The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-11-29
THE EGZS.
BEL AIR, FRIDAY, NOV. 90, 1879.
The JarrettsriIle Stahhing Case.

ing, IN lne circuit court 1of Hari0fd county
ssThe following jury was empanneled to tr
the case Samuel Kirk, c. p. G. Cook, j
T. Baldwin, John McAbee, Jacob Walker
Jacob II. Hess, Samuel Martin, j. Franz
Jones, Richard Sheridan, John Craig, p. L
Carroll and Philip Cover.
The prosecution was conducted by State
Attorney ] T, G. Hopkins Esq assisted b,
William Young, Esq, The prisoner wa
represented by Col. Herman Stump ant
VIM. L. Cooley, Esq.
Samuel Street,, the man who was stabbed
testified that he is proprietor of the hotel u
Jarrettsville. On the morning of the day
named Miller had taken several drinks Of
wine at his place, and had borrowed pail
of steel-yards for the purpose of weighing O
piece of meat he had sold to n neighbour
About ten o'clock Mr.. STREET., while in his
potato patch, heard woman screaming
"Murderw The sounds came from the
house of John Miller near by. He walked
over to Miller's house, and as he stepped on
the porch Miller opened it and invited him
in. He went in and asked Miller what was
the matter. Miller told him his wife object
ed to his selling some meat, and that was the
cause of the disturbance. Mrs. Miller sat at
The table scolding and crying. While wit
ness and Miller were talking, Mrs. Miller
arose and walked toward the back door, say
ing something which seemed TO offend her
husband. He seized her and commenced to
beat her over the head with his fist. Witness
put his hand against Millers breast and gent
ly pressed him back, saying John, John,
this won't do" Whereupon Miller struck
him in the mouth with his fist. Witness
then caught Miller around the arms, above
the elbows, endeavoring to quiet him. Mil
Ter got his hand into his pocket as if to draw
knife, but Mr.. Shortlidge, who had come in
about the same time witness did, prevented
it. Shortlidge ran out to call help to quiet
Miller While he was gone, and witness
was still struggling with Miller, the latter
seized butcher-knfe from the table. Wit
ness seeing it called to Shortlidge. Believing
Miller intended to use the knife, he sprang out
of the door. AS he did so Miller stabbed him
in the back. Miller is not drinking man
that witness knew of, and there never was
anything TO interrupt their friendly relations,
George Shortlidge testified that being in
the shoemaker's shop he heard woman cry
ing "Murder ~ The sound came from the
direction of NIiler's house. Saw Mr. STREET.
going towards the house and following was
admitted into the house along with Street,,
by Miller. The witness corrobotated Mr..
Streets account of the beating of Mrs, Miller
by her husband, who caught her by the throat,
and the struggle between Miller and Street,.
Witness saw Millel's hand in his pocket, and
suspecting he was about to draw a knife
grasped his hand and held it as long as he
could. Miller slipped his hand out, but left
in Shortlidge's hand pocket knife and segar
holder. The witness then ran out, and as he
stepped off the porch Street, called him back.
He went back Immediately. Miller was
standing behind Street, and made thrust
at him with large knife and then a second
one but did not strike him the second time.
The witness and Street, ran out into the road,
and Miller ran at witness, who picked up
stone and Miller stopped.
James Meads testified that on the day men,
toned he heard the screams of a woman, saw
Street, and Shortlidge enter Miler's house.
Shortly afterwards Mrs. Miller came out
screaming with her little girl Shorilidge
came out and then went back, and sho, tly
afterwards Shortlidge and Street, came out,
with Miller behind STREET..
Thomas B. jarrett and Mrs. George Street,
testified substantially to the same facts related
by Mr.. Meads.
Jesse Taylor testified to hearing the cries
and supposed it was Mrs. Miller whipping
her chile. Saw Miller run Shortlidge out of
his yard, saying, Get out of here" Miller
had knife in his hand.
John Hopkins testified TO seeing ShoIttidge
come out of Miller's and then run back, and
shortly afterwards he saw Miller running both
Street, and Shortlidge out. Miller had
knife in his hand, and heard him say, 1--WE
got one you" The witness went to Millers
wheelwright shop to get a hay carriage be-
longing to his employer, DR.. jarrett. Miller
came out and showed him where it was, He
iptn a nd nnf a hop lny
He told witness he had cut Street, in the back
with his butcher knife. He said they had
him down in his house and were choking him.
DR.. M. l.. Jarrett testified to the character
of the wound inflicted upon Mr. Street,
The knife had penetrated the side of the back,
near the spinal column, and between the 9th
and 7th ribs. 1t had entered the pleural
cavity, making deep wound, three inches in
length on the outside. The wound was ex-
tremely dangerous, for the reason that inflam-
nation might ensue, which would in all pro-
liability involve the lungs. MIR. Street, was
confined to his room for three weeks and has
complained of the effects of the wound since
DR.. Jarrett showed how the knife might have
been held to produce such wound.
VIM. q Carroll, constable testified that he
arrested Miller near Jarrettsville, as he was
going in the direction fthe railroad. Miller
said "Give me pistol; let me shoot myself"
"Give me rope and | will hang myselfv'
Joseph Arthur, John Thomas, Jacob Gross
and VIM. Deets testified to hearing Short
lidge say he had struck Miller, which Short
lidge denied
Mrs. Miller, the prisoners wife, being
sworn, testified to the quarrel between her
husband and herself about the meat Miller
wanted to sell some oft and she objected. He
caught her by the hand and back of the neck
Il 4, III 81, 80 a..
down at one end of the table, told Miller if
you want to hurt me do it, for will put an
to myself before evening. Mr.. STREET. and
Mr.. Shortlidge then came in and Street,
asked what was the matter. They talked
about the meat and started out of the door.
Miller caught hold OF me and said "St
down." They both had Miller down and
Shortlidge was hitting him on the side of the
head, when l ran out and asked Thomas
Jarrett to come in and relieve my husband.
He did not come. Heard Mr.. Street, call to
Shortlidge to come in, but did not see the
stabbing. Shortldge went in with stone
in his hand. Street, came out and jumped
the fence out Of my yard. ] was not hurt
except by my fall
Benjamin Mason testified that he went to
Miller's for the purpose of buying ham,
Mrs. Miller said they had no meat to SELL but
Miller asked witness 10 wait until he saw
how much he had in the cellar He went
down, followed by his wife. | heard him
say, Gall the meat is not here put fifteen
pieces down" Mrs. Miller said you arc
ljarr' and witness heard female voice
saying Don't hit me-"
John Miller, the prisoner was then sworn
He is tall, rather stout man, German, anC
has a morose look. His evidence was giver
with apparent frankness He testified that OF
the morning of the occurrence he took drinl
with Mr.. Shortlidgc and another with Mr.
Carroll, at Mr.. Streets tavern. He then go
the scales from Mr.. Street, and went Will
Mr.. Mason to weigh the ham. He had
nuln rrel vii LII his iptn nhnnt thu nnni mud ch