The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-08-13

CONVICTION OF ANTHONY BLAZH
A very shocking murder was commit,
ted on ednesday night, July Both,
in the neighborhood of Russellville. The
case was tried in our Circuit Court last
week, and from the proof it appeared
the defendant, Anthony Blair, lived in
Washington county, Tenn, near Jones
boro; that from some cause his step
daughter, Maggie Blair, aged between
sixteen and nineteen, had left his house
and came to this county some time in
May last and was, when killed in the
service of ESQ VIM. Donaldson, and
was represented as a very smart, indus
trious girl. Anthony Blair, hearing of
her whereabouts, came down to Russell
vile on the train, July Goth, and imme-
dlately made his way to the residence
of ESQ. Donaldson. He entered the
kitchen where the girl and Mrs. Don
aldson were engaged in preparing din
ner. He asked Che girl, looking savage
ly at her, to come outside the
house, that he had something to say to
her. The girl refused to go out, telling
him if he had anything to say to say it
before Mrs. D. About this time Esq. D.
rode up and he Immediately left the
house and was seen no more until We'd
nesday night, July Both That night the
girl in company with others, went up
to a colored church near Russellville to
prayer meeting. Returning, Blair was
met in the road by some parties who
had been to the prayer meeting. After
some conversation, Blair passed on to-
wards Russellville, but upon going
short distance turned back and took
another road which the young folks, in
Guiding Maggie Blair had taken. He
overlook the party and Immediately
walked up to Maggie, who was walking
in rear by the side of colored boy
named Henry Taylor. Pressing Taylor
away he caught her hand and said ''you
must go home with me on the train to-
night to your grandpaps," and pulled
her along the road a hundred and fifty
or two hundred yards, saying she should
90, Maggie struggling to get loose from
his grasp and saying she had rather die
than to 20 with him. WhereupOn he
drew a pistol and shot her twice, from
the affects of which she died the follow
ing Saturday. Blair was arrested on
Thursday night and taken before Esq
Miller next day, who after hearing the
proof, committed the prisoner to Jail in
this town. On Monday, 4th of August,
Circuit Court convened at this place and
the Grand Jury found an Indictment
against him for murder. He was by
consent of himself put upon trial last
Thursday The Court assigned him as
council Capt. J. G. Hodges and Maj. j
Grigsby. The State was represented by
Attorney General Tate and Judge M. b;
ID. Lane. After all the evidence had
l. Cd fhn Ioln
ed by the Attorney General who very
briefly but concisely presented the law
such cases to the jury. He |
was followed by Maj. Grigsby, who for |
half an hour plead for the prisoner in a |
as creditable to himself and the |
Morristown bar as it was astonishing to |
his hearers. The speeches of Captain |
Hodges and Judge Lane, however, were |
listened to with the greatest interest and |
attention by the jury and the large audi
ence attracted by the trial. They are /
both gentlemen of culture and refine
ment, splendid legal requirements, and /
large experience in the profession. The
case was given to the jury in lengthy
and concisely written charge, favoring
the defendant on all doubtful points, by
Judge Rose at 6 D. M, Thursday. Fri
lay morning, after the converting of the
Court, the jury came in and returned
verdict of guilty of murder in the first
1egree. Capt. Hodges then said to his
Honor that after consultation the coun-
vel for the defendant were of opinion
hat an appeal to the Supreme Court
would only result in an affirmation of
he judgement of the jury that the case
vas wilIful, malicious, deliberate and
murder, and therefore he
would not appeal. In reply to a ques-
ion of the Judge, the prisoner replied
hat he had nothing to say why the SEN
enee of death should not be passed on
i'm. Thereupon his Honor, in the
1ost feeling and pathetic manner adj
ressed the prisoner on the enormlty of
is crime and its terrible results to him,
oncluding by ordering that he should
e remanded to Jail and there securely
ept until Friday the Goth day of Septem-
er. between the hours of 10 a. M. and /
D. m, he should be taken therefrom
V the Sheriff to some point within one
lie of the Court House and there be
anged by the neck until he is dead
uring the delivery of the sentence the 3
,udemned mantle most hideous, re-
llsive, semi-gorilla looking mortal in l
we ever saw-kept his eyes
eadiIy fixed on the Judge, but not 2
uscle moved nor tear came. Appa-
ntly he was the most unaffected man
the room. As he was being convey D
back TO Jail he told Sheriff Loop that
3 sentence was a just one and that he 81
ly regretted its execution did not
me off to-day or tomorrow. 81