Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-06-01

The Mav.iert. Of the Circuit Court con
tinued on Friday Of last week, the critiinal
decket occupying ,hr time of the court The
irst ease called was that VI State vs. Vernon
Blair charged with taking the cart and horse
Of Walter Swami. Col Wilmer the counsel
for The traverser, demurred tc the Indictment
and the demurrer was sustained The next
case tried was thai Of State vs.. John f. But
Ter and Banty Butler, charged with breaking
MO the store house Of Fowler Payne, ut
Bel Alton, and stealing boxes Of cake and =
box Of cigars Tried by court. Edward
Matthews, colored boy, and an accomplice,
turned states evidence, and upon his testimo-
ny, mainly the State relied for conviction. A.
Poses. counsel for the prisoner, made the point
that conviction could not be had upon The
uncorroborated Ftatement Of Az aecomplice.-
The court thought there were sufficient cor
rohorating circumstances to justify convic-
ton, and they adjudged guilty and sentenced
each TO the penitentiary for years. The grand
jury reindicted Vernon Blair for taking the
morse and cart Of Walter Swami, and the case
was continued Thad Brown was tried for
the larceny Of watch, by the court Ad-
Judged guilty and sentenced 10 the House OF
Correction for years Col. Wilmer defend
ed the prisoner, assigned by the court This
concluded the criminal docket. The contest
ed election case Of Bragunier vs.. Penn, was
theT called up. The decision OF the Court OF
Appeals, sent down from Annapolis aud filed
in the case, was TO the effect that the petition
of Bragunier's was in proper form, and that
further proceedings could be had hereunder.
1t devolved therefore upon Mr. Bragunier TO
proceed with the case, as the record shwed the
fact that be had not done so, Messrs. Mitchell h
Wilmer, as counsel for Penn, filed a motion to
4 ~. 1as n the
ne shown on or before July term OF court,
next. Anticipating that the Court Of Appeals
might hold his first petition not good, GU. OF
abundant caution, Mr. Rragunier hled sec
ond petition shortly after the Circuit Court for
this county dismissed his hest, and in that
use also motion was made to dismiss, nm
less cause is own BY July court Al n late
hour in the afternoon, the grand Jury brought
in its report, and asked to be discharged,
which was granted. The court having con
cluded the work Of the term soon after ad'
jourued. The following is the report of the
grand jury;
We the members Of the Grand Jary Of the
State of Maryland for the body Of Charles
county, have the honor TO respectfully report
that we have heen in session during the past
Eve days and have carefully examined all
matters and things brought before US. We
have examined 46 witnesses, We have found =
presentments and true bills, and ! case re-
manded to magistrate for trial. We have ex-
amined the county Jail, aud, while its sauits-
~ condition is not Of the best, it is evidently
not the fault of the Sheriff nor bis jailor, but
due to its location and lack Of prooer convt-
nienees, and at present It's crowded condition
We recommend that suitable metallic
buckets be Immediately provided for the use
of prisoners. We found confined in Jail Rich.
ard Penny, an afflicted panper OF feeble mind
and unable to walk or in any manner provide
for himself, and recommend that the County
Commissioners take immediate steps towards
providing said pauper with suitable home,
other than the Jail. We have further to re-
port that we have investigated the burning OF
the court house, but found no evidence to IN
dict, but from the evidence before US it is the
belief of the majority Of the Grand Jury that
the burning of the court house was The act OF
an incendiarg. Having no further BUSINESS
before us we respectfully ask to be discharged.
i. 7, OWEN, Foreman.