The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-06-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Several Interesting Trials.

SeNerHi
The deprcdotions of horse thieves and
harness thieves in the lower part of
the county attracted an unusual amount of
attention TO the cases of Geo. J. B. Thomp-
son and VIM. b. Montgomery, the young men
charged with the larceny of harness from
Messrs. James B. and John a. Ewing. They
were indicted jointly, but their counsel, Messrs
VIM Young and VIM. l.. Cooley, asked that
they might be tried separately which was
done. Geo. j. B. Thompson was first tried. His
case clme up last Friday.
Mr.. Jas. b. Ewing testified to the loss of his
harness, their recovery and complete identitica-
ton. Also to the popularity of wheel tracks
leading from ms place towards Hayre dc Grace.
The morning after his loss was discovered. the
witness and his neighbor, Mr.. J. Crawford
Grace.
Mr.. j. Crawford Thompson testified that on the
morning of May 18TH after the robbery, he went
over to Mr.. Ewing's, measured the tracks and
traced them to Havre de Grace. The tracks were
easily distinguishable, as one Of the wheels of
the buggy wabbed, the track being feet and
inches in some places and feet 10 inches in
others. On Saturday, May 18th, the witness was
in Bel Air and saw Geo. j. Is. Thompson there
The latter was under bail. awaiting the action of
the grand jury on charge Of stealing harness
from VIM. Il. Robinson. Witness suspected
Thompson and upon measuring the wheels of his
buggy was satisfied it was the one he and Mr.
Ewing traced to Havre de Grace. Geo Thomp-
harness from w. E. Jefferson. Witness told
Thompson he was sorry to see him in this fix
Thompson burst into tears, acknowledged that
he had taken Mr.. Ewing's harness and told where
they were hidden. He described the locality as
in thcket opposite VIM. Wells gate, on the
old Log Meeting House road. The confession was
made in the stable of sweets Hotel Bel Air. on
Monday witness told the authorities what he had
heard in company with Sheriff Carman the
locality was searched and Mr.. Ewings harness
were found, together with Others that had been
stolen in the neighborhood.
Sheriff Robert X. Carnan corrohorated Mr. J
Crawford Thompson's story of finding the har-
ness.
On Monday George ]. b. Thompson, the ac-
cused, testified in his own behalf. His story
was that on the night Mr.. Ewng's harness were
stolen he invited WIN. b. Montgomery to go to
Havre de Grace with him, TO trade horses They
arrived there about o o'clock and saw Mackin
whom they had intended to see, and after drink
ing beer in several saloons left about half-past
eleven. On Lantern Hill Thompson said he got
out of the buggy, leaving Montgomery lying on
the seat. The horse started and went on with
Montgomery. Witness walked on but did not
overtake the buggy and went home. Montgomery
got there an hour and a-haf afterwards. Thomp-
son stoutly denied making any confession to Mr..
j. Crawford Thompson or of having taken MIR.
Ewngs harness. He also swore that he lost his
overcoat, containing his pocket book, in Havre
Wm b. Montgomery's evidence was similar to
| that of Geo. Thompson. lie said that when
Thompson got out he must have been asleep
| When he awoke the horse was eating bushes by
| the roadside and he did not know where he was,
but found out shortly that he was near Daniel
cut road. near Hartford Furnace file positively
! denied having had anything to do with stealing
! MIR. Ewing sharness, and did not know where MIR.
| Ewing lived.
The case was argued by MCssrs Young and
Cooley for the defence and by States Attorney
! Maynadier for the State. 1t was given to the
! jury on Monday night and after celebrating for
three quarters of an hour they brought in a
verdict of mot guilty.
| On Tuesday George j. Il. Thompson was again
tried on the charge of larceny of harness from
Mr.. John a. Ewing. Only two jurors were OBJ
| tanned from the regular panel the rest being
talesmen. The testimony was about the same as
in the former case. except that evidence was pro-
duced by the defence, to prove Thompson's gen.
eral good character Albert Il. Cuum, John and
Michael Connaughton, f. G. Hooker, Henry Gull
lum, Samuel Lilly, Waiter Harvard, John Mag
ness, James Tobin, Martin Tobin, j. Thomas
Webster, Miss May Williams, Alex. Cuum, j. S.
Richardson and Chas, A. McGaw all testified to
Thompson's general good character for honesty
and that they never heard of any charge against
him before this one.
The case was argued by the same counsel as be-
fore, and given to the jury at about eleven O'Clock
Wednesday night. On Thursday morning about
eleven o'clock, they rendered verdict of gull
| ty."
The remainder of the civil docket was laid over
until June 18th.