Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-11-14
ADJousHHD ouAKrKR SESSIONS.


ADJouRNED QUARrER SESSIONS.
rsssimeny An Taken In the Trial OF wiiiiam
Wilson soe ths murder OF John Dixon
In salisbury Township.
7hursddy Afternoon jury In the
case Of Com'th W. James Carberry, selling
liquor without license, after deliberation
Of twenty-five hours, returned q verdict Of
not guilty, but directed that he pay the
costs OF prosecution.
The trial Of William Wilson, indicted
for the murder OF John Dixon was pro.
cecdcd with. The opening speech was
made by G. G. Kennedy. He said the
commonwealth would provo that John
Dixon, colorcd man, whose residence
was in Salisbury township, was killed
early on the morning Of June 10Th, under
the following circumstances Charles
Thomas, Lewis Parker, William Wilson,
John Dixon and Peter Woodburn met
at the house OF Woodburn on the
evening OF June IA, and finally decided
to 20 to dance at George Woodburp's
house, at the edge of some woods, one
mile northeast of Mt. Vernon. At the Mt.
Vernon hotel, Parker and Thomas procured
liquor which the party drank on the road
liquor was also sent for from Woodburn's
house. When the party broke up at an
early hour on Sunday morning, Dixon was
asked to accompany Woodburn, Park.
or, Thomas and Wilson home. Ho re-
piled that he "was too drunk to go home,
but finally agreed to go with them. On
the road homo there was a scuifle on the
turnpike between Wilson and Dixon, and
Wilson was seen on the pike leaning over
Dixon pounding him in the face. Woodburn
wanted to interfere and separate the men,
but Parker and Thomas would not let
him. After Wilson ceased pounding
Dixon, Woodburn picked up the body and
carried it to the shed of the Mt. Vernon
hotel, where an examination showed that
the man was dead. A colored man named
Green passing by at the time, suggested
to Wilson, Thomas aud Parker that they
surrender themselves, and they at once
went to the office of Justice Slaymaker
and gave themselves up and confessed
what they had done.
The first witness called was DIR. 4. G..
B, Parke and he testified to the nature of
the wounds on the head of Dixon, and in
his opinion they caused death. He also
detailed the testimony given by Wilson ut
the corouer's inquest. There Wilson
testified that they had been 10 party and
that Dixon wanted pistol that he thought
Wilson had that Dixon was very much
under the influence of liquor and wanted
| to fight with Wilson that he refused and
| finally agreed to fight, aud after Dixon
was knocked down, he hit him three times
with his hand he then asked Dixon
whether he had enough and he received
| no reply he asked him a second time,
| and not receiving o reply looked more
closely at him and saw that he was dead.
| Woodburn took charge of the body and
| Wilson and his companions surrendered
themselves to Justice Slaymaker. Atthat
| examination Wilson admitted that he had
| pistol, but could not tell the deputy
| coroner what had become Of it.
DR.. j. NJ. Slsymaker, who assisted DIR,
| Parke in the post-mortem examination,
coroborated that physician's testimony IN
reference to the nature of the wounds on
| Dixon's head and testified that death re-
| suited from tho wounds.
A. F. Slaymaker, justice of the peace
and deputy coroner of Salisbury township
testified that early on the morning of Junt
| Is, Parker, Wilson, Thomas and Wood
burn came to his house and told him they
had some difficulty with John Dixon auC
they thought he was dead. The testimony
| of the colored men at the inquest was Il
the effect that Dixon wanted to fight witt
Parker, and that Parker said Dixon hac
once before whipped him and that b
did not want to fight Dixon thel
asked Wilson for pistol ant
Wilson refused to give it to him; mo
ment afterwards Wilson ran at Dixon
struck him twice with the open hand
Wilson also told witness how he took holt
of Dixon and threw him down.
Peter Woodburn testified that he &C
companied Wilson, Dixon, Parker ant
- kka 49, NJ Nnfd
burns on the 18th OF June; when tn
party was over all left together, but afte
walking some distance witness with sew
eral women were ahead, and Parker
Thomas, Dixon and Wilson were behind
witness heard fuss behind him and raj
back; when he got to where the balanc
Of the party we're, he saw Dixol
laying on the turnpike, with vii
son standing over him; he trie'
to separate the men but was prevented b.
Parker and Thomas, who told witness t,
let them fight it out; Wilson struck DixoI
once after witness got there he thel
went 70 Dixon and asked him If he wa
hurt, to which he received no reply /; b
then turned him on the side, saw that h
was dead and asked Parker and Thoma
to help to carry Kim to the Mt. Vernon
hotel sheds, but they refused.
| Harriet ana IlZZlo refers, WHO Wer
with Woodburn, on the road home from
the party. oorroborated his testimony
SeWell Green testified that he advises
Wilson, Parker and Thomas to surrende
themselves after they told him that Dixo'
was killed in the quarrel.
Adjourned to 9 o'clock on Frida.
morning.
Friday Morning.-At the opening o
court the commonwealth said they had N
other evidence 90 submit in the Wilson
murder case.
Tho defense was that Dixon was killed il
self.defense by Wilson that Dixon pro
voked the quarrel and Wilson did not wan
to fight with him and did not strike tn,
first blow, and that Wilson struck DixoI
only after he had been assaulted. The de
fsnse also called witnesses to show tina
| Dixon was q man of bad character auC
very quarrelsOme.
The commonwealth rebutted this BY
calling . number Of witnesses who testified
that his reputation for peace was good.
The testimony closed at 10 O'Clock ant
when oourttadj djourned the case had not beer
given to the jury.
Little Locals.
Peter B. Fordney complains that the fir,
department did not make any effort Il
extinguish the fire at his ice house OF
Wednesday night. He says If the com
Il