The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-06-28
MEDFORD WATERS.
S GNTENoED BY JUDGE STUMP.

The June term of the Circuit '"art for
Cecil county was promptly called last Mon
day at 10 o'clock \. NJ. by the venerable
! Crier, who made the usual cutlery of q yeZ,
! o yez. and wound up by asking the divine
blessing upon the State and the Honorable
Bench.
Shortly after the Cricr had finished call
ing the Court Clinton Mccullough, States
/ Attorney. arose and said that he desired To
I call the attention of the Court to the ease of
Medford Waters, which had been taken ON
4 bill of exceptions to the Court OF Appeals,
and which that tribunal had decided and
remandcl to this Court. He said he did 50
because he supposed this was the proper
time to sentence him. Shortly after this
Waters was brought into Court, and Judge
Stump addressed him rs follows:
! Medft,rd Waters, You were indicted for
| killing your comradr, Jenkins Whaey; the
jury have found You guilty of murder i'll
the first degree: hav" you any thing To say
why the sentence of the law should not now
be passed upon YOU? (Atter Il short CONSUL
taton between Waters and one of his coun-
sci, Hon. Hiram Mccullough, that gentle
man answered in the negative. The Judge
then proceeded: 1t is Il painful duty, hut
one from which there is no escape. The
jury i'll your case WAS one of the best that ]
have ever seen impanneled. Your counsel
defended You with ability and vigor: they
moved for IL new trial, which | was com
PEELED to refuse: they then appealed 10 the
court of last resort, and the judgment of this
Court was sustained. | will not prolong
the ordeal through which you are now pass
ing by rerounting the circumstances of the
murder: they are intlelihly stamped on your
memory. Nor do deem it proper TO read
You homily on religion; il is impossible at
this time that you should be in a frame of
mind to he t;lvnr;lbly impressed thereby. |
only adm"ni>h You to abandon ut once all
hope of Executive clencncy. Good men of
whatever denomination YOU may desire will
visit YOU: To them leave the task of pre-
pairing your mind for that great change to
which the Justice of the law condemns you.
The Judgment of the Court is that you the
said Medturd Waters be taken to the Jail of
Cecil county, from whence you came and
from thence to the place of execution. at
such time rs shall he duly appointed by the
Governor of the State, and there he hanged
by the neck until you be- dead. And may
God have mercy upon your soul.
The prisoner was then remanded to the Gus
tody of the Sheriff and taken back to Jail.
- NSi w tHt l'llSbiiti itii ht
remarked, THAT means business" While
in the court house he looked nervous and
haggard, and for some time past has com
planned of being constantly haunted ut
night by the ghost of Jenkins Whaley,
which stood over him while lying upon the
floor of his cell, dressed in black. Some
days since he asked the Sheriff for medi-
cine that would enable him to sleep at
night. The Sheriff procured some mcdi-
cine for him, but had reason TO think that
he contemplated suicide, and having occa-
sion to procure more medicine for him after
wards got Il harmless mixture from the
druggist, with a view of testing the truth
OF his suspicion. He gave him the hottie
containing it, and charged him not to take
too large 4 dose. Next morning he was sur
priSed to find that Medford had only taken
an ordinary dose, but having occasion 70 30
into his cell that afternoon, he found him
stretched upon the floor of his cell, appar-
emily dead, with 4 piece of his shirt, which
he had saturated with the medicine, laid
over his mouth and nose. The Sheriff
Snatchcd the rag from of his face, and with
some difficulty awoke him. and has no doubt
that Medford placed the rag over his face
for the purpose of terminating his existence
Supposing that the Scdative properties of
the iluid with which he had saturated the
rag, would have that effect.
In company with the Sheriff and another
person, we interviewed Waters on WedneS-
day; and, believing it our duty TO do So
advised him to make some preparation for
his latter end, when he very coolv remarked
that the rest of lis had better be making
some preparation too. He manifeStS the
GOODNESS of a Stole philosopher, and ap-
pears to have no correct appreciation of the
fate that awaits him. He says he always
expected to be convicted, and asserts that
he did not have Il fair trial-meaning by
that, that the witnesses against him did not
testify to the truth
The Governor will probably be officially
notified this week that Waters has been
sentenced, and will then il the time for his
execution.