Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-07-03
THE FRIDAY MURDER MYSTERY.

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two men, James Gardner and J. w. Grove.
residents Of Washington county, Nd. had
been arrested and committed to Jail in Hagers'
town, charged with the murder of the late
Rev. ]. N. Friday, of Harper's Ferry, in this
county, whose body was found in the canal
opposite the latter place on the I'd instant
The report of this arrest turns out to have
been eorraet. As We learn from the Balti-
more Sans reports: E.gI.
The arrest was made on Friday night, the
22d inst. between ten and twelve o'clock, by
Deputy Sheriff John Leggett, of Washing
ton county, and detective D. PiukDey West,
of Baltimore. The man who had been asso.
eisted with them in the interest of the de,ec-
tives was also arrested ON 0 trumped up
charge of being wanted by the Penusylvsnia
authorities. The decoy Was informed. in the
presence Of the real prisoners, that he could
remain in the sheriff's Office until . requisi-
ton, which was expected for. him by one
o'clock. When one o'clock came and the
rsquisition did not arrive he went around to
the Jail and was put in cell with Gardner.
The prisoners were informed that the requi-
eition had failed to come. The decoy spent
Saturday afternoon and part Of Sunday with
that Grove and himself crossed the bridge
from Harper's Ferry Thursday mig hit and went
to Sandy Hook. where they stole some onions
from Mr.. Barnhsrt. Coming M the railroad
they were about 10 pass Mr. Reed's house
when they separsted, not wishing to be seen
together. Gardner says he went ahead and
Grove followed. with the onions in = bag over
his shoulder. They met Rev. Mr.. Friday
standing on the railroad track near the canal.
looking into the water. Gardner says he
passed by the clergyman. and Grove came up
to him and struck him with the bag of onions.
knocking him into the canal. When Grove
rejoined him he asked his companion who it
was that had been standing there. Grove
replied he did not know. but he was gone
They both then ran towards Harper's Ferry.
On Wednesday last, Gardner and Grove
were taken before Justice r E. Cook, in
Hagerstown, for = hearing. Of this the
Suns report says:
When everything was ready to proceed
with the investigation, the spectators were
suddenly disappointed by the announcement
OF an agreement between counsel to postpone
the hearing States Attorney Edward
Stake asked for postponement to Tuesday
morning, July 3, to which Col. Geo. Frea-
nor. counsel for the prisoners, consented.
| Gardner vigorously denied in his cell in
the morning to your correspondent that he
had made a confession to the detective im>
| plicating Grove rs the murderer, and in
| consequence it was thought better to gain
more time, during which counsel feel assured
he will turn State evidence. Mr.. Charles
Davis. Of Harpsrs Ferry, assisting counsel
for the prosecution, stated thst tho evidence
was so strong that it would scarcely be
| necessary to use the confession of the pris>
oner, even if it had been obtained in the
most positive manner in the presence OF a
third party as witness.
| 1t was further assigned as a cause for de-
string . po,tponement that Mr.. A. K Syes-
ter, who ia . business partner of Colonel
Freanor, had been retained for the prosecu-
ton at tho instance of Mr.. Whip, of Jeffer-
son, Frederick county, Md, father.in law Of
Rev. Mr.. Friday.
Groves reputed wife, who is known as
Sally Fair. = woman probably SO years of
age. wearing shaker" which covered her
entire face, went over to speak to him be-
fore he was taken back to Jail. AS the irons
were being replaced on Grove he said to the
woman, Tell the children no, to be un-
easy; they may hang my body. with an air
OF de6ance), but I'll have my soul left"
The woman replied sharply, Hush up,
| you blamed old fool, you"
| Grove IS he was taken from the room.
continued mutteripg something about being
"as innocent as . child" add that the
angels were lowering around him !"
! The list Of witnesses summoned in the
case include John Minks, Mrs. John II.
Reed. Richard Donovan. James Bowers,
| Alex. Murphy, John Rodrick, VIM. Shep
HYaHy
Dent, John Fl. Reed. Martha Reed, Molle
Leonard. James Walter. Ssllie Grove. Fanny
Smith, Patrick Higgins, ]. Moore, Mr.
Wells, Emory Allen, Mrs. Walters.
Outside of any confession of the prisoners
| the chain OF crcumstantiAl evidence is
garded as sufficiently strong and complete of
itself, the case having been rkillfully man.
| aged by the independent detective firm.
Messrs Smith a. West, of Baltimore
visited the scene Of the murder and the vicin
ity to- day, and have conveIsed with all the
important witnesses. and from their statements
l give the substance of what they propose to
testify to ON Tuesday next. The confession
| Of Gardner that Grove struck Rev. Mr.. Fri.
| day with bag Of onions, knocking him into
| the canal was made to the detective on Sun.
| day last.
Since then oircumstantial evidence has
turned up which completely oorroborstes that
statement. The bag which contained the
onions was borrowed from Thomas A. Kirwin,
OF Hsrper's Ferry, by Grove. Both The
prisoners were seen by half = dozen persons
going over the bridge and up the road, one
Of them having the bag. The onions, 1t
pecks, were stolen from . patch in front of
the residence of Mr.. Barnhart at Sandy Hook.
and . person in the family heard distinct
noises in the patch about this hour. The