Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-14
THE LAUREL LIBEL SUIT
Benjamin 0rabbs Not Guilty, Says the
Jury.
Proceedings Of the Court In Session
meF Murder Trial.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
UPPER MARLBORO. Nd, Oct. 10, 1895.
The libel case Of state against BENJAMIN
F. Crabbs was concluded here this evening
by the Jury bringing in q verdict Of not
guilty after being out about thirty minutes.
When this case was called this morning at
$50 o'clock all three of the judges were on
the bench. The defense not having finished
their testimony when the court adjourned.
put Mr.. Crabbs the defendant, on the wit
ness stand. He testified that he was the
husband Of Mrs. Sophia E. Crabbs. and that
he had been living in Laurel about thirteen
years. He did not know where Mrs. Crabbs
was now living; that she had not lived with
him since the 18th or 18th of June, 1898;
that the relations between his wife and
himself were pleasant, and they had a hap
py home prior to the coming of Mr.. Downs
to Laurel. Mr.. Crabbs, on being shown a
letter purported to have been written by
him accusing the Rev. Mr.. Downs with i'm
moral relations with his Crabbs) wife, &C
knoWledged that he had written the letter.
Mr.: Crabbs admitted that he and Mr.. Downs
had talk at one time about the rumors in
circulation around Laurel in regard to Mr..
Downs and Mrs. Crabbs, and that they
shook hands and parted good friends. MIR.
Crabbs In his testimony referred to his
wife as that woman and Mr.. Downs as
that man." The Rev. Mr.. Downs was re-
called today in rebuttal to the testimony of
Witnesses for defense. He said in part:
The testimony of Mrs. Dumbhardt is abso-
lutely false. l was never In the church
alone with Mrs. Crabbs in my life. When
went to Laurel found Mrs. Crabbs to be
most prominent worker in the church.
There was never at any time, in word. act
or deed, any improper intimacy between
Mrs. Crabbs and myself. I rode alone with
Mrs Crabbs In buggy but on one occasion,
and then it was In the day time, to pay
visit to member of the church, and her
husband was aware of the fact. Mrs.
Crabbs and my wife were most devoted
friends and she never came to my house
frequent visits to her at our home" He
most emphatically denied all the testimony
produced upon the part Of the defense that
at any time he and Mrs. Crabbs were to-
gether at improper times or under sus-
plciOuS circumstances.
Mr. j. B. Tlmanus. who testified for the
state yesterday. was recalled by them
today and testified that he would not be-
lieve Mrs. Dumphardt on her oath.
Mrs Sophia E. Crabs was produced by
the state, and denied having any immoral
connection with the Rev. Mr.. Downs. and
that rumors to that effect were false.
| After the testimony was all in the court
| allowed each side an hour and half for
| argument. States Attorney Roger E. Bel
| lis opened for the state He was followed
| c. H. Stanley closed for defense and Mr..
| George c. Merrtck for the state. The jury
retired about 4:sO and brought in the above
| verdict. There was big crowd in attend
| ance at the trial today.
Murder Trial.
| After the jury had retired to their rooms
| in the libel case, Mr.. Mordecai Plummer
was brought into court in the custody CT
the sheriff and arraigned on the charge
Of murder. He plead not guilty to the
| Indictment. He stood by the side of his
l ~,
| Brandt during the reading of the indict-
| ment. His trial set for Friday next,
| October It, After date was set for his
trial he was taken back to the jail by the
! sheriff and locked up. AS was stated in
| The Star of yesterday, he was indicted by
| the grand jury now in session for the MUIR
| der Of DR.. VIM w. Warning here and this
morning was brought into court under a
| bench warrant and committed to Jail to
await hi; trial, not being bailable. Up to
this morning he was out under bond OF
$1,000 for his appearance at this term OF
court. DR.. Waring was killed by Plun'mer
here on August 6. 1896. by having Ills
! throat cut by Plummer in the latter's bar
| room.
After the arraignment Of Mr.. Plummer
| the court arraigned the following parties
now confined in jail here: Henry slddons,
| for the larceny of a lot of jewelry, the
property Of Henry Kimble, Oakcrest; Ed
| ward Minor. for the larceny of a lot of
harness belonging to Davidson brothers
| William French assault and battery on
Benjamin smitzson; Robert Merritt. alias
| Meredith, and William Day, for the lar
| ceny of thirty watermelons; Charles B.
| Brown, larceny of lot Of clothing, ETC..
the property Of James Tunstall. The court
will dispose of most Of these cases tom Dr.
row.
| Republican Meeting.
The republicans of Prince Georges coun-
ty held an enthusiastic mass meeting here
today in front of the town hall. Mr.. H
W. Clagett. chairman of the state central
committee Of Prince Georges county, pre-
sided After few appropriate remarks, he
introduced Mr.. Sydney E. Mudd, who made
brief speech upon free coinage of silver
He being slightly indisposed, he had tc
curtai his remarks. Capt. VIM. NJ. Pot
ter of Laurel, Md, was then introduced as
the principal speaker Of the day. He made
one of his best speeches on the tariff, FREE
| coinage and closure, and ended with er
eloquent appeal to the voters to redeem the
| country from the misrule Of democracy
Mr.. F. 8. Hill was then introduced, ant
made short speech on so md money. Mr.
Eugene Brooke, known the "old Wal
horse" closed with an earnest appeal fo
the support of the whole ticket. The Bal
timorc Veteran Corps Band furnished ex
celient music.