Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-07-07
The Rosenstein Murder Trial.

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Sherry and Motter on the bench.
This is an extra session of the May term
OF court called for the purpose of trying
Armlstead Taylor and John Alfred Brown,
the two negroes charged with the murder of
Louis Rosenstein and wife, at Slidell, this
county, on May 18th last, and whose cases
were removed to Frederick county for trial.
The prisoners having been arraigned and
plea of not guilty having been entered,
counsel for Brown moved TO sever the cases,
which motion was granted by the court.
The State decided to take up the case of
Taylor for the killing of Mrs. Dora Rosen-
stein.
The State is represented by States At
J torney Kigour and Edward G. Peter, of
this county, and VIM. H. Kinks, of Fred
erick. The prisoner is represented by Jas.
A. Fechtig, Jr., of Baltimore, and A. d.
| Willard, of Frederick
There was no delay in getting the jury.
for when the regular panel was exhausted,
talismen were at once summoned from
among a number of citizens who had been
notified by the Sheriff to be in court.
States Attorney Kigour in his opening
statement gave full history of the crime,
the pursuit of the accused and his capture
in Georgetown. Mr.. Fechtig, for the de.
tense, said;
"The burden of proof never leaves the
State. 1t is the duty of the State to prove
everything in the indictment and if they do
not do this, it is your solemn duty to acquit
this man.
The first witness call, by the State was
Nellie Turner. She testified that she has
been living at Slidel with John Alfred
Brown, but did not know how long the
Rosensteins had been living at Slidell. She
had known Taylor for a long time. Taylor
came to her house on Wednesday before
the trouble at Rosenstein's and told her he
had been staying at his grandfather's, at
Greenfield, Frederick county. Wednesday
he stopped in the yard with the children
and then went into the field where Brown
was. He came back to the house later and
talked about Greenfield. On Thursday
about P. M. Taylor told her that he was
going to kill some one. That afternoon
Brown and Taylor worked about an hour.
Taylor stayed at her house Thursday and
Friday. She sent him to Rosenstein's for
a spool of cotton. Taylor had no money.
On Friday afternoon Taylor went hunting.
He came back for supper, and went to bed
before she did. She heard Taylor say to
Brown, THAT is q - cheap woman down
here" She did not see Taylor any more
until daylight Saturday morning when she
saw him coming in the front door. Brown
did not get up until late Witness heard
Taylor tell Brown to wake him up early.
Witness identified the boots Taylor wore.
She did not see him have any other boots
or shoes. Taylor had not been at their
house for three years before this. The wit
ness identified pair of brown pants, which
were badly torn at the leg and covered with
dirt, as those of Brown, which he had worn
for a long while before the murder. These
trousers were recently found by Maurice
Carln, of Slidell, in his fathers barn, where
they had been hid. After they had been
offered defense objected, and the offer was
Withdrawn.
Garrett Linthicum testified that he lives
a mile from Slidell, and has lived there for
10 years; that he knew the Rosensteins and
that they had been living there for about
five years. Witness was going to Boyd's
Station on Saturday morning, May ID. He
passed Rosenstein's and noticed that the
store was closed. He saw Taylor on the
porch and Taylor told him not to come in
there. He did not stop, but went on, but
he fully recognized Taylor. This was about
A M. When he saw Taylor again he
seemed to be in great hurry and had on
a new pair of shoes. Witness then went
back to Rosenstein's and called, but received
no answer. Then he went to the back door
and thought he heard a groan. Not know
ing what was wrong and not wanting to
get in trouble, witness said he went to a
near by neighbor and asked what was the
matter up at Rosensteins and then went on
home and went to planting corn.
James Baxall told Of the discovery of the
DOulGb VI lNOoCh'tO'h INV "hSi ehS iOihhO
lying in pool of blood behind the coun.
ter of the store, and the latter lying upon a
bed upstairs, unconscious and covered with
blood.
Abraham Goldenstein testified that Ro-
senstein had betw cen six and seven hun.
dred dollars at the time of the murder and |
all OF this had disappeared.
Mrs. Walter Carlin, who lives near the |
Rosenstein place, saw Brown pass her house
early in the morning, but saw nothing Of
Taylor.
Charles Kingsbury testified to finding a |
pair of boots near Rosenstein's house which |
are claimed TO be Taylor's property.
Bradley Worthington, baggage master of |
B. & 0. train, testified that Taylor boarded |
bis train about o'clock, at Boyd's, and left |
it at Forest Glen. Several others testified |
to seeing Taylor board the train.
At this point court adjourned until the
next morning at $50 o'clock.
noSI.onJ Naakrn-nu.u