Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-12-09
The Barron Murder Trhl.

cult Court, at this place, charged with the
murder of Walter H. Keyworth, at Bla.
densburg, on the 9th of July last. Upon
application of the defense the case was re-
moved from Prince Georges to this county
At the time of the tragedy Keyworth W.
proprietor of a hotel at Bladensburg,
the shooting took place in the bar roou
When Court convened about $50 or
Judges McSherry, Henderson aud u r
occupied their places on the bench, sc
was large crowd of interested ors
in attendance. The prisoners mot l-
er and aunt were among those ir
Shortly after the court convf
was brought in by a Deputy
took seat near ~ counsel.
some v0OHg uan, about twu2
Of age, AM 9frehD~i appear a.
s.fsd 10 q dark els suit, Ca
'sness, lowe5 'tie rt-cts of his five
..t' II. iris 4a.ent.
1unsel for the prisoner were ex Sen.
a.or JosepH S. @. Blackburn, of Kentucky ;
Edward G. 'er and J. Abby Henderson,
OF thia place, md Robert w. Wells, of Hy-
a, 'yillo The State was represented by
AleA 1dcr Kilgour, States Attorney for
this county, and Messrs. Rogers and Bells,
of Prince Georges county.
A jury was quickly selected as follows !:
Reuben G. Riggs, Henry q. Wood, Daniel
T. Shreve, VIM. @. Hoskinson, Julian E
! Osmond, Gustavus Cashell, Allen Treas,
Frank NJ. Page, Samuel E, Eastburu. Mel.
son H. Robertson, John II. Hilton and Thos
Mccullough.
States Attorney Kilgour made the open
ing address to the jury, and gave state
ment of what the prosecution expected to
prove. He said that on the afternoon Of the
9th of last July the prisoner, Barron, in
company with Edward Parker, went into
Keyworth's place of business, at Bladens
burg, and Barron joined in game OF cards
that was then in progress between Key
worth and man named Brooks; that after
the three had played for about an hour
dispute arose between Barron and Key
worth, resulting in the former leaving the
room and returning in about ten minutes,
when be shot Keyworth, who was standing
behind the counter. Keyworth died on
July 10, and State claimed verdict of muir.
der in the first degree.
After the close of the address large num-
Der Of witnesses were examined, when the
State closed its case in chief.
Mr.. Peter at the close of the States case
on Tuesday addressed the jury in opening
the case for the defense. After reciting a
brief history OF Barron's life and detailing
his movements on the day Of the shooting
up to the time he visited the Keyworth
house, he outlined the plan of the defense
He stated that their testimony would show
a clear case of self.delense, and would prove
that the fatal shot was fired as Keyworth
was in the threatening act of reaching for a
pistol. He also said that it would be shown
that Barron's reputation had always been of
the best, while Keyworth was known as a
violent man.
A number of witnesses were examined in
regard to the circumstances attending the
shooting and the good character of the prs.
oner.
On Wednesday morning Barron, the nc
cused, was placed on the witness stand and
gave detailed statement of the circum.
stances attending the shooting Of Keyworth.
de claimed that when the shot was fred he
thought, from the position and threatening
action of Keyworth, that his life was in
danger.
After the examination OF a number of
witnesses in rebuttal the evidence was final
la closed, after which States Attorney Kill
gour made an address for the prosecution,
and was followed by Edward c. Peter for
the defense. Both addresses, which lasted
for over an hour each, were able and elo
quent, and received the marked attention
of the large audience in the court room.
Robert w. Wells, of Hyattsville, followed
in an imprisoned appeal to the jury in
favor of the prisoner. Before concluding
his address the court adjourned until Thurs
day morning
When the court opened on Thursday
morning there was large attendance, many
ladies occupying the seats and standing in
the aisles.
At the conclusion of the address of Mr.
Wells, ex-senator Blackburn, entered upon
the closing argument tor the defense. His
argument was logical, able, and convincing,
and his eloquent appeal whould have have
received deserved applause anywhere else
than in a court room.
As we go to press Mr.. Rogers is closing
L..