Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-06-06
The WhaleyViIle
Murder Case.
The Trial of Three Men nj One
Time for Murder Attracts
Large Crowds.

The May term of Court. which con
vened here on the 18th of last month
and closed lis session Yesterday, was
one Of the longest, largest attended
and most interesting that has ever
been held in this county, and second
only TO the term at which the famous
Duer,IIearn murder trial took place.
When court convened it was expected
that even more Importance would at
tend its sessions, for then it was
thought second murder trial. that of
John Gordy would take place This,
however, was removed To Wicomico
county and will he tried there at the
September term. This case together
with several others, in fact all others,
excepting the WhaleyvilIe murder
case, was disposed of last week and
court adjourned till Tuesday last when
it convened for the purpose of hearing
the case against Peter l.. Davis, John
j. Quillin and his son, John III. Quill
lin, each of whom stood indicted for
the murder of VIM Hamblin, Jr., near
Whaleyville on February 20. Prompt
ly at the hour appointed court was
called and the case taken up. Judges
Page and Lloyd were on the bench,
Judge Holland being absent. The
men charged with the crime were
brought into the court room. Davis,
who is charged as principal being seat
ed III the prisoners dock, with Quillins
Sr. and Jr. on either side of him.
About seventy-five witnesses were
present, and these with the large num-
Der Of persons wishing to hear the ties
timony filled the court room 10 its
utmost capacity. there being not even
standing room in the aisles.
Peter L. Davis is about forty years
old of medium height aud figure and
was clean-shaved, except dark mus.
tache. He is well known in Worces-
ter, and is brother of William Green
Davis. His father was Peter l.. Davis,
who was ore of the largest landowners
in hisl art OF the county, and the famous
litigant of that section.
John j. Quillin is about fifty years
old, tall and dark, and is said 10 be
very well thought OF in the commu.
nifty in which he lives. His son, John
II. Quillin, the third prisoner, resem-
bles his father. but is shorter and more
thickly built. He is about twenty-five
years old and would give the impress
ion of being an inoliensive man,
The men preferred 10 he tried separ
ately and 50 elected, but the court was
advised by States Attorney Jones that
the murder resulted from Il fight in
which all three of the men were EN-
gagged. that the evidence against each
Of the prisoners was the same and i'm
possible of separation. Aside from
this he said three trials would he long
and expensive and the saving to The
county in one trial would be great.
la view to these facts the court over
ruled the election Of separate trials for
each man and proceeded 10 try them
The work of drawing the jury was
tedious and required the summoning
Of over forty talesmen before the panel
could be satisfactorily completed. 1t
took fourand one half hours 10 impancl
il and only three jurors were obtained |
from the regular jury list OF twenty
five members. The state was entitled |
to only four challenges while each OF
The three defendants had twenty giving
them the right Of sixty challenges in
all. OF these the State used only two
and the defendants eleven each or
thirty three altogether.
The jurors sworn were Charles /.
Payne, John G. Collins, Cyrus w. |
Davis, VIM. III. White, VIM. c. Tarr
Thomas j. Herman, VIM. J. Hender.
son, Reese c. Peters, Sidney j. Mum
ford, John w. Gordy, Esma =. Davis
and Elisha Hastings.
The opening statement was made by
States Attorney X. y. Jones. He
told the jury that the State expected
to show that on the night OF the 10Th |
Of February last Sylvanus Baker,
while at the house of Francis Hick.
man. near Whaleyville. was called
outside by John J Quillin and John
II. Quillin, accompanied by Peter l..
Davis, and was told that he must
fight That his assailants were armed
with knives, blackjacks and pistols,
bnt that he was unarmed During
the fight that ensued, young William
Hamlin arrived on the scene, attracted |
by the noise. and was called upon by |
Baker for help, and that in the scrlm-
mage that ensued, Hamblin received a |
knife wound in the arm, from which |
he almost instantly died.
The statement of the defense was
made by Hon. VIM. 5. Wilson, who
said that evidence would be produced |
IN abundance to satisfy the jurors that
Inc prisoners were not guilty OF the
)flense for which they were indicted,
lut that the real person who inflicted
he fatal wound was free and at large
aud possibly within the sound Of his
voice. He claimed that the blow
which resulted in the death oi IIamlin
Nas aimed ut one of the prisoners at
he bar, and il it had reached him
would have placed him in his grave.
The main witness for the State was
Sylvanus Baker. who was put on the
stand Immediately after the above
statement. He testified in the main rs
he State ; Attorney had stated 10 the
ury He said he SAW Peter |. Davis
:ut llamblin on the arm; that Hambln
hen walked to the house few yards
Instant, and died in Bakers arms
about twenty minutes afierward.
This witness, in particular, was sub
ected To Il most rigid cross examina
ion by Geo. W. Purnell for the de
ense and was made to describe mi
lutely the situation Of the premises
md the place OF the fight Founda.
ion was laid for Impeachment by ask
ng the witness if he had had certain
with sundry people in