The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-03-29
TIE COURT HOUSE IN BEL AIR.
Mr.. Aliens "Reminiscences.

10 Tue EuttOT Oh lHc -LSlS'
In a late latter to you Mr.. J. Crawford Nelson
states that DR.. Archer in former article
could rot give some information about the cree
ton and completion OF the Court House, because
h. had been unable to lind It, and sir. Nelson
gives some. but says he supposes the court house
was finished in 1859; hut that no has no record
As happen to have that knowledge, give it,
because all such things should be preserved. In
ginning, | think n May, but II it did not begin
in Nay Il ran ip s, May, know. was foreman
OF the Grand Jury. and the court house was
not then fnished, the court beng held In the
church which was removed to give place to
the Masonic Hall, and the Grand Jury sitting in
a building adjoining what is now the "a National
Bank. That term OF court was memorable tor
tive things-for the trial Of the two worst crimi-
nails the world ever had in it, and for the per
Eistent, able and eloquent efforts of Col. Il. III.
Webster in their prosecution. These two men,
Montgomery and Barnard, had come from Balti-
more on a cunning expedition, ostunsibly, and
passing Il dwelling in the fourth district asked for
drink OF water. IL was handed to them by the
wife Of the proprietor. Their devilish propcn-
stiles were excited by her attractions, and they
endeayored to gain Abundance to the house for
the NEST outrageous purpose. The husband, in
endeavoring TO protect his wife. was shot through
the closed door and lied. The trial lasted
long time, and ended in the acquittal Of the chief.
Barnard, and the sentence OF Montgomery to
the peniteutiary for. Think, IS years.
The late william =. Preston, then ore of the
most celebrated criminal lawyers in the State,
was their chief counsel and MIR. Henry W. Archr
assisted him in the defence.
At that time the G rand Jury of the spring term
held in August. When the court met in August
tho Grand Jury occupied for the first time the
present Grand Jury room, so that happened to
by the foreman of the first Grand Jury that ever
sat in 1t. As | have said this, and as old men are
allowed to be garruleus. may well say, so far
as know, was the first person to introduce
reaper In this part OF Hartford county. In 1854.
suggested TO Mr.. Parker n. Lee, (siill living,)
that he and ! take steps towards building
which resulted in its being built AMI this Undue
ing the settlement of q rector has resulted in the
erection OF one ut Darlington, one at Churchville
and another near Dublin.
suggested to the late Edward Quares that he
and call public meeting at the Court House
to give expression to the determination of Har-
ford county to support the efforts of the govern
ment to maintain the union. He agreed that he
would Join me in this. Ro went next day to Bel
Air, aud had hand bills printed, calling the meet
ing. It was held. The secessionists took posses
Archer In the chair lie made a powerful speech
in which ho predicted, among other evils, that
Abraham Lincoln would soon have 40 600 aboIi-
ton postmastCrs distributing abolition docu-
ments over the land. MIR. Quarles then mount
ed the lawyers table and made an eloquent
South against the Yankees. This was in Janu-
AIRY or February, 1851 ! was the first Republi-
to nominate candidate for President of the
United States. and have ever since thanked
God that while Lincoln and Andrew Johnson
were nom mated, did not vote for johnson. hut
for Daniel $. Dickinson, of New York, for Vice
President. | was the FIRST Senator the Rnpubli-
cans ever elected in this county. ! suggested
To Judge Ely that he and start IA Building Asso-
citation at Darlington. We didit am told that
! was the first active member OF the Maryland
Historical Society. Lastly | am, | think, the
first man who. having aided the Republicans to
restore the Union, and to settle the collateral
issues, arising in the progress of the contest,
who has been able to divest himself OF party pre-
judice SO much as to SEQ that the men who now
control the Republican party are the men who,
IL they could, would be princes and lords, while
the great masses who are interested in the prescr-
walton OF the equal rights of man, are in the
Democratic party. or course, being first in the
matters stated was only accidental, and in some
OF them may be mistaken in what have said,
in which case trust will DO corrected and you
will recognize in 1t all the garruty of an old fel
low, who can still talk but who can do little be-
sides. Yours. respectfully,
WdICh 1871, 1882 Il. NJ. ALLEN.
T.. S.-Writng about old things recalls funny
incident at u Republican meeting in Prospect in
$50.
MIR. VIM. NJ. Marine. who richly deserves and
hope will get the collgctorship Of the port of
Baltimore, was a candidate for Congress. and
went with him to PrOspt Ct where he was to adj
dress the people There was conical elevation
of the ground there. covered with sod OF green
grass, which made u good rostrum for Il speaker
Marine mounted this surrounded by large
audience. He began with a low head of steam
which increased as he proceeded until he was
rushing like an express train at sixty miles an
hour. A large flock of geese nippcd the RTas.
hundred yards down the road. Led by large
pandcr the flock Joined the crowd. The ganders
head was close to Marines legs, when the whole
pack with extended nccks set up such an cutlery
only as Il Hook OF geese can make. Marine and
Others tried in vain to stop them. As soon as they
fund they were no longer pursued they renewed
the attack with fresh vlgur. The end was that
Marine had to close amid shouts of laughter
and lost the election. L. NJ. A.