Daily Republican., 1879-06-09
A hoy MURDERER.

Are, Killed WAdb HaSe BAL 1at
by william Brown, aged Twelve
Years-The Evidence and Verdict
OF the Jury.
A week has scarcely elapsed since we
gave an account in the REPUBLICAN, of a
murder that had been committed in the
Ninth ward. To-day we regret to an
nounce that another murder has been
committed in this city, and i'll the same
ward as the murder that was committed
one week ago last Saturday. 1t was
not generally known until yesterday
morning that a murder had been CON-
mitted between six and seven O'Clock
on Saturday evening in Brandywine
village, and in that part of it called .es.
sup's road, about a square from the
Brandywine bridge.
The victim was Samuel David Bat
son, colored boy, aged l3 years
Young Batson was struck i'll the head
several times with base ball bat in
the hands of William Brown, colored,
aged II years.
The following are the particulars Of
the murder as far as the reporter was
enabled to ascertain. On Saturday
afternoon shortly before five o'clock, a
party OFT boys were engaged in playing
base ball. After INDUCING in thegame
for over an hour, and the time passed
by swiftly, warning many of the play
ers that supper was waiting for THEM,
the game was stopped and the boys
started for their homes. They did not
all go home however, two remained on
the field, SO one party states, while
another party says there were several
on the field. However be this as 1t
NAV, one =amuel Bat-on had the ball
that the boys had been playing with
and another hoy, William Brown had
the bat.
Batson it appears before leaving the
field asked Brown for the bat i'll order
that he might, before leaving the field,
try his hand at the bat. Brown would
not comply with hIs request and he
commenced using protane language
towards batson hrcause he would not
give him toe bail. a. soon as Brown
commenced swearing, then BaLSon threw
the bal! away and this act OF Batson 3
so lncepsed Brown that he took his bat
and hit Batson on the arm, and alter
wards struck him several heavy blows
on tn. head. One witness says that
Brown was in the art OF striking Batson
four times Oh tie head before Il" was
stopped. The boy after being struck
walked home (&bout square trom
where be mad been playing bal.) The
boy suffered intense pain; was unable
to speak, and kept constantly crying.
Tie lived bat al hour aud thirty inin-
utcs after he was hit with the bat.
BROWNS ARREST.
Shortly after O'Clock on Saturday
evening, as officer Sherry was patro,lng
his beat, nan named Johnson stepped
up to him and asked the officer 'wnere
the Corouer's Office was ~ Before the
officer could reply to this question the
man said, A boy has been KILLED and
the murderer should De arrested " The
officer learning who the bay was, At
once went to his house. Brown was
sitting in a char, and as soon Is the
officer entered he said. "Witltam, |
want you" The boy was willing to 60
and said, 81 will 60 with you As soon
as put on my shoes" The boy went
to the hall with the officer and was
orying all the way. Upon their arrival
at the police station the boy was p. aced
in the cells, and it is said that he did
. not sleep any during the night.
TIE CORONER's ACTION.
Yesterday morning Coroner Butz EN-.
panelled jury and went to the house
where the dead body was. The follow
ing named persons Were sworn i'll as the
jury:
George Mccall, Thomas J. Bennett,
John N. Enos, Robert c. Fraim, Viii,
liam II. Brady, James Il. Speakman,
William Davidson, HOt0n larnall, jet
ferson Butler, Charles Alexander, VIM.
j'riienberg, John Wainwright, William
i. West, William Il. Wiley and Joseph
W. Vandegritt.
George Mccall was chosen Chairman
and Rober: c. Frailn, Esq, Secretary.
The jury were sworn in over the
body, and after viewing the remains
they adjourned to meet at the City
Hall.
The Jury assembled at the hall about
II o'clock, but few persons We're around
the hall as is generally the case in a
murder trial. None were admitted in
the room but the CorOner's jury, the
witnesses and the members OF the press.
Nothing was said against the reporters
Of the press not remaining in the room
so they remained.
The first witness called was Stephen
u. Simmons, who being sworn, said:
Live on Jessup's Lane, we were playing
ball and started to go home and laid
along side Of a pig pen with Harry
Backus; heard the first blow struck;
saw William Brown strike Samuel Bat
son with base ball bat on his left arm;
Batson went to ward off the blow and
endeavoIed to get the bat when he
stumbled and fell; while he was down
saw Brown strike him back of the left
side of the head with the bat; the blood
flowed freely from his head; saw Brown
strike him the third time on the head;
he was just in the act of striking Bat
son the fourth time when said | can It
see the boy killed and | ran and took
the bat from Brown; the boys were
playing like they always do; this Brown
boy afterwards talked about hitting me
with the bat; the boys had been quar-.
reling.,
Batson had the ball and asked Brown
for the bat; Brown told Batson to take
the bat and on Batson trying to get it
they had tussel; Batson threw the
ball away which caused Brown to strike
him; this occurred about $50; when |