The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-01-09
CIRCUIT COURT.
THE PRITCHARD WILL CASE.
The Bloody Tragedies of Cat Swamp
Recalled.

The Circuit Court reconvened on Monday,
docket was taken up, the indicted violators
of the prohibitory law having fed the State,
Charles Carroll, colored, indicted for shoot
ing Albert Frisby in the First district, was
called. The case was stettcd and the prisoner
released.
The defense not being ready for trial the
case of the State VS.. Wm. Brown. charged
with barn burning. was called, hut tempo
rarily continued.
TUESDAY.
On Tuesday the civil suit of John Pritch-
ard VS.. Alfred b. McVey. executor of Caro-
line Pritchard, was taken up and Jury i'm
Panneed. Pritchard was represented by
Albert Constable Sr., and Albert Constable.
Jr., John ). Writ and VIM $. Evans being
counsel for Mcvey.
TWO CECIL COUNTY MURDERS RECALLED.
The trial of this case recalls two tragedies
which occurred in that section of this county
known rs Scat swamp located on the road
from EiktOn to Newark. where the PritcharCl
family r".tlel. Caroline Pritchard the
widow OF Henry Pritchard whose will is be-
ing contested died in Wilmington. Del, in
February last. Her will was offered for pro-
bate in the Orphans Court of this county by
Alfred Il. McNey. executor. her estate which
is valued at $4,000, being left to Henry Hen
derson her reputed son. To this will John
Pritchard, who claims to be the only lcgiti-
mate son of Caroline Pritchard by his roun-
sci filed Il caveat, making the allegation that
she was of unsound mind at the time the
will was executed. and was under undue
influence, etc. The issue raised on the trial
was whether the petitioner John Pritchard j.,
the legitimate child of Caroline and Henri
Pritchard this being an essential fact upon
which to base his contest of the will The
family relations of the Pritchar,ls were meyer
the pIeasautest, and the facts relative to the
murder OF her husband by Edward CHM IN
1851 We're necessarily brought out Caroline
was then E0uwn as Red Caroline to dis
tirgIish l. t from her sister-in-law "BIark''
Caroiin" who in those days was the house
keeper of CHM vino lived close 10y the Pritrh-
been drinking heavily went home and found
BLACK Caroline his housrker per absent.
He wrnt to Henry Pritchard's house nearby.
the husband oi Red Caroline. and an alter
cation taking place, he drew a pistol shooting
his dousckeeprr "BIarkn Caroline in ,he side.
fingers Of his hand Shot of. Pritchard rs-
capped from his house and ned to his brother
Jesse Pritchard's, being afraid CHM would
Kill him. ln the meantime CHM went to his
house procured his gun, ana following Henry
Pritchard up. shot him in the breast at his
doorstep. killing him on the spot. CHM was
arrested and while under indictment at
tempted suicide, was tried in Hartford county
in March. 1852. was found guilty. but died
before he was executed.
The second murder iu the Pritchard family
occurred in November 1852, when Maria
Pri,chard, the reputed wife OF John Pritch-
ard, btyther OF Henry, was the victim. Her
body, stripped Of clothing, was found some
distance from her house in the morning. APP
parently Il knife having been used in her
killing. A jug had been placed by her side
and two hngers of her hand were found
through it, handle, TO create the impression
that she had died from exposure through
intempcrance. Her husband. John Pritch-
ard, "Eed" Caroline and "B!acii' Caroline
were arrested, tried and convicted of her
killing, John Pritthard being sent to the
penitcntiaty for fifteen years, Red Caro-
limo ,ul,.t, ,-ili i.
sentenced for FIVE years, and BLACK" Caro-
line for five months. John Pritchard, after
his release from the penitcntiary, was run
over and killed on the p, W. & i. Railroad.
while Red Caroline located in WILMINGTON.
Del, whore she and her house became gcner.
ally known over the city, and where size
accumulated considerable property.
WEDNESDAY.
Hons. Jos. A. Wickes and Frederick Stump.
presiding, the examination of witnesses in the
Pritchard viii case was continued, until
THURSDAY,
when at II O'Clock. a. m., it was given To the
jury, which at ll.Aj returned verdict for
John prtehard The cayeator
The criminal ease against william Brown,
indicted Tor burning the barn Of Joseph
w. Weber in the Filth district. was taken
up, and tried before jury which acquitted
him.
The case Of Maloney vs.. Ellen Maloncy, a
suit for wages claimed to be due the plain
tiff occupied the court until its adjournment.
At +. m. the motion for "A new trial in the
case OF Davis vs.. Tome Institute was argued
and over-ruled hy the court, Judges Russum
and Stump, presiding.
On Friday morning the case of Maloney
was resumed, and was on trial at the hour
the WING went to press.