The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-03-31
Probable Disagreement of the Jury.

Richard Moore, of Havre de- Grace, was al
raigned for trial in the Criminal Court Of Balti-
more city, last Tuesday, for the murder of Capt.
Casper Smith, of the schooner SheldIuke, at
Baltimore, on or about the 18th of December
last. The prosecution was conducted by States
Attorney Charles q. Kerr, assisted hy Deputy
Edgar II. Cans. Mr. w. Hollngsworth Whytc
appeared as counsel for the accused The open
ing for the prosecution was made by States At.
torney Kerr, who stated thut the Shelldrake
under charge of Captain Smith and Moore, left
liavre de Grace, Md, where she was owned, for
Baltimore with cargo of fertilizers. She ar
rived at Baltimore, discharged cargo, and on
Wednesday, December %, commenced to take
on her retur cargo. Capt. Smith and Moore
were both on board, and the last seen of Capt
Smith alive was on that afternoon. On Thurs
day Moore superintendent the loading of the
vessel, signed the bill of lading for Captain
Smith, and gave various reasons for his alb
sence. On Friday he took the boat to a wharf
at Canton, between elevators Nos. and 2,
where she was left. Moore subsequently re-
turned to Havre de Grace, where he made GER
tain statements as to what had become of the
vessel. Capt. Wilson finally became uneasy
about the vessel and came on to Baltimore
The Shelldrake was taken to The marine rail
way on Fell>s Point, and on forcing open the
cabin the body of Capt. Smith was found in
his bunk with the skull crushed in as If by a
blow from Il marlinespike which was hanging
near by The States Attorney detailed various
circumstances as indicating that the crime had
been perpetrated by Moore, and said that If he
was found guilty the verdict must he of muir
der in the first degree.
Mr. Whyte, for the defense, called the atten-
ton of the Jury to the fact that the evidence In
the case was wholly circumstantial, and that
the presumption in law is that every man is
innocent until proved to lie guilty. He claimed
that in this case the circumstances were not of
such Il character as to show that Moore was
the guilty party, aud asked verdict of ac-
quitta
The first witness for the State was Capt John
s. Wilson, of Havre dc Grace, whose wife and
SONS own the Shelldrake. He testified to the
points mentioned by the State Attorney and
upon examination said that Moore told
him that after he left the vessel Smith had hired
Dutchman, a big man. in his place
Sergt. Diggs, DIR. c. NJ. Morit, coroner of the
eastern district, and policeman Sauer testified
us to the finding of the body In the berth, and
the bloody condition of the cabin and lockers.
A bucket OF water, apparently bloody, was on
the cabin floor, and shirt In 1t. Over the bunk
of the cabin there was hanging an iron marline.
wounds in the left temple of the deceased. Two
large cloths, which were stuffed into the mouth
of the deceased, were saturated with blood. A
biood-stained pair of drawers was also found in
the cabin. few unimportant papers were also
found there but no money.
Joseph smith, book-keeper for Henry Kline.
felter, testified to having peid Captain Smith on
Tuesday, the 27th, SGT for freight, mostly in
small silver COINS ..4
John II. Ranch saw Capt Smith on the 2sth
but never afterwards. On the Goth he went
aboard the vessel and found the hatchways open
and the rain pouring into them. The cabin was
locked and nobody was on board. Moore came
down during the day Thursday and said Capt.
Smith had gone to Hayre de Grace the night be-
fore.