terribly excited went toward the
house, Intending 20 secure Gr1nln. Henry
Taylor raised The latch or tile door aud pushed 10
parity open when some one within slammed II
violently IN his lace and turned the Key Ia the
IocK. Peenng IA the window Griffin was seen
LEAVING tue room, aud the TWO nrotners forced an
entrance. They searched the mouse nlgn and low
but could not md MIN. Upon emerging from the
building ne wa seeO running across neld ABOUT
one huuGred Yards on. ma ing nected his escape
by swinging binisell rom a porch the outside.
Chase given, cut the woods were not far ana
he soon disappeared News Of tie murder spread
rapidly, and IN = short time the whole neiguDor-
hood reused. thorough examination OF sue
barnyard vas now made At short distance
from the Caltpen a heavy clue OF gum wood Nas
found, broken IN three pieces, and rom That spot
TO the pen a line Of blood marked tue uack along
sfaazI uNN had nos N m q IA nj a.
Bile tba at when MISS Taylor went Into the Darnyard
10 turn out the norse Griiin came upon her
stealtniy rom behind, and with the Cub dealt her
several heavy oOws upon the PACK OF tue mead,
smashing the skult and Iellng her TO tue eartn.
Thinking her DEAD, he began 10 search Tor money,
as her pockets were turned inside out OUT
she must nave partially rallied rom the shock
were evidences OF desperate struggle;
The flesh Oh the right side of her neck was found
20 De literally gou9ed OUT, and portions OF 10 were
hanging IN snreds, winch was evidently done oy
tue nanos oil the murderer, as the wounds bore
tue impress OF Anger nails. Tue monster, no
doubt, thought TO I'M an his horrid work oy
straneng IS victim TO death. He then dragged
her 70 the pen, which was IN remote corner OF
the fnyard. Johnson VINO nrst discovered the
BODY, went 20 the parnyard On an errand, and
seeing the blood, traced 1t 70 the pen
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS MISSING.
II was known That MISS Taylor mad $500 in
money, but after the murder 10 could not be found,
and as the oedcnamber OF the unfortunate woman
had been completely turned UPSIDE down, IL ~
probable Johnson secured II, tnough none was
CAPTURE or GE1pPIy
An organized search was immediately instl-
tuted Indignant citizens secured the country In
all directions. About midday Mr.. Michael and
Mr. Hooper traced grimm 70 his mothers house,
about one mile rom the Taylor arm. He as
making preparations Tor nlght, but was seized
Def re be could make his escape. He empnaticaily
denied al Enowedge OF the bloody transaction,
but spots OF blood we're found upon his coat and
several deep scratches IN nls lace gave
eylqence OF the death struggle OF MISS
Taylor He was Immediately taken TO A err
deem ana placed IN charge OF the countj
officers. threats Of yncnng were reey made
the citizens prevented them rom being carried
out. subsequently GRIM was taken 10 Besir anC
lodged IN I3ll he as put upon MS trial AZ tn
rail term OF the Circuit Court Tor hariord count
and Hougn ably defended, tue states Attorney
d. Thomas q. Hopkins made out an overwnelminl
case against MIN and the jury iound MIN quit
OF murder IN the hrst degree.
EXECUTION OF GEORGE WHEELER
EAsToS, Md, March H. 1875.