The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-05-31
THE OLDHAM HOMICIDE.
Verdict of the Jury of Inquest
Mitcheli'S Arrest.

Verdict of the jury of Inquest
Mitchell's Arrest.
Coroner Litzenberg hell an inquest at
noon on Wednesday last on the Oldham
homicide in Sassafras Neck. State $ At
torney Bratton was present, and John ).
Writ for Captain Mitchell. Doctors
Ellis, COT Eikton) wills and liardcaste
attending physicians, made an autopsy.
The coroner's jury was as follows:
William Ward. George G.. LoiIand, +.
f. Meyers, J. Z. BalroII George ". Me
gee, George G. Morgan, k. a. DnhameIl.
w. J. Duhame!I, J. G.. Johnson. X. Tam
many, F. f. Bradbury and William II.
Pearce. Tie jury Viewed tue body.
Mrs. Mary T.. Oldham. wife OF the de
ceased, was the first s~uin and testified
that she was sitting on the side porch
when her husband went out to care for
his sheep. She offered to 90 with him
part of the way, saying she would attend
to her poultry. He tol her not to walk
out and tire herself, lie would do it for
he" She next heard loud words between
him and Mitchell. who demand the return
of a hoe to its place i'll his tool house.
Mitchell was then standing at the vii
dow of his tool house and Oldham below.
Oldham said he had hung it up IN its
place, then the lie was passed and re
tucned. When she ran around the house
to the scene they were graphing together
and Oldham fell, with Mitchell on linn
beating him. Said her husband was in
good humor when he left her and was
in good humor when he and Mitchell
were first talking.
Miss Annie Oldham WAS next Swoln,
and said she was sitting IN the dinning-
room, heard voices as of Il quarrel, heard
the Gle passed. ran cut quickly and
called to her mother to follow. Wien
she first saw them they seemed 10 lie
clinched, and Mitchell was striking her
father; saw her father fall down, with
Mitchell Oh top beating him with stick
on the head and holding him by the
throat. She cried out he was killing her
father. when he got Off and replied. 'No,
have not killed him, or given him half
enough then he wake off. Her father
was unconscious from the time of the
fight to the hour of his death.
George Price, colored, being sworn said
he was working i'll the back of the gar
den in view of the tool house: heard the
two men quarreling; heard the lie passed:
saw Mitchell come down the steps 18th
a stick in his hand; Oldham ran off q
short distance and picked up a stick,
threw it down and grabbed another and
met Mitchell at the foot of the steps and
struck at Mitchell first. Mitchell and
Oldham then cIinched and he saw no
more, but kept on with his work and paid
no attention until the ladies began cry ing
for help to take him into the house; said
he was perfectly unconscious when he
helped to raise him up.
Dr. 5. E. Wills, by agreement of the
other physicians in attendance, gave Tt
S"iS VI ehS it4- just S'Lt u
their labors. He first saw Oldham on
Saturday night, May Eth: he was bleed
ing profusely and unconscious: last Mon
day he died; all symptoms showed he
was Suffering from injuries to the brain;
at the autopsy they found OH the left side
of his forehead at the brain clotted blood
and loss o. substance, and Il much larger
amount on the right side of same; he was
severely bruised about the head; wounds
undoubt eddy caused death; skull was not
fractured; considerable bruise on back of
head; will not say whether wounds were
caused by a stick OF by list.
DR.. Iardcastlc said Dir. Wills had
given already the result of the autopsy.
but could not say whether ;hc wounds
were caused by stick or from the list.
DR.. Ellis was sworn. and said he did
not think the clots OF blood were pre-
duced by the fist.
Mitchell was sent cor by Mr.. v int, Int
was not examined.
The verdict of the jury was. that the
deceased came to his death by violence
at the hands of James :. Mitchell.
A warrant for the arrest OF Mitchell
was issued on Wednesday night and
given 10 Sheriff Smith, who arrested him,
and he is now in Jail. Captain Mitchell
will have hearing to-day before Justice
Scott, who will decide as to releasing
him On on bail. Sheriff Smith went
down yesterday TO summon all the wit
neSseS.
Mr.. Oldham leaves widow and eight
children-three sons and five daughters
He was said to be kind aud affect tomato
to his family, and had formerly lived in
the upper part OF the county: and when
he leased the present property one of the
conditions Of the lease was that Mitchell
should be lodged and boarded with Mr.
Oldham.
The whole neighborhnod are deeply
grieved over the affair, and sentiment is
much divided, both parties being of the
highest responsibility
Mr.. Oldham S funeral took place last
Thursday and was very largely attended.
He was buried in the cemetery of West
minister church, Georgetown. Kent Goth
ty, Md. Rev. Mr.. Reese conducted The
services. The pall-bearers were Judge
David L. Davis, Isaac +. NanarSdalc,
Levi r. Mearns, Thomas {. Cruikslank,
l. f NJ Woo1all and W NIitrbaII