Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-10-19
MuROERERS PROMPTLY CONVICTED
A Verdict of Guilty After NIpa
Minutes of Dellberation,


| Conviction of the Negro Murderer, ~,
Captain Frank Cooper rayior ana
Courtney Found Guilty of Murder I'm
the First Degree.
PRINCESS ANNE. MD., Oct. 1o.--Tbo
trial Of the colored men, Henry Tay.or
and Arthur Courtney, charged with
the murder Of Captain Frank Cooper Of
Carriers Creek, Va, on board the puney
James ?. Dagger on Sunday, june iit6.
while tho vessel was at anchor off Deals
Island, Somerset county, was ended 10.
day by verdict of guilty Of murder in
the first degree for both prisoners,
Judge Lloyd sat alone on the bench.
States Attorney Henry j. Waters, a;.
sisted by Mr.. John w. Crlsfeld, repre,
scented the State. The prisoners wors
defended by Thomas S. Hodson,
Mrs. Cooper, the wife of the mur.
dered man, accompanied by her LITTLE
daughter, occupied seats by the side nj
Mr.. Cristeld. When the box CONTAINING
the clothes and other property Of Tia
deceased was brought into court Mrs.
Cooper was overcome with grief. and
had to be taken TO an adjoining room.
where she remained until called to M
witness stand.
Mrs. Cooper testified to facts relating
to the employment o. prisoners BY hor
husband. Vernon w lite, Edward Col.
lier and DR.. MonmOuIer Rowe testified
for the prosecution. DR.. Rowe heard
the confession Of the prisoner, who de.
tailed the circumstances of the murder
The doctor said he held out no induce.
ment to make a statement, nor did he
hear any promises made by others.
This testimony was objected to, and
at the instance of Mr.. Hodson the pris.
oner Courtney was put on the stand.
He testified that DR.. Rowe had threat.
ened to hang the prisoners TO the main.
mast, and that he, the witness, had said
yes 10 everything that was asked him.
for he was scared to death.
The court ruled that DR.. Rowe's testi.
mony in reference to confession should
be received as testimony.
Or. Rowe again took the stand and
reiterated the conversation which be
heard Taylor and Courtney make.
Other witnesses testified to hearing
the confession of the prisoners and other
facts tending TO fix the murder on them.
The property Of the deceased found on
the prisoners after the murder was
identified.
Mr.. Hodson recalled Arthur Court.
ney, who testified in his own behalf,
saying that Captain Cooper attempted
to shoot him in the cabin. Taylor
struck the captain with his fist. "The
captain ran out on deck and attempted
to strike me with handspike. struck
him with a blackjack. Henry then
struck him with the lead and he fell
overheard"
The defence rested its case.
Mr. Crisfield, for the State, made the
frs. argument before the jury, in which
lie stated the law governing evidence
and the different degrees Of murder,
closing with strong plea for a verdict
OF murder IN tho first degree.
Colonel L. 5. Hodson followed for the
defence and asked that all doubts should
be taken in consideration and asked
the jury for mercy in behalf of the
prisoners.
Mr.. Waters, States attorney, made
the closing address for the State. He
summed up the evidence in mastery
manner and made strong plea for the
conviction of the two men.
The jury retired at 1851 o'clock, and
at O'Clock they came into court and
said the prisoners were guilty of muir.
der in the first degree. The prisoners
did not seem to mind the verdict, and
asked that they be permitted to live
until March, as they wanted their
friends TO be able TO come over to see
them.