Evening journal., 1897-01-08
SENSATIONAL WILL CASE.
IT RECALLS TWO MURDERS THAT
TOOK PLACE IN 1851 AND 1862.


BLNTON Md, Jan 8.-The Circuit
Couri for Cecil county is engaged i'm the
trial of one of Che most sensational will
eases In the annals of the county, re-
calling two murders that took place
I'm the county ina 1851 and 1852.
Caroline Pritchard died in February
last ia Wilmington, and in her last
will and testament made Henry Hen
derson. OF this county, residing at
Pleasant Hill. her sole heir The will
was admitted to probate in the Or
Dhans Court of Cecil county, and af-
forwards John Pritchard. alleging
himself TO be the only child of the de-
ceased, came forward and filed caveat
to the win. claiming that he was son
Of the deceased and making other
claims.
| The issue now on trial is whether the
petitioner, John Pritchard. is a child of
/ the said Caroline Pritchard. This has
/ to be established before the will can
/ be contested The testimony before the
court to-day recalls the murder OF
Caroline Pritchard's husband Henry
Pritchard. The Pritchards inhabited
what Is known until this day as Cat
swamp about three miles from Elk
ton. on the Newark road. The Caro-
line whose Will is now in dispute was
better known as Red Caroline, and
her sister-in-law as "Black" Caroline
Henry Pritchard. the husband of Red
Caroline. was murdered September 6
/, 1851. by O man named Edward CHM
who had as his housekeeper Black
) Caroline. CHM had been drinking very
heavily. and the night in question wen
/, home and found his hOusekeeper no
home. He proceeded to Henry Pritch
ards house, nearby, and there foun'
her with a child in her arms. Afte
p some alteration with the woman h'
produced a pistol. and fred at her tn
charge taking effect in her side Henr,
Pritchard. in attempting TO change thu
direction of the pistol, had three of hi
fingers carried away by the shot. Prit
chard then went to the home of hi
p brother. Jesse, as he was afraid tina
Ginn would kill him, and Ginn wen
home, and, loading his gun and pisto.
proceeded after Pritchard, whom h
met on the doorstep. Without warnin
he fred, striking Pritchard in tn
breast, killing him instantly.
CHM was arrested several days after
! wards and sentenced to the peniten
! ,iary.
The second murder took place abou
one year afterwards, when Maria Prit
, charl, the reputed wife of John Pril
! chari, was murdered and after he
1 body was stripped of clothing it wa
y dragged some distance from the hOus
! and there found in the morning. Tn
body was badly cut and bruised. an
, looked as if knife had been used
\ kill her Two fingers of her hand wel
: through a handle of a jug, evidently
q create the impression that she die
from intempeTance and exposure. job
q Pritchard, her husband; Red Car,
i line. whose viii is now being cor
tested, and BLACK" Caroline were al
IS rested for the brutal crime. and eac
N sentenced to the penitentiary, Joh
"a Prtchard receiving fifteen years RED
4 Caroline FIVE years and one month, an
N Black" Caroline five months. Jol
.e pritchard. after his release fro
prison was killed byl the cars. an
Caroline pritchard went TO Whining
ton. Del, where she amassed son
property She was known througho
q, The city. The case is being tried b
- fore a jury.