The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-11-23
TIE ROBBERY AT NORTH EAST.
HEARING "F "NE OF THE ACCJSED rAKfIt :
At ELKr"N-- CoSFtICrISG EVIDENCE--
mEIn IL 81 600 EAu


HELD l.; $1,000 EArL.
On "Wednesday afternoon last. Asbury
Davis, a cn'"rtd man. who resides in North
East had a hearing before Justice Beuia-
min. at the SheriffS office in thi. town
charged with completely in the robbery of
III" houS" "f Mr. Allied F,:rd. son in law
of Jos. T. stout, Esq. which occurrence
took place Al North East, on Wednesday
evening Of last week, a report Of which We
gave in our last issue. Davis was arrested
on suspicion and lodged in jail. on Satur-
day last, I" await 4 further hearing. Clin-
ton McCulloush, Esq, Appeared for the
State and Hon. Hiram Mccullough for the
prisoner.
y number of witnesses wrre examined.
the first being Benjamin BARLEY. one of
the accused parties, who testified suhstan-
tally as follows: That he was passing down
the street, about TWO weeks previous to
the robbery, and saw Davis and Jane John
son the colored woman implicated in the
case talking together; that they stopped
them in the robbery, which he at first re-
fused To do, bat afterwards consented To-:
that Jane Johnson Informed him where the
money was, and agreed to leave the door
uufastcued for him to enter; that he again
the parties a week later and made fur
Their arrangements, agreeing to get the
money aud leave the box containing il on
pig pen in the rear of the premises; that
kitchen roof and effected an entrance TO
the main building through Il window, got
possession of the box, and was met at the
pump, near the kitchen, by Jane, when. by
box and she grabbed up the roll of notes
that he then put the box al the designated
place, where Davis was to get it. He fur
Their stated that he was not Ia receive any
compensation for his trouble and risk but
WAS actua;ed by motives of friendship for
the parties; that Davis was an ardent ad-
mircr of the colored dlmse and was very
frequently seen in her company
J. I. Stout, Esq, testified that he had
been robbed. on the night above stated. of
IS 900 in government bonds, 81 334 in
bank notes. and prnmssory notes II the
amount of 81 800: that he had recovered
81 30i from the colored woman: that the
box containing the money and his private
papers was about eight by twelve inches in
size and was properly secured by a lock.
Jas. Thompson, colored, living in North
East, testified that he knew the accused
parties and was aware of the intimacy ex.
listing between Davis and Miss Jane and
stated that it was his 'pinion that the
said Davis was getting Il little cold in his
manner towards her, aud that she, "bein'
4 very Jealous hearted pu>son," had con.
cocted thi, plan to get him in her power
This witness knew nothing about the case.
except his "'pinion,' which was about As
iuilexible as a bar Of railroad iron.
\ number Of colored witnesses were cali
ed for the defense, who gave very contra
dictoTy evidence. but all appeared to lie
settled in the conviction that Davis was in
Eikton on the day and night of the We'd
. :::esday in question, some of them being
exceedingly positive in the recollection Of
occurrences OF thar day, such AS the ring
ing of bells, the rattle Of trains and the
shrek of whistles, who couldn't possibly
relate anything that tsanspired on any
other one.
After the close of the testimony, the
States Attorney and the counsel for the
defense briefly argued the case. the former
cnntending that while there might not be
sufficient evidence 10 convict the prisoner,
yet there was abundant to justify the Jus
uce ia committing him, while the defense
argued that there was not sufficient evil
dcucc adduced to warrant a commitment
The Justice, however. thought him a pro.
per person Ia appear 1T court to answer the
charge agIins; him. and committed hiH! TO
all in default of .. G00 bail.
Mr.. stout has stopped the payment of
she registered bonds and promis<ory notes,
aud will lose, if III" missing bonds are not
found, about 81, 100 in registered bonds
We suhjoin tine following incidents A.
being worthy of notice in connection with
this affair:
When the report of this robbery reached
Wilmington, many persons there thought
that the Ben amin Eaitiry accused OF this
crime was the son Of a we'll known and
respected citizen Of that city. who, by a
singular coincidence. has = son named Ben
iAmin C. Bartlry living with Justice Ben
IamIn, before whom this case was heard.
Notwithstanding the confidence this gentle
man had in the good character Of his son,
i. felt uneasy, and telegraphed tn him at
North last la get some Intelligence about
the matter, and his heart was made glad To
receive a reply from his son in the follow
ing cheering words. -. |, is not me in iail
1t is another Benjamin Eartley."
The other we relate a. illustrative of the
power OF superstition among the colored
race, and which. in this case had much to
d" in tracing the guilty parties. Consta-
blr |. ;. Deford, feeling assured of the
guilt al the coored woman, proposed to
Mr. Ford that they should question her
oath. This was several hours after the
robbery and also after the first hearing be
fore the justice, and occurred in the kitchen
of Mr. .oTd. i hible %:.s procured, and
the officer set about administering the oath
He looked almost solemn rs 4 statue,
aud III a loud aud earnest tone endeayored
to impress upon her darkened mind the
solemnity of the occasion, the sacredness
If the oath and the gravity of the charge,
and lis said that his picture Of the internal
:rg ions, the fearful doom of the perjurer
aud the close proximity of his satanic ma
lcsty, would haze E.ade any poor sinner
quake with fear, and it is even intimated
TO us that If he had believed the half of his
remaI kable discourse he would have been
making other OF both the book and his
time. However, this terrific rehearsal oc-
caslunc-i such a terror of mind that she
only made feiui at kissing the book. and
TO get rid Of the smitings of her now thor
uughly awakened conscience, she confessed
the whole affair 10 him the next day, which
led IL the arrest of BARLEY. This is Ger
t.inly new feature III the administration
of law, but As the officer evidently believes
IN the eternal punishment of the wicked,
We pfeGnme he WAS justified in making use
uf his theory upon this occasion.
TRIED FOR HORSE STEALING.