The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-03-08
The Mysterious Death of John Grit
fifth in Frederick County.


A dispatch to the Baltimore Sun from
Frederick, Nd, on Thursday, says Phil
ip Stanton and Samuel Steine, both colored
men, were arrested in New Market district,
Frederick county, Wednesday, by Constable
John Burgess, on the charge of having
killed and robbed Mr.. John Griffith, whose
body was found by some school children
near the residence of Mr.. Nathan Waters,
in the vicinity of Kemptown early on Friday
morning last.
Mr.. Griffith, who was aged about fifty
four years, resided near the village OF
Damascus, in Montgomery county. On
the morning of the 18th ult., he left his
home in a wagon, accompanied by his
brother, VIM. Griffith, and Mr. Marion
Duval, for Frederick city, to attend court
as witness. Near Monrovia Station, on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the party
left the vehicle and took the cars. On
their return to Monrovia from Frederick
in the afternoon Mr.. Griffith left his friends,
who had business to attend at the station
and proceeded on toward his home afoot,
expecting to be overtaken by them. This
was the last time he was seen alive. His
body was found the next morning in a
partially frozen state. A coroner's jury
rendered a verdict to the effect that he
came to his death from exposure. Some
of his friends were not satisfied, however,
that this was the case, and although there
were no external marks or evidence of
violence on the body, the belief prevailed
that he had been foully dealt with. 1t was
known that he had about his person when
he started from Monrovia for home about
$50 in money, silver watch, several silver
chains and other articles which were all
gone when his body was found.
On, Tuesday it was ascertained that
Philip Stanton, one of the prisoners, had
traded a watch and chain to party living
near Poplar Springs, Howard county, which
answered the description of Mr.. Griffith s
watch. Steine, who it appears had been
in Stanton's company on Thursday, when
questioned gave conflicting accounts of his
whereabouts. These circumstances were
deemed sufficient to justify further in
vestigation. The prisoners were brought
to Frederick city about II o'clock We'd
nesday night and lodged in jail The same
jury of inquest was again called together
yesterday, and after hearing the testimony
of several witnesses returned a verdict that
the deceased came to his death by being
murdered and then robbed Its believed
by some that Mr.. Griffith was killed on
the road and carried into house, or that
he was enticed into the woods and MUIR
dered, and his body carried to the place
where it was found on Friday morning.
Others believe that he died from exposure,
and that his body was afterwards robbed.
The silver watch which was traded by
Stanton has been fully identified as the
property of Mr.. Griffith. A pencil belong
ing to him was also found in the house
occupied by Stanton and Steine jointly with
two women, who, it Is said, are not their
wives One of the prisoners, in making q
statement, said he saw Griffith sitting on a
fence, and soon after contradicted himself
by saying he saw him at different place
sitting on a pile of rails. The prisoners
were committed by Justice Murphy. When
the body was found bruise was observed
on the left side of the head, but this was
supposed at the time to have been caused
by fall No trace has been obtained of
demijohn containing gin for medical pur-
poses, which Mr.. Griffin took with him
from the station.