The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-07-19

HIS Death-Calm and Compose q
During the Trial at La Plata,
Charles County, Which was
One of the Most Interesting IN
State Annals-Able Lawyers for
the Prosecution and Defense.
The celebrated Farrell trial, after
duration of over two weeks-from July
LIST until the 18th of the same month
h as come to an end, and the young
wife of Ere derrick Farrell, who died at
La Plata, Charles County, Maryland,
under most suspicious circumstances, at
S o'clock. on the morning of the l7th
of last December, was cleared by the
Jury Of auy completely she was accused
of having in the unfortunate event.
The trial in its entirety has been
one of the most sensational and nota-
BILE occurring within the borders of
Maryland for many years, and it is
doubtful if any other created such
" idespread interest and conflict of
opinion as to the innocence or guilt OF
the young widow. Not only the
press of this State, and those i'll close
proximity, but also nearly every jour
nal of any prominence in the United
States, has had something in every is
sue concerning the proceedings OF tue
case at La Plata, Charles County. And
strange to say, the burden of opinion
on the guilt of the woman-outside OF
the judges and iury-has hung in the
balance between the two seXes-male
and female. The former condoned the
many faults of the fair prisoner, who,
calm and composed and attired in the
same neat fitting suit of black, sat next
her counsel all during the trial, accom-
panied each day by one or the other of
her children, whose companionship
seemed to be of great service in keep
ing up her spirits and eliciting the
sympathy of ali who watched them.
They believed her incapable of commit
ting the heinVus crime which was laid
at her door, even when the evidence
was at times (circunstantial as it may
have been, and il is said that great
| portion WAS the result of gossipmOu-
gersIand idle. cr0aklngs) bearing neaYi-
ly on the side OF the accused, and the
scales of justice seemed to swerve from
their Customary equilibrium.
The memhers of the feminine gen
der, however, as general rule, believ-
Ell III the guilt of Mrs. Farrell. Her
manner and peculiar behavior shocked
! their high ideas of what a woman
ought to be and hence the strong SEN
timent against her, held 10y the ma
| j0rity of women who knew anything
| Of the details of the case.
The trial began, as we have before
! mentioned, on the first day of July,
and ended with the acuulta of the
prisoner on july l4th, after being out
for the short space of an hour 1t was
the opinion OF Il great many, that the
twelve men, in whose hands hung the
fate Of the woman would disagree OF
bring III verdict of manslaughter, or
murder in the second degree.
The trial was held in the court room,
in the town of La Plata, Charles
County Md, the fair prisoner being
confined in the Jail at Port Tobacco,
nearly four mics away. Chief Judge
Briscoe, assisted by Judges Brooke and
Crane, occupied the bench and the
lawyers for the prosecution were
/ States-Attorney Matthews, and John
ii. Mitchell; for the prisoner, Col.
Wilmer and Sidney f. Mudd. About
ninety witnesses We're employed dur.
lug the fourteen days and their evil
dence was not always of the most ele-
waited character, especially when it re-
ferred to Mrs. Farrell's relations with
Eugene Hall, of whom she was openly
enam0red. Several medical authori.
ties were summoned and their testi.
mony was of a conflicting nature
Some said that strychnlne was the
cause Of death, Others that the symp
toms present were not of the nature tC
sustain such all accusation. Nearly
all the evidence was contradictory and
no one seemed able to tell how It bad
affected the jury before the verdict.
Charles County Is one of the lower
counties OF the State, rather inaccessible
as Tar as the outer world is concerned
yet the residents Of that locality seem
perfectly satisfied with its location
and pass the days in that free and cas-,
manner SO characteristic of such neigh.
borhoods. The main industrial BUR.
SUIT Is agriculture; the exceptions being
those directly interested in some busl
hess IN the towns or villages within
the borders of the county. Charles
county played a conspicuous part in
the war OF the Revolution, aud there
are to-day i'll existence many relics oil
those exciting times. Many old
houses date back to the last century
ana the Oldest "inhabitant" talks
freely of the times long ago, when
Washington, Green and CORVALLIS
were quartered there, and other events
OF interest. Like in other rural local.
Ties, the people in one section practi.
cally grow up with each other, marry
ana settle down without outside inter
ventlon or influence. Whenever an
unusual thing happens, it is the sub
1ect OF conversation at home, in the
helds or at the country store. Men
aud women talk of this or that per.
sons affairs as if they We're materially
Interested. The slightest event out OF
the ordinary attracts attention and be.
comes the food of eager gossips-the
same as it is under like circumstances
everywhere
Mrs. Farrell, the central figure i'm
the drama, which has taken so much
time ana been such an expense to the
county lately, was the daughter of a
well esteemed farmer named Roby.
ana was only one of seven daughters
all OF which were nice girls and good
company for the young men of the
nelghborhood, but Belle seemed to be
the most popular. She was different
from the rest; more progressive, better
( dressed, and nearer up-to-date. All