National Republican., 1881-10-22
A GAMBLERS CRIME.
THE STORY OF A MURDER TRIAL.
Sam McDonald's Crnei Assault on berry Amos--Hls
Acquitial Secured by Lavish Use OF Money
The Truthful story Of Gamln
Who Could Not he Bought.


There died few days since at No. $40
Race street, Philadelphia, a young man named
William Brandon, who figured prominently IN one
OF the most famous murder trials in the history OF
this State Seven years ago William Brandon was
street gamin In Baltimore, peddling news
papers, backing boots, and picking up living In
the best way he could. The only name by which
he was known was Rocks" There was nothing
specially interesting about him us gamin, but on
the night OF Monday, June %, 1874 he saw Sam
Mcdonald stab Berry Amos In the saloon OF the
Sherwood House. ut Fayette and Harrison streets
in this city, and had the witnesses and jury not
been tampered with this street gamin's evidence
would very likely have sent sam Mcdonald 10th
scafIold
THIS MURDER IS STILL FRESH
In the minds of Bnltlmorcans. Berry Amos was n
worthless rough but McDonald's butchery Of him
was 80 wanton and cruel that public opinion was
aroused To the highest pitch against Mcdonald,
and his acquittal has always been looked upon as
blot upon the name of justice In Maryland. He
was gambler OF the high toned order, having In
heritcd property valued at not less than quarter
OF a million of dollars. His father was William
Mcdonald, very wealthy citizen, whose country
seat I'm Baltimore County, known as Guilford, Is
now the summer residence of Mr.. A. s. Abel, pro-
prietor Of the Baltimore Sun, and II is one OF the
prettest places in the suburbs of Baltimore. When
Sam Mcdonald
COMMITTED THIS MURDER
he only twenty five years OF age, but from the
time ho reached his majority he had given him
self up to n wild and reckless life. lndulglng In all
sorts OF extravagnnces and consorting hobtually
with evil companions OF both sexes. He had n
mistress, and Il was she who sent him as present
the richly engraved dirk with which he COM
mitted the crime lie had been educated In Eu-
rope at great expense and the best society OF the
city open TO him. but he preferred the life of
a gambler and roue, and thus he lived and died,
His father fortunately died before the son COM
mited this crime, and his mother had been mar
red again to n Swiss gentleman OF some distinc-
tion, named John dc Sebyr, aud when the crime
was committed she and her husband were resid-
ing at Nice, Italy Somewhat less than year pre-
vious to the murder Mcdonald,
IN DRUNKEN BRAwJ
at house of III l-fame stabbed and very nearly
killed man named Joseph Legg. Immediately
after this he left the city and went TO Terre Haute
Ind, and purchased avery handsome residencein
the suburbs OF that city, where he lived with his
mistress At the time of the murder of Berry Amos
he wns in Baltimore on q short visit. Amos was
an unusually ine-looking man, tall, erect, broad
chestcd and muscular, with sturdy legs and brawny
arms He had dark complexion but regular
features, and was decidedly handsome. He was
best known as q three. card monte man. He could
work wondersin this line, aud clean out the pockets
OF all who were disposed To try their luck with him
with the most surprising facility.
| HIS USUAL MoDUs oPERASDI
was TO disguise himself as countryman OF the
very greenest type and thus to swindle rustic:
whenever they gathered in large crowds at the
Pimlico races or at fairs in various counties Of the
State. Withal, he was an inoflensve fellow, no
easily excited, and as q rule very peaceable. Or
4.
of his companions had been gambling In an up
per room of the Sherwood House. When they go
through they went downstairs to the bar-room,
and there Amos stood leaning upon the bar One
OF MoDonalds companions, named Golibart
pushed against Amos general row resulted, II
which Mcdonald twice stabbed Amos with hi
dirk, once in tho left arm and once in the neck
The subclayian artery was severed, and hemor
rhages
AND DEATH FOLLOWED.
II seemed at first that Mcdonald would get hi!
Just deserts. He was indicted the day following
the murder and arraigned tho next day. Hi
counsel how ever, secured removal of his case I,
the court Of Baltimore County, Towsontown. Will
in jail in that place he was allowed to have hi
own way and every wish was granted. strang
stories ure told OF the roynl banquets with the ja
officers, OF l-night debauches and sprees With
the Jail walls, to which the friends Of McDonal
/. /. were often invited. Ho was also allowed to 6
about the streets at night with his companions an
perhaps one deputy sheriff, und they often mad
: night hideous in that quiet country town.
THE TRIAL CAME OPT
early in October of the same year, and attraote
, the closest attention Then came series of yer
: singular developments. A number OF witness,
who at the coroners investigation hnd testife
that they saw Mcdonald stab Amos now can
forward and swore that there was such a crowd 1
the bar. room at the time that they could not te
tify who did the stabblng. All was confusion no
In their minds regarding matter which
y few months before had been as clear as day
. them. That these witnesses had been bougl
u with Sam McDonalds money there was no dou
In the public mind, and the same method he
y been tried with the gamin Rocks, but unsu
: cessfully
. HE HAD BEEN INDUCED TO 90
! TO Towsontown JAIL ostensibly to carry some ciga
c 10 Mcdonald and there he was plainly told that
/ would be worth n handsome sum to him to 30 o
Is of the State until the trial over, or II he W
g called to the stand, to testify that he did not s
y the stabbing. He told this to his mother, AND 81
e in some way impressed the words on his mind.
ID he testified at the trial, that "such money bong
l. blood" When sworn as witness, ignorant b.
as he was unable to read or write, he told his sto
Q In most straightforward manner, and all effo
to break down his evidence were ineflectu
Every one who heard or read his evidence b
e' neved II; yet, in spite OF TINS, mcDoneiu was
10 quilted after very short consultation Of the Ju
IS The verdict was generally regarded asa
y MOST INFAMOUS ONE,
d and there was much talk for a time Of prosecuti
n several Of the witnesses for perjury, but nothi
y came of 1t. Mcdonald Immediately went to
ID residence near Tcrre Hnute, and there, two YET
ir ago, he died. His death was reported here to ha
If been most distressing one, the imngc Of the mt
,e rc dered Berry Amos being constantly before hi
~ Great interest was taken In "Rocks" for SOL
II time after the trial. and efforts were made to
es cure him position where he conld mako n bet
Il living than by running on gamblers errands
10 went with his mother to Philadelphia few yei
ID ago. and such position was there secured for hi
Il through efforts OF his Baltimore friends. He "
VI not n boy of bright promise though. and prov
much more fond OF his old associations than OF I
new. lie died OF ofconsumption.