The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-05-27
The Singleton Murder Trial.
WORTHEN FOUND GUILTY.
MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE

the murder of Asel Singleton, by shooting him
with IL pistol ON Good Friday last, April 10Th,
began on Monday morning.
Messrs. Walter w. Preston, States Attorney,
and Messrs. George. y. Maynadier and Frank
A. Hancock appeared for the prisoner.
The jurors on the regular panel were first
called.
Alonzo Cochran, William d. Higle, J. Thomp-
son Frieze, Ellis Tucker, John n. Burrier,
George W. Jones, Joseph NJ. Strickland, Joseph
H. Strawbridge, Robert n. kunsay ami j. Ed
ward Dean were perempt9rliy 9ililicngcaa ny
opinion and was excused. John II. Baker was
also excused because of conscientious scruples
against rendering, verdict OF guilty IN case
where the punishment is death. Daniel j.
Lynch had expressed IN opinion founded upon
what he had read of the case in the newspa
pers. Upon being questioned he SAID 1t was
not such an opinion us would influence his YER
dict after hearing the evidence. Judge Wat
tiers decided that he was Il competent juror but
the defense challenged him.
Herman w. Hanson, William Enfield, Ever
hart Hildt William E. Kenly, John X: Erwin,
Charles +. Townsley, John Il. Ward, Thomas
\. Shanahan, Luther G. Henderson ana Geo.
Il. Shannon, of the regular jury, were accepted
as jurors. The regular jury being exhausted
six talesmen were summoned, of whom Charles
L. Nelson and Jonas X. Nonemaker were
sworn and James N. Ayres challenged by the
State.
Mr. Preston made an opening statement on
behalf of the State the defense reserving their
statement.
The first witness called for the State was DIR.
Silas Scarboro, who testified that he was called
to see Singleton the day he was shot. He
found Il large bullet hole on the right side of
the abdomen, just below the ribs. He regard
ed Sngleton's condition as dangerous. The
patient was weak and depressed but on the
Monday following he rallied Il little but the
next day began to sink and died on Thursday,
April 21st, of peritonitis, caused by the bullet
wound. The postmortem revealed that the
bullet had passed through the right lobe of the
liver, and entered the right kidney, where all
trace of it was obscured by inflammation. The
nj eff nip
gleton was about . feet and inches III height,
weighed 40 pounds and was strong man.
His organs were in Il remarkably healthy con-
dtion The day after the shooting he asked
Singleton what his opinion was of the result of
the wound. Singleton, who was perfectly sane,
said he felt that he was going to die. Was
present when SingletOns dying declaration
was made the next day. Singleton answered
the questions asked him and was not at all de-
liriOuS.
James Connolly testified that the shooting
took place in front of his shoe maker shop at
Muttonsburg. On the morning of the homi-
eide Worthen and Edward Walters, colored,
got to sparring i'll his shop. Worthen COM
planned that some one had scratched his hand
and that he could whip any one in the shop
Something was said about cider and Singleton
told Worthen he could get the cider. Witness
went down stairs, and while he was out ne
heard two pistol shots. u ran" he said, to
wards the road, and saw the prisoner and Sim
gleton both standing in the road. Asel said he
has shot me- l said, My God, is it posi-
ble2' and told Worthen to go away As sci
/ took Asel into the house. Worthen followed
with stone in his hand. Worthen told me to
look at his Jaw There was an ABRASION GI se0 OF
for the doctor, constable and magistrate"
On cross examination witness said Singleton
told him that the prisoner had shot him through
his pocket the first time, and would have shot
him again but singleton Knocked Worthen
down.
DIR. Silas Scarboro, recalled, testified that he
probed the deceased's wound to the depth of
about an inch.
DIR. II. c. Whteford testified that he per-
formed the post mortem, with Doctors Scar
boro and Poole, and that the wound was Il
fatal one.
DR. j. s. Poole was called in consultation
with DR.. Scarboro, and approved the treat
ment of the wound in every particular. He
regarded it from the first as mortal.
Edward Walters, colored, testified that on the
18th of last April he was in Connellys shop,
with Worthen, Singleton and others. Worthen
said he could knock out any man in the
place and SPARED little with witness. Worth
en- then went out When he returned he COM
planned that his hand had been scratched and
said he would allow no man to draw his blood.
Singleton said, "Charley, don't be such baby
to cry about u pin scratch" A few words pass
ed between them which witness did not hear and
they started to go down stairs. Singleton went
first. Witness caught hold of him, begging
him not to go, but he pulled away and went
down stairs. Worthen followed and witness
also tried to keep him from going down. A
minute afterwards witness heard u pistol shot
and going To the window saw Worthen with n
pistol in his hand. Singleton drew his arm
back as if to strike Worthen and the latter fell,
but witness did not know whether Singleton
struck him or not AT the same time Worthen
fired the second shot and the pistol fell from
his hand i'll the mud.
Dillwyn Deckman, son of David Deckman,
testified that when WOrthen was complaining
of the scratch on his hand Singleton told him
not to act like baby. "Everywhere you go you
want to quarrel Charley told him to come
outside and settle it. Asel went first and Char
ley followed. heard the report of Il pistol and
went down the steps. Saw Singleton strike
Charley and knock him down. Then Charlie
shot i'll the mud. He got up but left the pistol
lay. Singleton threw two stones ut Charley
but did not hit him.
Mrs Singleton, widow of the murdered man,
testified that her husband never went armed.
Joseph Hopkins, another boy who was i'll the
shop when the shooting occurred, testified to
Worthen said, Take him away or | will kill
him.
Joshua Tucker, colored, testified to the trou-
BILE in Connoly's shoemaker's shop and that
Singleton told Worthen not to make IL fuss
about it US they had been having Il good time
and not to have any trouble. Worthen made
some remark and started to go out, but wit
ness did not know which really went first
Witness was standing at the window and when
they got to the road they sort of squared Off
Worthen showed himself around and shot Sin
gleton, who got up and said, You have shot
me-" There were no blows struck nor stones
thrown before the shot Witness was looking
William J. Forsythe, constable, testified to
having arrested Worthen and brought him to
1all. DlQ not ilSK the prisoner any
but Worthen told him he had shot Singleton,
and told witness he had hid the pistol under
Addison Lees hay rick. They went together
and got the pistol. On cross examination wit
ness testified that Worthen and Beckie Single
ton were engaged to be married and Asel OBJ
jected to it.
John H. Singleton heard the prisoner make
threats against Asel Singleton. He heard him
say he had bought Il pistol for the purpose of
shooting Ase and showed him the pistol.
Asel Singleton, Jr, heard Worthen say he
wanted shoot SlnRletOlS.
not care which one.
Louisa Singleton heard Worthen make
threats against Asel the Saturday before he
shot him.
The evidence for the State was closed by
reading to the jury the dying declaration of
AseI Singleton, i'll which he said that after tell
ing the prisoner he wouldn't cry for u scratch,
Worthen invited him to go out in the road and
have talk. He added:
outside until he shot me. did not see the pis-
tol ut first. Charley WOrthen Shot ut me twice
and the first shot struck me i'll the abdomen. 1
saw the pistol in his hand after the second shot.
After the second shot ran to him and grabbed
the pistol out of his hand and it fell on the
ground. gave Charley Worthen no provoca-
my life carried a, pistol asked Worthen
what he shot me for. He said, D you, to
kill you if could l then turned around and
drove me home in his buggy. was perfectly
sober. Worthen appeared to be sober Wor-
then and had no quarrel. never dreamed
VI DclIlS Snob VI ussiuitci Auu
heard We rthen had threatened me before. |
had heard of these threats from John Henry
Singleton and Loami Forwood."
DIR. j. 5. Poole, Jonathan Amber, LenoX
Bond, J. Aug. Spicer, Norris II. Anderson,
VIM. S. Scarf, George j. Kirk, Henry Q. Kirk,
Carville Z. Amos, August Martin, VIM. III.
Gray, Isaac Sewel, John Il. CrumliSh, Mrs.
Susan Lee, w. Addison Lee, Albert McCann,
George a. Markland and Miss Becke Single
ton all testified that Worthens reputation is
that of a peaceable, quiet man. Some of them
said he was passionate and ungOvernable i'll
temper, at times.
Brooke Aiken, being recalled, testified that
while working on the road with Worthen, Asel
Singleton came out and cursed WOrthen for
not going to Baltimore with him. Singleton
brought Worthens clothes out of the house,
threw them in the road and told him if he came
to his house any more he would knock him in
the head.
C. A. L. McCann, who was experimenting the
woodworking, corroborated Aiken's teStmo-
ny.
Charles Worthen, the prisoner, was then
sworn. He said he born in Frederick
county on September oath, 1861, and after
working in car stables in Baltimore and ut IL
bakery, came to the neighborhood of Fallston.
Working ut one place after another he finally
got to the neighborhood of Dublin. He had
heard of threats made by Singleton that he was
going to beat him, and afraid of him.
Several times Singleton came to Mr.. Addison
Lees, where he was mt work, cursed him and
wanted to fight him. The day of the shooting
he went to COnnolly's to get his boot mended
Singleton, Ned Walters, Wesley Bond and
treat to cider. Witness had only % cents in
fbo with ha inf cd 10 hnx