The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-11-10
THE swAUGsR MURDER CASE.
The Details of Which are too Filthy
and Brutal for Publication.

| HC pNduSCT llUTUtT CdSe, re-
moved from this county to Allegany
county was taken up in the Circuit
Court in Cumberland on Thursday
morning of last week.
Samuel Swauger, the defendant,
is charged with the murder of his
wife on the 10Th dAy OF August,
1891, in most brutal and inhuman
manner.
The details are almost too revolt
ing for publication. Swauger' :
wife, on the day upon which the
murder is supposed to have been
sR%se sssla ss sS,IGiSS ss aslssssd sasSi.
Swaugcr to facilitate matters forced
the birth Of the child in u manner
too horrible to relate. His wife
died almost instantly.
There are four counts in the in
dictment, one for murder in the
first degree, murder in the second
degree, manslaughter and assault
with intent to kill
Swauger was brought into court
Thursday morning by the sheriff
and listened to the reading of tn,
indictment against him in II nerv
Gus manner. He is Il short, thick
set man, with dark curly hair and Il
red moustache. He does not look
like man who would be guilty of
the commission of such crime,
but his appearance would indicate
that his act was due more to igno-
rance of the result.
When asked if he was guilty or
not guilty his reply: "Not guilty, F"
could scarcely be heard
States Attorney Gilmor S. Ham,
i'll, Of Oakland, is prosecuting the
case, assisted by Thomas j. Peddi-
cord, Esq, of Oakland, and States
Attorney Sloan, of Allegany county.
The prisoner is represented by
Ferdinand Williams, Esq, of Cum
berland. Col. John W. Veitch was
also engaged in the defense, but has
since died. The case was tried be-
fore the court.
Mr.. HamilI made the opening
statement to the court. Swauger,
he said, lived down in "Bittinger
Settlement" near Swauger's Mill.
In relating the history of the crime
Mr.. Hamil said that a Mr.. Savage
had passed the house the day before
the murder and heard cursing and
swearing in the house. A Mrs.
Spiker stopped at the house over
night and heard noises all night
long. The next morning she noticed
marks of abuse on Mrs. Swauger.
Mrs, Swauger asked Mrs. Spiker to
remain all day, as she feared she
was going to be taken sick. In the
afternoon at 2 O'Clock Mrs. Swaug-
cr's condition was such that her
husband was sent for. He came
home from his work, about foul
miles distant, at 4 o'clock, through
a driving rain, and went to the bed
upon which Mrs. Swaugcr was
lying.
The testimony given by the wit
ncsses describing Swauger's acts, il
too horribly brutal in its details fo1
publication. Those examined wer,
Mrs. Metz, Mrs. Bittingcr and Mrs
Savage.
Mrs. Spiker, another witness wh'
was present, began to tell the cour
a number of incidents and conver
sations that had taken place, anC
Mr.. Williams objected to her givin:
this kind of testimony, but the wit
ness insisted on all she knew anC
had to be restrained by the court
Her testimony was to the effect tina
she had slept at the house owe
night and had noticed marks o
abuse on Mrs. Swauger in tn,
morning. She then told the partic
uars of the crime and said that she
did not hear any language Other
than that Swaugcr addressed to hi
sister when she endeavored to tax,
off his boots while he was knceIin,
on the bed.
Dr. J. Lee McComas, Of Oakland
testified to the cause of Mrs. Swaug
er's death, and said it might hav,
resulted from a shock to the uteru
or. laccration Of the womb. He sal,
that he would certainly say that th
woman died from shock. Ills opin
ion he based on the evidence he ha,
heard.
John Savage was called to testif
to remarks Of Swauger's, but h
was not used.
The State here concluded its cas-
, and The defense began its case.
Samuel Swauger, the prisoner
: was put on the stand and said
"Thc first knowledge Of the con
: finement Of my wife was when m
son told me at the mill. ] wen
1 bono af onca and found tho fop