The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-01-10
ARCHER AT TOWSON,
the Case. Appearance and Man
ner in Court.

in Court.
Ex.State Treasurer Stevenson Archer
caused a sensation in the court room at
Towson on Tuesday by refusing to les
tify in the suit of the State against his
boGdsmen. The following account OF
this pathetic episode in the trial is taken
from the Baltimore 4mer1caR.
Brief, tragic, decisive and inexpressi-
bly, affecting was the part played by
Stevenson Archer as witness for the
State at Towson on Tuesday.
There was not man present whose
eye did not fall with pity upon him who
was the central figure of the group there
gathered, none but who will carry the
memory of it through life; there was not
moment of it which did not fill his own
soul with torture which no attempt at
self control on his part could conceal
Standing in the presence of the men
who if be has not ruined in the same
wreck which he has pulled about him.
self, is no fault of his, as if III the desper,
ate hope of making some amends, at
least for the wrong he has done them,
he stoutly refused to say .one word that
could in any way operate against them
in the suit.
He knew that in refusing to testify he
was beyond the power of the law to do
him any greater harm than which it is
now meeting out to him, and to that ex-
tent at least he was master of the situa-
ton. From the time that he stood before
the Court to be sworn until he had made
his explanation for refusing to obey the
orders of the state not more than three
minutes elapsed, and then he lett the
court room and WAS on his way back to
Baltimore.
Mr.. Archer drove out to Towson in a
carriage with Warden Weyler, the writ
reaching the penitentiary too late for
them to take the g. 80 train over the
Mary land Central Railroad, though they
would probably have driven out anyhow
l. was about eleven o'clock when they
came to the court house, but SO quietly
did they enter that their presence was
not known for long time, except by a
few people who faced the door when they
came in.
To many of those who did not see him
Mr.. Archer was not known in the differ
ence which the penitentiary require
ments have made, and Warden Weyler
was, of course, stranger to most of
those present There were many people
who did not know he was in the room
until he was called to testify. Mr..
Archer came in, walking by the side of
Warden Weyler. His step was steady,
but his head was bowed, except with &C.
casional nervous elevations Of the eyes.
They took o seat imm ediately behind
the counsel for the state, facing the
Court, and with most OF the crowd be-
hind HIM. He glanced around the court
room, and there around them, were his
friends OF lifetime there, the court
room, where SO many times before he had
stood proud and erect. Qlickly be pass.
ed his tremulous hand over his face as if
to shut out the scene and the memories
which it brought up. Finally, he placed
his hand on the railing, and resting his
head on his hand, rarely changed from
this position, which, besides giving him
more comfort, served better to shield him
from scrutiny, il be SO wished. Occa-
slonally, he shifted from his position and
sitting up, looked around him, and did
not finch from the gaze turned upon
him.
HE Is CHANGED MAN.
When the eyes of those who had so
oftea looked upon the Stevenson Archer
of old were turned upon him on Tuesday
the change they saw would have almost
moved statue The long white beard
was gone, and in its place was face
clean shaver, and startling in its strange
ness. OF the calm gentleness of express
sion, which had made 1t always SO easy
and so pleasant for all to approach him,
tho same lines were there, but intensified
by sadness and resignation that not
even reproduction of his features could
portray.
The removal OF the beard, too, bad
made marvellous change in this way, but
could not obliterate entirely that which
nature had placed there. The blue eyes
were as benign as ever, the mouth a lit
tie more closely set, the hair trifie
whittier. The whole expression was one
almost heroic in its calmness and resig-
nation. The hair had not been cut
short, and there was surprising stout
ness that none had ever Seen in Mr.. Ar
| cher before. His face was full and his
color good. He was not required to APP
pear in his prison garb, but wore nice,
| looking suit of new clothes, and kept his
| overcoat on all the time he was in court.
The old white SLOUGH hat, known where
ever Mr.. Archer was, was replaced by a
black SLOUGH hat.
Two o'clock came aud it began to look
as if Mr.. Anchor would not be called as
witness, but would have to return OF
Wednesday.
Indeed, the State, finding that it could
| in time had determined not to swear hin
| Tuesday. Mr.. John W. Middendorf hat
just concluded his testimony, and Johr
A. Hambleton had been called to tho
stand, when Attorney General Whyts
said to the court II had asked Wardei
Weyler, who is here with Mr.. Archer, tt
bring him back TO morrow as VIC will no
be able to use him as witness to day, 81
that he need not be compelled to wal
here any longer to day.
Instantly Mr.. Carter left his seat. and
going over to Archer, bent over him ant
said something to him. The State sud
denly changed its course aud Attorne.
General Whyte said
ave will have Mr.. Archer called now.
Mr. Hambleton left the witness stanC
and went back to his seat.
Every eye was turned on Mr.. Archie
but he did not finch for a moment from
what was before him. lie had taken TIN
cue from counsel for the defense. The
had made up their minds that thei
clients should not be made the victims O
Mr.. Archer's testimony, and as he coult
not be compelled to testify, to proven
it if possible. There was no need, the
thought, for him to be subjected to an
other days modification in attendanc