The Cecil Whig., 1881-11-05
THE VGLCkER MURDER.

THE NGLCkER MURDER.
! TRIAL OF WIN. ]. ARRANTS, THE
ALLEGED PERPETRAToR
A Large Array of Witnesses on Both
Sides-The Testimony as Given.
Verdict " Not Guilty.
The adjourned session of the Septembe
term of the Circuit Court for Cecil county
began on Monday last for the trial of the
Nricker- ArrantS murder case Judge stump
was alone on the bench at the opening. The
State was represented by Prosecuting At
/ torney Crothers, assisted by w. T. Warhur-
ton, Esq; and Hon. Alexander Evans, W.
:. Evans, and John +. Wilson, Esqs., man
aged the defense. Sixty talesmen, sum
moned by Sheriff Logan by order of the
court, as we'll as the regular panel, We're on
hand from which t" select Il jury, and Il
long list of witnesses was called both tor
The State and for the defense. Much inter-
est in the case was exhibited by the general
public the court room outside of the bar
being crowded. Among the witnesses for
the defense We're the aged mother and the
young wife of the prisoner, both bearing
upon their countenances uumiStakable evi-
dences of suffering. Upon the call of wit
nesSeS, the defense expressed their rea,li-
ness to proceed with the trial: but the State,
, on account of the absence of Thomas Bry-
son, an important witness. desired delay.
The court issued an attachment for Bryson,
the absent Witness aud nj y o'clock ad-
iourned until halt-paSf Two, 10 give the
sheriff time to serve il.
THE HISTORY OF THE MURDER
in brief is Us follows. On Wednesday morn
ing, September 1lh, the body OF Nicholas
Nuicker, an aged German. for twenty years
past resident Of Elk Neck, about thirteen
miles southwest of Elkton, on the shore of
Elk river, an industrious and quiet citizen,
WAS found hy three hoyS-Preston AkerS,
3 Charlie .\rr,ntS, and John Futty--in the
/ river, about three hIndred yards from the
shore, anchored 10 the bottom hy Il heavy
anchor attached to his neck 10y n chain.
The ti.l: was very low, and the discovery
was made in consequence of the dead man 5
feet proirltding above the surface of the
water. Nwlcker had not been seen since
i o'clock on Monday evening and {; search
was in progress by the citizens of the neigh
borhnod when the body was found. Upon
examining the body. uudoubted evidence of
violence WAS found upon it, the head of the
deceased being completely crushed in by Il
blow with some heavy instrument pom
further search, the track or marks made by
dragging of the dead body were found be-
ginning III Nulckcr'S barn yard and ending
half way 10 the river. making it evident
the murder had been committed in the first
named place. The absence of Nulcker was
first noted by Il Mr.. Harris, who had az
ranged to begin the threShing of Nn.lcker's
wheat crop on Tuesday morning. Mr.. Har-
ris arrived at the farm of N,rlcker with his
machine late on Monday, and early on Tues
find him about the place. Mrs. ArrantS,
the wife Of the tenant upon the farm and
who occupied the first floor of the house,
Nulcker living on the second floor, had not
seen him since the evening previous and
had not heard him 90 10 his room in the
night The machine men searched and in
uuirel about the neighborhood but being
unable to hear from him left withou: filing
their engagement. Suspicion was by this
time aroused, and Il general search began,
resulting in the finding of the body as above
stated. The marks where the body had been
We're plain and distinct, drops of blood,
shreds of clothing, hair, and several pieces
of money being found on the route; no
doubt remained of the manner of Nrlcker' 5
death now. The body was taken to the
church near by and there placed in an ice
box, and Justice benjamin impanneled n
Jury of inquest, who returned .; verdict
That on the night of September >, 1881
at or near his residence, i'll Cecil county,
etc, John Nulck-r came to his death hy
Il blow received in the front portion of his
head. from Il blunt instrument in the hands
of some person or persons unknown to the
jury: and it is further apparent to the jury
that the body of the said NTlcker was
dragged from lis house TO the Elk river,
where he was sunk and anchored, and that
on W NednesdaH, september 9TH, following,
the body was found
From various circumstances, suspicion
rested upon VIM. j. -hrrantS, the tenant OF
Nu'lcker, he and the latter having had fire.
uuent disputes and MISUNDERSTANDING, and
upon this suspicion h. was arrested and
brought to trial.
Judge WickeS arrived in the l.36 +. NJ.
tram and during the afternoon took his seat
upon the bench. The sheriff returned at a
quarter before four and reported the wit
ness lirySon on his way I" town. At /
o'clock VIM. j. Arrants, the prisoner, was
brought into court hy the sheriff: He looked
much better than WAS anticipated by many,
though he appeared care worn and anxious
His aged mother and sister were present
and wept bitterly, and much sympathy was
expressed for them. Mrs. Arrants was
shortly after her sons entry taken to the
Howard House by order of the court. The
strong Voice entered Il plea of not guilty
The work of securing jury WAS then he,
gun. Before this accomplished, twelve
jurors We're challenged pcremptorily by the
defense. Five were found incompetent on
account of the persons entertaining consci-
entiouS scruples against capital punishment
| and ipur-the extreme number allowed by
law-were challenged by the State, and one
had formed an opinion by cOmversing with
Witnesses and his personal knowledge OF
. the case. Lawrence Sentman the first
juror accepted and sworn, and consequently
acted as foreman. The remaining eleven
were: WIN. Armstrong, Clarence WalmS-
ley. John Boyd, Edward +. Russell, James
c. CrotherS, William w. Black, Joseph j
Reynolds, Augustus Bromrd, Rufus j.
Foster, Henderson T. Brown, and Charles
! 7, Clayton. \ much shorter time was eQn