The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-07-09
THE RICHARDS MURDER.
Preliminary Hearing of Samuel
alias "Cockey'' Fenner Begun.

l. ~
alias "Cockey'' Fenner Begun.
The preliminary hearing of Samuel
alias "Cockey" FeuLcr who was last
week brought to Elkton from PhiIadc-
phia upon a requisition, charged with
the murder of Mis-. Jennie Richards, wife
of J. Granville Richards Oh the night of
Sunday, April 18th. 1891. was COM
meuced yesterday friday before Justice
A. j. Scott at eleven O'Clock. Ga account
of the large number OF witnesses sum
moned in the case, and the crowd of
spectators anxious to h ar the proceed
ings, the Magistrate conducted the hear
ing in the Court House which was filled
BY an interested and attentive audience.
\ few minutes before tie hour fixed
for the hearing Fenuer on whom all
eyes were centered, was brought from
the Jail by Deputy Sheriff j. Harvey
Mackey aud placed in the prisoners
dock. He is small man weighing 100
pounds, of sandy complexion add evideu
tly OF German descent. He was defended
! by Thomas G. Hayes Esq, of Baltimore,
the State being represented by Austen
l.. Crothers Esq, States Attorney,
assisted by VIM. S. Evans Esq. When
Justice Scott announced that he was
ready to hear the case, Mr.. Hayes arose
! and said that lie hsi made al effort to
secure necessary drawings aud diagrams
! of the scene of the murder but had failed,
! and that he had served notice upon the
! counsel for the State asking to be fur
nisbed with such information as would
| enube him TO intelligently Conduct the
| case of the traverser. After.some argu-
ment between counsel, Mr. Crothers
expressed his willingness to submit to
the defendants counsel such prepared
matter as was consistent with the States
interest in the case, and asked the pei
| mission of tho justice to retire TO his
office, and in "a few minutes returned and
submitted to Mr.. HAYES Il number OF
drawings and documents.
Mr.. Hayes then moved that all wit
nesses except the witness testifying
shoali be excluded from the court room,
which motion after some argument as to
individual witnesses was agreed to by
counsel, and the first witness in the case
Mr.. J. Granville Richards was called 20
the stand and sworu. Mr.. Richards said
he Was a examiner OF merchandise in the
appraisers department al the Baltimore
Custom House, and resided near Porter's
Bridge in ;his county. That he
came home generally once a week, !
and did So OH Saturday previous
to the tragedy That his family con-
sisted of his wife and four sons. That
on the occasion referred &C., Mrs. Rand |!
olph LangGon was visiting his house. |
That they spent the evening together on |
Sunday until bataesn 8 ana 10 o'clock /,
p. m. wien they retired 10 their rooms.
Before doing So Mrs. Lln.dnn thought /
she heard y noise Inside the house.
Tha. tao witness also heard it, but said
to Mrs. Laugdun that is was caused by
rats with which the hJaso was infested. (
Mr.. Richards explained that he and his |
wife with one child occupied tho room
10 the southwest front corner OF the |
house, his other sons the front room at !
the other end of the hall which on the |
second floor ran l2ngtLwise with the !
front of the house, and Mrs. Laugdon |
corner of the house. That after
they Ii ad been asleep SOM time, lie |
supposes about twelve o'clock he was |
awakened by his wife who said that she !
thought there was some ora in the |
room. That Mrs Richards Was sleeping
on the outside of the bed the child being
between them. THAI the room being
in darkness, and after raising up in
bed seeing no one, hc called out saying
speak or l will shoot" That almost
Immediately his summons was ans Scred
pistol shot fired over the foot OF
the bed, from the direction of bureau
which stood opposite the foot of the bed.
That he had in ais hand his own pistol
which he reached from the window sill
to the right OF the bed, and with which
he fired toward the door. That jumping
from the bed he ran into the hall and
could dimly see some one coming from the
direction of his sons room. He described
| the person as having on light coat and
as being a large man. Feaiing he might
shoot his son, he called out: willie, is
that you?" That Immediately he was
showed down the stairs by the burglar,
in descending which he received second
pistol shot aud was struck on the left
arm, besides receiving two blows ION the
forshead and having in the attack had
small bone Of his leg broken.
Mr. Rich lrds then described at some
length the position in which he found
Mrs. Richards. That both her feet
projected from the bed showing that
when shot she was in tbs act of arising
from the bed, and explained to counsel
the exact location of the pistol shot on
her head. That after the attack on him
he told his SOD to 60 TO his mother, and
who soon returned saying that she was
| nurt. mat MS SCH ES.pSG uilu up "
his wife's room when rs discovered she
had been shot. That giving his sors
shot gun they hurried to the nearest
neigh bors who shortly arrived. Mr..
Richards then described the condition
of the house after the robbery. That
luciier matches we're strewn over the
lower floor of the house, an old fashioned
desk in the sitting room had
been broken op,n, aud il reply to
questions OF counsel described the val
uables stolen which consisted of gold
watch, about fifty dollars i'll money, etc.
At the conclusion of his testimony III
chief, Justice Scott ordered recess for
an hour, until half past one, at which
hour Mr.. Richards cross examination
began, and which was being conducted
as the WING went to press.
Town Council.
The Town commissioners were III regu
lar seasion "a Tuesday NIGHT all men,