The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-06-27

Jf, appeared as ms counsel, while the prose-
cuton was conducted by States Attorney
William $. Eyars, assisted by Austin l..
Crothers. The prisoner was held for the
action of the grand jury at the March term of
court. when he was indicted, and his trial
followed, before Judge Joseph A. Wickes. the
prisoner electing a trial by the court Judge
Wickes alone sat in the case which began on
Tuesday March "a. The case continued four
days. The court reserved its decision until
Tuesday March 81, when the prisoner was
pronounced guilty of murder in the first
degree The evidence upon which Truss
was convicted was purely circumstantial.
At the trial it was shown that the prisoner
knew Captain Camp. and by his own state
ment saw him several times on Thursday
afternoon. the murder occurring that night.
He also knew that Camp expected friend
by the midnight boat that night. 1t was
clearly shown that the prisoner left the dry
dock IL few minutes before 5 o'clock-that
he got his supper a few minutes after 8,
and left his house Immediately, returning at
once to the dry dock reaching it between half
l''"N I
in the engine house although it was Il mild
night. remained there until nearly eight
| o clock, and was next seen at Mrs Buckwith's
calling his wife and paying bill to Mr..
Miller, merchant. Between the hours Of
half past five and half past seven Camp was
murdered
The engine house was found broken open
Friday morning before the prisoner returned
to the dry dock. Judge Wickes in delivering
his decision stated that he was satisfied that
the prisoner broke it open the evening before,
although he had the key and left the sedge
hammer. shovel and old blouse and gum
boots with blood on them, to direct suspicion
from himself and make it appear that some
other person had committed the deed.
The stains on the hammer, shovel and
| blouse and on the prisoners shirt found at
his house, were proved by DR.. Wormley to be
blood stains The impressions in the mud on
the handle of the spade We're such us the
prisoners hand would make, having but n
| thumb and index finger, and the stumps of
two other fingers.
The prisoner informed Henry Jones and
Mrs. Deibert on Friday morning. before he
had gone to the dry dock, that the engine
house had been broken open.
1t was also clearly proved that the prisoner
was in debt and pressed for money, that he
had not paid any rent since June and other
creditors We're making demands upon him.
, and he had been suspended from the society
to which he belonged for arrears of dues
Immediately after the murder beginning
Thursday night about 8 o'clock he began to
! pay his debts. There was found in the DOS
session of his wife go, and secreted under
the oil cloth $50. Friday morning he sent
| the money order for $3.50 to the witness
Lynch, paid Henry Miller 412. The amount
of money the prisoner had in his possession,
with the amounts paid to creditors within "a
hours after the murder, corresponded with
the amount proved to have been in Captain
Camps possession.
Although arrested the fourth day after the
murder he was unable to show where he was
between $50 and 8 clock Thursday evening.
First he said tn after fastening up the
engine house he returned home at once and
spent the evening there. Failing in this at
the hearing before the Justice of the Peace,