The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-07-16
AN ALIBI ESTABLISHED
The Only Clue i'm the Case
Exhausted.
DETAILS0FTHE HEARING
The Richard Tragedy Still
Mystery.

After plaiustaking and careful inves
tigatiou of the facts upon which the
State relied for the identification oil
| Samuel Fenner as the murderer OF Mrs
Jennie Richards, it has been proved
beyond the shadow OF a reasonable doubt
that he is not the guilty man, aud the
Richards tragedy still remains recorded,
as one Of the unsolved mysteries in the
criminal annals of Cecil county. As
stated in our last issue, the preliminary
| hearing in the case of Fenner began on
Friday the Ssh inst before Justice A. j..
Scott in the Court House. Tue deep
| interest taken in the case was attested
by the crowds constantly in attendance.
and which continued una bated to its
| close.
Ga the night of the murder of Mrs.
Jennie Richards, wife of Mr.. J. Gran
vile Richards. at her home near Porter 5
| Bridge this county, on April II, 1891,
| Asbury Krkline, d colored man of that
| neigh borhood, met two men on tho
public road near Richards Oak From
his testimony, their actions were mys
terious to such an extent as to arouse his
| suspicious, he fancying shat they were
plotting his murder. kirkline couversed
with one of the two, who he described
to be rather small as wearing nous
tache, and a derby hat. Could recognize
him by his voice aud movements. The
larger man kept at distance, he wore a
felt hat the crown being indented. Both
men appeared to be Clearly sLaven
Shortly after the murder this c!ew was
taken up by the detectives on the case,
and upon investigation it Was discovered
to tally with the descriptions of Samuel
alias "Cockey' FenHer, alias Harry p.
Allen, and james T. Wood, alias James
7. Harris. Two notorious craftsmen of
Philadelphia who were absent from
their hauuts in that city. The Phia-
deiphia authorities we're invested with
warrants tor the arrest of Fenner and
Wood, who they finally succeeded in
experimenting, the former in Harris
burg, Pa, the latter III Rochester, n. Y.
Fenuer was removed to Philadelphia
where he YVES identified by Kirkliue,
and was convicted on Monday. June 81,
in the Philadelphia Court of Quarter
Sessions of assault with intent to kill
Policeman Andrew Myers. The sen
Ial
cred 70 the Cecil authorizes, on the
following day, beng brought to ELTON
to await a hearing on the charge of the
murder of Mrs. Richards. He immedi-
ate,y employed counsel, obtaining
Senator Thomas B. Hayes, Of the Balti
more Bar, for his defence. States
Attorney Austin L. Crothers, assisted
by W. 5. Evans, Esq, represented the
State. A meeting of the counsel was
held, and Friday, July s, determined
upon as the day of tie preliminary
hearing. Much excitement has been
manifest respecting the casa, AS to
further the circumstantial evidence
against Fenner, a - inch jimmy and 80
calibre Erevolver-the size bullet that
mortally wounded Mrs. RichardS-were
found upon him wnen arrested in Harris
burg. In view OF the number of wit
nesses aud spectators, Justice Scott,
decided to conduct the case in the Court
room, and accordingly the hearing assum
Ell the appearance of trial. The hearing
was prolonged three days, Friday, Sat
urday, and Monday, aud in all of its
details, presented the regular formalities
of tri,l. Although Asbury kirklne's
testimony stands unrevoked, an alibi has
beyond question been established for
Fenner. Aud to this aiibl attaches the
deepest mystery.